2 Apr
2013
2 Apr
'13
2:55 p.m.
On 04/02/2013 04:31 PM, Fred Cisin wrote:
I expect it's lots of CPUs per board, probably soldered direct to the PCB,
and then lots of boards per rack, with custom interconnects between boards
and racks. To a point you may be able to add racks and boards, but once the
individual CPUs (or the memory, or the interconnects) are deemed to be too
slow then it's game over.
As Paul says, it may be possible to keep the power supplies (and the empty
racks) but that's such a small part of the whole - and the topology might
not even be suited to whatever comes next anyway - that there's little point.
I suppose the sheer logistics of moving something like this as a going
concern - particularly if the space is needed for a replacement - are what
prevents the whole lot being sold on to some other entity (i.e. just
because it's not fast enough for you doesn't mean that it's useless to
someone else)
cheers
Jules
> Built,
used for four years, and now DISMANTLED?
> What is wrong with their fundamental architecture?
> Can't they design one where more could be added to keep up with needs, and
> upgrade incrementally and components while keeping the overall machine?
On
Tue, 2 Apr 2013, Pontus wrote:
What would you replace? The CPU? Then you need a
new socket and then you
need a new motherboard. I suppose you could hold it against them that
they didn't make the CPU's pin compatible, but that's only viable for a
few years. The pin count changes as more and more features are moved
onboard the CPU. And I suppose you could hold it against them that they
didn't put the CPU on a daughterboard, but then the cost of
manufacturing of the daughterboard would probably be close to a whole
motherboard. Much easier to throw out and replace and let somebody else
worry about assembly.
Ram speeds go up, so you want to replace those when you get a new CPU as
well.
What is left? Power supplies and fans? yeah, those probably have a four
more years in them. Probably would make sense to reuse.
I'm having a little difficulty visualizing "The World's Top
Supercomputer"
as being a single chip CPU on a motherboard.
When did "supercomputers" become single board devices?
"Put the CPU on a daughterboard"?
I'm kinda stuck thinking in terms of adding another rack that
supplants PART of the CPU functions with faster, and relegating
the rack(s) that it replaced to anciliary functions.
I never realized that inside one of those racks there was a
CPU chip plugged into a socket.