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Snapshot of costs for higher-end computers, including compute cluster systems. Contact ChemIT to discuss your needs.

Pricing example for 24 cores

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

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. Pay extra:
$960 to get 2 more cores on each chip

Intel Xeon E5 2640

 

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

$8.5K

To get similar power as $5.4Ksytem, 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

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

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

$9.5K

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

Intel Xeon E5 4607 V2

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

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 coming soon)
  • $890 for each 8 cores chip, 2-capable (Intel Xeon E5 2640; V2 coming soon)
  • $890 for each 6 cores chip, 4-capable (Intel Xeon E5 4607 V2)
  • $1,600 for each 8 cores chip, 4-capable (Intel Xeon E5 4620 V2)

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.
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