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Excerpt

Snapshot of costs for higher-end computers, including compute cluster systems (high performance, HPC). Purchasing, buying. Contact ChemIT to discuss your needs.

Table of Contents

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
2 computers in one 1U rack-mount box.
24 cores, 128GB RAM, 4TB storage.
(12 cores, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage per computer )

$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 
2 computers in one 1U rack-mount box. 
32 cores, 128GB RAM, 4TB storage. 
(16 cores, 64GB RAM, 2TB storage per computer ).

$7.3

Getting 32 cores on procs spread over 2 computers (instead of 24 cores, above). Pay extra for these extra cores:
$960 to get 2 more cores on each chip

Intel Xeon E5 2640 V2

Again, 4 procs, 2 on each of 2 motherboards. Those procs are twice the price.
8-core proc price is $890ea, or a full $480ea more than 6-core proc.

Single computer, rack-mount.
24 cores, 128GB RAM, 4TB storage.

$8.5K

To get similar power as $5.4K sytem (24 cores), but merged into a single system. Pay extra:
$1,920 for 4-capable chips upgrade
$1,180 for 4-capable motherboard upgrade

Intel Xeon E5 4607  (V2 coming soon)

4 procs, but on one single motherboard. Those procs are twice the price.
4-proc capable proc price is $890ea, or a full $480ea more than 2-proc capable proc.

Singe computer, desktop (but noisy and hot!)
24 cores, 128GB RAM, 4TB storage.

$9.5K

In addition to above $8.5K upgrade, pay extra:
~$1K for chassis upgrade (still noisy and hot, though)

Intel Xeon E5 4607 (V2 coming soon)

Again, 4 procs, but on one single motherboard. Those procs are twice the price.
8-core proc (4-core capable) price is $890ea, or a full $480ea more than 6-core proc (4-core capable).

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

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.