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Snapshot of costs for higher-end computers, including compute cluster systems (high performance, HPC). Purchasing, buying. Contact ChemIT to discuss your needs. |
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Pricing example for 24 cores
Questions
Value/ utility of (Intel) hyperthreading?
Summary
You want 24 cores. Here are some options, and prices as of Jan 2014.
Top-level options | Cost | Price analysis | Proc | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Typical compute cluster nodes | $5.4K | Getting 24 cores on procs spread over 2 computers represents good value. | Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2 | 4 procs, 2 on each of 2 motherboards. |
Typical compute cluster nodes | $7.3 | Getting 32 cores on procs spread over 2 computers (instead of 24 cores, above). Pay extra for these extra cores: | Intel Xeon E5 2640 V2 | Again, 4 procs, 2 on each of 2 motherboards. Those procs are twice the price. |
Single computer, rack-mount. | $8.5K | To get similar power as $5.4K sytem (24 cores), but merged into a single system. Pay extra: | Intel Xeon E5 4607 (V2 coming soon) | 4 procs, but on one single motherboard. Those procs are twice the price. |
Singe computer, desktop (but noisy and hot!) | $9.5K | In addition to above $8.5K upgrade, pay extra: | Intel Xeon E5 4607 (V2 coming soon) | Again, 4 procs, but on one single motherboard. Those procs are twice the price. |
Details
For each option:
- Each proc (processor) is 6 cores. 4 total procs
- More cores/ proc are available, but much more expensive. (Ex. An 8 core proc is twice the price.)
- Each option has a total of 128GB RAM. And 4TB of HD storage over 2 hard drives.
Spec's selected to allow an apples-to-apples price comparison, not because of a "sweet spot" for each scenario, and not necessarily "fitted" to your research needs.
- You may need to adjust the final specs, once you select a top-level option.
Does not include
Anything other than "the box".
- May also need UPS ($170), network cabling and switch ($100 or less)- not much else.
Base data
- $410 for each 6 cores chip, 2-capable (Intel Xeon E5 2620 V2)
- $890 for each 8 cores chip, 2-capable (Intel Xeon E5 2640 V2)
- $890 for each 6 cores chip, 4-capable (Intel Xeon E5 4607; V2 coming soon)
- $1,600 for each 8 cores chip, 4-capable (Intel Xeon E5 4620; V2 coming soon)
Dropping from 64GB per node to 32GB per node drops about $250 per node ($500 for a 2-node system). (And 16GB instead of 32GB is saving very little money, of course.)
- Question: Brian's quotes from Dell imply that our 64GB RAM (vs. $32GB) costs $1,000, not $500. How to account for the extra $500 ($1,000-500) in ChemIT's quote?
Compare proc specs
Compare proc prices
- E5-2600v2 series (new chips from September 2013 )
- E5-4600 series chips (v2 coming soon; current ones are ~one year old)
Other ideas to consider
- Confirm limiting factor by using CISER's service to help tune where to invest (cores, RAM, hard drives space).
- Cut down on hard drive space by using file server space, in certain situations.
- Merge your investment into an existing cluster. Shared resources cost much less than standing up your own, small cluster.
- Confirm operational value of a single, "powerful enough" system (say, most large jobs done in 24 hours or less), vs. multiple, less powerful systems.