[sdiy] fantasy computer poll

[Roy J. Tellason]

On Saturday 28 May 2005 03:06 pm, Phil Harbison wrote:
> I know this isn't an analog topic, and I don't mean to start
> another digital-vs-analog thread; however, this is DIY (sort
> of) so I hope nobody objects to this poll.
>
> Suppose you were given a computer with the following specs.
>
>     + 512 processors (each PowerPC G4 or Pentium4 class)
>     + 2 Terabytes (2024GB) of DDR2 memory (not disk, *RAM*)
>     + 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections to the outside world
>     + Each processor is interconnected (i.e can share memory
>       or pass messages to the other processors)

*THAT* point right there is where the real bottleneck is likely to be.  One of 
the major differences I've seen in different kinds of multiprocessing systems 
is how "tightly coupled" they are -- I guess different setups are good for 
different uses,  but the more tightly coupled a setup is,  the more of a 
bottleneck the ram bandwidth becomes.

>     + Assume any necessary I/O devices are available (e.g.
>       DACs, ADCs, MIDI, SCSI, etc.)
>
> What would you do with it? Other than the obvious application
> (generating enough virtual porn to last a lifetime) I can
> think of a few applications.
>
>     + directly synthesize an entire orchestra
>     + search genomics databases for DNA matches
>     + large scale simulations (e.g. global weather, US economy)
>     + extremely fast database server
>     + extremely fast search engine (Google on steroids)
>     + CGI and animation rendering
>     + signal processing (FFTs, FIR filters, etc.)
>
> Any other ideas?
>
> Please be warned that if anyone says "run a fantasy baseball
> league" I will bitch-slap you into the next time zone. :-)

What would I do with it?  Given that connectivity I'd start it generating some 
income right off,  so I could buy another one,  and then leverage things up 
from there...	:-)

Eventually I'd get to the point where I wouldn't have to worry about such 
mundane stuff as finding a job,  and things like that,  and then I'd have one 
to play with.