My current computer is almost 4 years old (which nearly 106 in human years!). Moore’s Law seems to have broken down, so there hasn’t been the usual pressure to buy a new machine. My current server is a 3GHz Powerspec box with a lot of trimmings, 1GB mem, 600GB storage, Nvidia 7300 graphics card etc. Not bad at all by current standards, but not the powerhouse it was in 2003. Given the processor speeds are “supposed” to double every 18 months, I expected to be at 10-12 Ghz now. Instead processor speeds are still hovering between 3-5Ghz for single core systems. There are many reasons for this, but from a physics point of view, I suspect the pseudo-optic limit has finally reared it’s head and quashed further progress . The limit occurs when the frequency of electronic signals (usually in the 10s of GHz) implies a wavelength which starts to be of scale with electronics themselves, i.e. the point where things are fast enough that you need to switch from wires to wavesguides.
Intel came out with their new Duo technology which effectively skirts the issue by adding a multiple processors linked together through a high speed bus. This has a number of architectural advantages for multiapplication systems, although 2 3Ghz chips put together is not the same performance as a single 6Ghz chip. There are volumes of reasons for this, but the new technology is pretty good.
In my usual way, I designed up a state of the art system with new process, lots of memory plenty of disk space, a top-of-the-line graphics card etc.
Net cost for the system (via Dell, Gateway and HP) ~$5000
My reaction: “hmm… that’s kind of higher than I wanted to pay”
Geoff’s reaction, “No way! You’re out of your fucking mind! I *need* that money!”
So I challenged Geoff to come up with a spec that met all my criteria for less.
And… he did!
The catch: I have to assemble it myself. From scratch.
Now I haven’t actually done this since …. 1998. A while.
Can I? Probably? Should I? Definitely!
Cost of Geoff’s spec (with 2 day shipping) ~$2500
So, I am going to build a PC sometime in the next few weeks.
Spec below: I’m looking for comments or (god forbid) mistakes of commission/omission
Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128017
Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115002
Processor Cooling:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835186134
Memory:
2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146118
Power:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163109
Harddrives:
3x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144423
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133138
Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814143066
Sound Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102190
DVD:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058
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2 comments:
Well, for one thing, if you want a true "server" I would use an Intel serverboard as the core. And, do you really like a chassis with all that bling? Why don't you let me spec one out for you? I'll bet I could stay around the same cost with better core components... {Not trying to be a smart-ass}
I'm all about the bling! My current server is tarted up like a Puetro Rican taxi and has enough blue neon to be visible from the Moon.
How could I possibly say no to such an offer? That would be very cool, thanks!
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