Internetworkers: http://www.ibiblio.org/internetworkers/

[burnett AT pobox.com]

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004, Tom Boucher wrote:

> 
> On Jan 28, 2004, at 5:08 AM, David R.Matusiak wrote:
> 
> > The world's 3rd greatest supercomputer (Virginia Tech's "Big Mac")  
> > will soon be dismantled in order to build Version 2.  This time, VT  
> > will be taking advantage of Apple's new G5 X-Serve 1U rack devices.   
> > The new installation will not only save floor space (down to 1,000  
> > square feet from 3,000), but will also consume less power (about 60%  
> > of current usage) and offer ECC (Error Correcting Code) RAM.  Also on  
> > tap is Panther Server which is designed to squeeze the most  
> > performance out of the G5 processor.
> >
> > The change is expected to be completed by May.  These folks are  
> > amazing!
> >
> > http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/aptech_story.asp? 
> > category=1700&slug=Apple%20Supercomputer
> >
> > http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml? 
> > articleID=17501508
> >
> > http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,4149,1469441,00.asp
> >
> 
> They should sell each of the nodes on eBay so you could own a part of  
> the worlds fastest Macintosh.  probably pay for the Xserves - not that  
> Apple probably gave them one heck of a deal.

I believe part of the new deal is Apple is getting back all eleven hundred 
or so or the current cluster members, which should be resold cheaply as 
refurbished discounted G5s. I didn't hear if Apple plans on having them 
identified or certified as part of the cluster in their refurbish resale 
of those units, though. 

best,
Steve Burnett