# Need Powerful PC - Have Some Questions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-powerful-pc-have-some-questions/449001>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 12, 2008, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-powerful-pc-have-some-questions/449001 "2008-05-12T06:20:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-powerful-pc-have-some-questions/449001/21 "2008-05-16T01:06:36Z")

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Maybe Google will let you buy some [nodes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_platform). Yes, I’m kidding, but it is an interesting example of a distributed process across thousands of cheap hardware boards.

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**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-powerful-pc-have-some-questions/449001/22 "2008-05-16T01:32:52Z")

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I wonder whether [BOINC](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boinc) would let you use some of their distributed volunteer crunchpower?

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**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\
**Post date:** [May 16, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-powerful-pc-have-some-questions/449001/23 "2008-05-16T07:09:24Z")

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[QUOTE=RaftPeople]  
I may go this route, but these are some of my thoughts on this:

1. Procs/cores in same box=less time transferring data w/tcp/ip
2. Was hoping to reduce power consumption, etc. etc.
3. Reduced space requirements  
[/QUOTE]

I get you on the data transfer, network speed is almost always going to be a bottleneck for this kind of CPU speed.

Power consumption and PSU cost is going to be ugly on those multi chip boards anyway. The power supplies alone might cost as much as another dual core box for the cluster.

Blades are great for space consious but can be pricey. Basic rackmount stuff might be a possibility for you too. You might even be able to pick up some used stuff that will get you some good bang for your buck while reducing footprint

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