[gmx-users]future hardware

[Erik Lindahl]

Hi,

Fujitsu have already created a Gromacs-based MD server ("bioserver")  
with embedded low-power CPUs which I think is better for that type of  
application.

We've been interested in Cell for a while, but there's a lot of  
marketing hype around it. First, it's not 9 separate processors but 1  
main processor and 8 somewhat independent vector units. The vector  
units can't access memory directly though, but need to be fed with  
programmed DMA from the head CPU. There is also no dynamic  
instruction scheduling.

 From a Gromacs perspective I think the Xenon 3-way standard SMP  
PowerPC CPU (but still no dynamic instruction scheduling) in the  
Xbox360 is more interesting, especially since it seems to use  
standard Altivec instructions that we've already implemented.  
Unfortunately we can't test that until somebody has cracked the  
Xbox360 and put Linux or something on it :-)

Cheers,

Erik


On Dec 1, 2005, at 10:11 AM, Andrey V. Golovin wrote:

> Hi all !
> I just recently found that NEC gonna produce MD extension cards:
> http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0511/2901-01.html , from other side new
> cell processor
> (http://www.mc.com/products/view/index.cfm?type=boards&id=64)
> have less power then NEC device. Actually what are you guys think  
> about
> all this ? could it improve gromacs  performance? Cell system for  me
> sounds quite ok because it just 8 powerpc in  chip.
> what do you think?
>
> All the best !
>
> -- 
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
> Andrey V. Golovin
> Ph.D,Professor assistant    tel: (095) 939-3149
> Bioengineering and
> Bioinformatics Department
> Moscow State University     fax: (095) 939-3181
> 119899 Moscow               E-mail: golovin at genebee.msu.su
> Russia                      web: http://rnp-group.genebee.msu.su
> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
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-----------------------------------------------------------
Erik Lindahl  <lindahl at sbc.su.se>
Assistant Professor, Stockholm Bioinformatics Center
Stockholm University, SE 106 91 Stockholm
Phone: +46 8 5537 8564     Fax: +46 8 5537 8214