Lotsa little computers = 1 supercomputer?

VulcanRider · 09-06-2006, 11:15 PM

Anyone ever take part in anything like this?

Quote:

The Grid MP Global @ grid.org is a virtual supercomputer that can be harnessed to power computational research and analysis projects on a massive scale. By combining millions of online CPUs worldwide to work on extremely large computational projects, problems can be solved more quickly and less expensively than by conventional methods. Now any networked computer can help fuel research and projects that previously may have required a bank of supercomputers or a hundred years to complete.

You download a program that works as your screensaver & sends its results back to a central machine, so each PC is chewing on a tiny piece of a big problem. I just wondered if anyone had any problems doing it -- machine locking up, does it gather any personal data, etc?

Luvian · 09-06-2006, 11:21 PM

It's not the first time I see something like this. SETI has something like this too.

Harkoliar · 09-07-2006, 12:35 AM

yeah i read on it.. as much as i would like to join in.. i dont think my housemate would like to see the computers on all day for it. electricity bills you know

Bithron · 09-07-2006, 02:27 PM

One such program : BOINC, my friend has one computer that runs it 24/7...

Olorin · 09-07-2006, 02:58 PM

These programs work well because they are able to get people to give them computing time for free. Obviously, a million PCs would be more expensive than the equivalent number of supercomputers if the lab had to pay for all of them.

One implementation I've heard of this type of computing is a program at USC that uses the computers in the campus computer lab to work on earthquake simulations whenever they are not in use by students.

09-06-2006, 11:21 PM	#2
Luvian Ironworks Moderator Join Date: June 27, 2001 Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada Age: 43 Posts: 6,763	It's not the first time I see something like this. SETI has something like this too. __________________ Once upon a time in Canada...

09-07-2006, 12:35 AM	#3
Harkoliar Jack Burton Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Philippines, but now Harbor City Sydney Age: 41 Posts: 5,556	yeah i read on it.. as much as i would like to join in.. i dont think my housemate would like to see the computers on all day for it. electricity bills you know __________________ Catch me if you can..

09-07-2006, 02:27 PM	#4
Bithron Baaz Draconian Join Date: May 2, 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 789	One such program : BOINC, my friend has one computer that runs it 24/7... __________________ Let it not be said that it was done out of pride

09-07-2006, 02:58 PM	#5
Olorin Avatar Join Date: May 27, 2002 Location: Boulder, CO Age: 47 Posts: 544	These programs work well because they are able to get people to give them computing time for free. Obviously, a million PCs would be more expensive than the equivalent number of supercomputers if the lab had to pay for all of them. One implementation I've heard of this type of computing is a program at USC that uses the computers in the campus computer lab to work on earthquake simulations whenever they are not in use by students. __________________ "Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not" --The Two Towers

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
SuperComputer	Hivetyrant	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	23	12-15-2004 02:51 PM
Supercomputer laptops?	Rokenn	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	6	10-15-2003 09:35 AM
Computers....	Bungleau	Wizards & Warriors Forum	3	07-15-2002 12:17 PM
Using two computers with one game	Nanobyte	Baldurs Gate II Archives	17	11-17-2001 04:38 AM
WARNING: Lotsa serious bugs	Howie	Wizards & Warriors Archives	3	10-26-2000 10:00 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)