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Computations in High Energy Physics require a large number of parallel computers. The typical computer cluster uses 1U stacks of computers in racks, with each 1U unit having 4 CPU’s. There are two problems with these types of systems. High cost and inefficient cooling of cores. The FSU HEP group has recently put together a 40 CPU system of 64 bit Intel units at a substantially lower cost which avoids the heating problem.
The goal of this project is to extract the maximum performance per dollar, infrastructure costs included, optimized for university research groups. The installed cost of a forty CPU’s (Intel E6600 dual core), 2.4GHz, 64-bit cluster, including all the network components is $14K. The same hardware purchased through Dell costs about $36K. Each of our dual CPU’s includes 80GB HD’s, 2GB RAM. The cost per kSPECint2k (the CMS benchmark) is under $250. Some are on the Open Science Grid (OSG) while others are available to users with accounts on a cluster.
We do not use the traditional 1U horizontal rack mounting system, but instead mount the motherboards vertically on an open (caseless) plastic spine. Two mobos (mother boards each with dual CPU) share a single spine and one power supply. This design avoids the flat 1U (expensive) enclosure and the open geometry keeps the system cool. Assembly and access are much
easier than with the traditional design. Packing density is about
the same. The two photographs show a 4 CPU prototype.
A single rack can have 12 of these units for a total of 48 CPU’s. |
