Hi all

I've recently built what I beleive is the first Windows MCE PC that runs on flash memory (CompactFlash), and that can still record TV (onto my server) :D. Because of that, I've done quite a lot of work on running XP from compactflash and I think it's a great way to go for dedicated crunchers - it's silent, uses a tiny amount of power (and also therefore produces practically no heat), seek times are tiny, it's very cheap when compared to a HD and it's reliable.

If anyone's interested I'll write a simple how-to (the Flash write limitation is taken care of!). It'd be quite quick and easy to set up Rosetta running on XP on a 256MB compactflash - once setup it could even be cloned for different machines (licencing permitting!). Rosetta would have to be running from a mapped drive on a server machine, but you only need one server for as many crunchers as you like.

Network booting (PXE?) would be cheaper still, but my Linux knowledge isn't the best.

Also, I don't have time now, but I think it'd be useful if we had a thread on other suggestions for reducing the costs of DC, and if it looks useful it can be incorporated into the wiki.

The costs associated with crunching are generally small if running on existing hardware that would be running anyway, but are worth reducing if possible and we might well be able to help people to reduce their costs to lower than they would have been previously even without DC. The costs of running dedicated hardware are obviously unlimited.

I mean suggestions such as:

keep everything as cool as possible - especially the CPU - resulting in reduced electrical consumption.

When buying, consider the power consumption of the components - it's quite easy now as the consumption of most components is listed.

Items such as good thermal compound and good heatsinks have an initial cost but will pay for themselves over time.

cheers
Danny

[edit] OOPS - supposed to be in Number Crunching! Can a mod move it pls or should I repost there and you can delete this one? thanks!

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Please, do write the simple howto, I'm definately building such a crunsher.

A simple question comes to mind: does your machine make the deadlines? I'm not really sure I understand where the processing power comes from...

- trib'

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Please, do write the simple howto, I'm definately building such a crunsher.

A simple question comes to mind: does your machine make the deadlines? I'm not really sure I understand where the processing power comes from...

- trib'

Sorry - wasn't clear - the compactflash is just a replacement for the hard drive (using an IDE to CF converter for ~£5 on ebay). Everything else is as standard.

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What power supply did you use? I've found that Seasonic power supplies use less power at the wall than the others I've checked. (They have supplies claiming "up to 85%" efficient at Newegg.) But lately new power supplies have appeared that also claim high efficiency, sometimes including the "80 plus" certification.

What power supply did you use? I've found that Seasonic power supplies use less power at the wall than the others I've checked. (They have supplies claiming "up to 85%" efficient at Newegg.) But lately new power supplies have appeared that also claim high efficiency, sometimes including the "80 plus" certification.

I'm going to put an order through on a Seasonic S12-430 tonight (would be quite happy with a lower power one but ebuyer only have that one) - I got the recommendation here:
http://www.silentpcreview.com/article28-page1.html

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I've re-created this thread where it should be in the number crunching forum here:

https://boinc.bakerlab.org/rosetta/forum_thread.php?id=2180

This one can be deleted - sorry for the mess! ;)

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