Oil-exploration firm CGG Americas replaced its supercomputers with a cluster of several thousand personal computers linked by specialized networking software. Here’s one view of how the alternatives stack up.
Silicon Graphics Origin 3000 | Cluster of Dell Computer PCs | |
Architecture | Symmetric multiprocessing, where many processors share a single operating system and access each other’s memory | Parallel processing, where a computing job is split among many processors that each have their own operating system and memory |
Cost of system | $2.9 million | $2 million |
Number of processors | 128 | 1,024 |
Cost per processor | $22,656 | $1,953 |
System memory | 256 gigabytes | Up to 2 terabytes |
Pluses | Designed specifically for scientific applications that do highly complex modeling All processors can communicate quickly with all other processors, which means certain computing jobs can be done very quickly | Relatively low cost of ownership Distributed architecture decreases risk that a single processor failure will stop entire job Power can be added incrementally Often uses Linux, a hot technology for which skilled workers are readily found |
Minuses | Processor failure can halt an entire computing job Adding power generally adds expense: another $2.9 million machine Experienced technicians hard to find | Setup and configuration often take several weeks Overall performance can be negatively affected by speed of the network connecting the processors Constant monitoring of individual parts is necessary; more parts means more potential points of failure Large physical space required as cluster grows; additional air conditioning and electric power are sometimes needed |