Scratch
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#1 2011-10-03 21:21:39
I wanna build a supercomputer.
Well, not all at once, but slowly.
What I want to try and build is a "Beowulf Cluster." For a detailed description of what this is look on wikipedia, but basically it is a bunch of cheap, commodity computers linked together to form a 100-gigaflop supercomputer.
I plan to slowly buy old computers no one wants anymore cheap at yard sales and such and stuff them in my closet. After I have about five or so and the correct cables, I'll link them up and install a special distrobution of Linux on all of them and link up a terminal outside of my closet. Ill keep adding computers slowly to start increasing my prossessing power.
Any suggestions for what to do with it and where to get the computers?
SCRATCH 2.0 OHHHHH MANNNNNNN
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#2 2011-10-03 21:25:07
- jji7skyline
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-03-08
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
Make sure you have really good cooling... the closet is not such a good idea unless you have an old fridge lying around that you can use for cooling the whole closet 
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!
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#3 2011-10-03 21:28:36
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
jji7skyline wrote:
Make sure you have really good cooling... the closet is not such a good idea unless you have an old fridge lying around that you can use for cooling the whole closet
We have tons of old fans laying around.
Considering these computers probably have fans built in a big electric fan will probably do well enough.
SCRATCH 2.0 OHHHHH MANNNNNNN
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#4 2011-10-03 21:29:37
- nathanprocks
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2011-04-14
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Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
i don't think ur parents would be happy about the electricity bill lol
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#5 2011-10-03 21:29:46
- veggieman001
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-02-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
make a super minecraft server
or like
a web server
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#6 2011-10-03 21:31:38
- jji7skyline
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-03-08
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/PC-Desktops-/17 … 86.c0.m283
I'd recommend desktops rather than laptops because they are so much easier to cool. The link has PC desktops for all under $100. Don't forget to wire them all up to one display!
I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!
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#7 2011-10-03 21:34:12
#10 2011-10-03 21:39:26
- veggieman001
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-02-20
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
PW132 wrote:
veggieman001 wrote:
go to garage sales
Well duh
well duh your face
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#15 2011-10-03 21:58:14
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
PW132 wrote:
ssss wrote:
PW132 wrote:
Good idea, but it's the rainy season right now.
Parts are still salvageable.
I'm not making computers from scratch.
Lol. I can sell parts to you xD
Hey. It's me SSSS, back from the dead!
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#16 2011-10-03 22:26:39
- agscratcher
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- Registered: 2009-07-09
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Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
This sounds like win.
Stuff up the computers with RAM. Lots and lots of it. End result is RAM blizzard.
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#18 2011-10-03 22:34:01
- 456bingo123
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-10-30
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
Let me know how it turns out!!! Also, if you could, tell me how you did it! I would just buy from ebay, and maybe computer repair shops may have refurbished ones cheap.
My username is now elfin8er! I will not be using this account any more!! ELF OS! (Community Collab)
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#21 2011-10-04 00:17:26
- jji7skyline
- Scratcher
- Registered: 2010-03-08
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
Give us a pic when of how it turns out
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#22 2011-10-04 01:18:37
- Jonathanpb
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- Registered: 2008-07-25
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Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
jji7skyline wrote:
Give us a pic when of how it turns out
Ooh yes
Last edited by Jonathanpb (2011-10-04 01:19:07)
"Human beings... must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it.
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#23 2011-10-04 07:41:57
- GarSkutherGirl
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- Registered: 2009-04-27
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
I could inject SO many P0RTAL references in here it's not even funny. 
Enjoy building your computer.
Oh, the glory of it all - adorable cat people dressed as video game characters!
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#24 2011-10-04 07:53:58
- cheddargirl
- Scratch Team
- Registered: 2008-09-15
- Posts: 1000+
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
You may want to check out if there are swap meets in your area that allow people to drop off electronics to give away/trade. If you're lucky, you might find someone who will drop off an old and unwanted computer and if you're quick enough to grab it before someone else, tada! free computer.
Otherwise, you'll probably want to go to an electronics store for them. Sometimes garage sales will sell old computers, but you never know if they're still good or if they're no longer working; at least at electronics stores give some sense of reliability that a computer is working fairly.
Everything is better when you add a little cheddar, because when you have cheese your life is at ease
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#25 2011-10-04 07:55:50
Re: I wanna build a supercomputer.
As someone else said, you'd need to cool them really well. You'd need to take all their cases off, and have a several (depending on how many computers you have) fans blowing at them.
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