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Company Success Stories - MIT
MIT Researchers Looking to Add AMD Opteron™ Processor-based Systems to Computing Cluster
Profile
MIT
April 22, 2003
"“Because the AMD Opteron™ processor supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications on one system, researchers can start running existing code from day one."
Researchers at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are using AMD multiprocessor-based supercomputing clusters to simulate the behavior and properties of complex materials. These “virtual” experiments help design better processes for creating materials that are stronger, lighter and less expensive.
Examples of virtual experiment processes include automobile engines and exhaust systems that could be made lighter, resulting in higher performance and better fuel economy. Or, a new type of reverse osmosis filtration system that could make filtering salt from seawater easier and less expensive, helping to provide affordable drinking water to U.S. Navy sailors and possibly even to villagers in Africa.
To take their research to the next level, the Department of Material Science and Engineering’s Morphology Simulations lab is eager to add an
AMD Opteron™ processor-based cluster to its technology infrastructure.
“We’re hearing great things about the AMD Opteron processor,” said Adam C. Powell, IV, assistant professor of Materials Engineering at MIT. “The impact of 64-bit computing on the research we do is that our largest applications will be able to address more memory per process, which will improve our ability to run very large simulations of these materials processes. We’re looking forward to putting our simulations to work on AMD Opteron processor-based systems.”
MIT and Cluster Computing
To perform simulations, the lab currently uses a 46-node AMD Athlon™ XP processor-based cluster called the “Morphology Engine” and a 20-node dual AMD Athlon MP processor-based cluster consisting of 40 CPUs called the “Longevity Engine.”
Reliability and performance are critical in this environment, according to Kurt Keville, a volunteer system administrator and head of Extreme-Linux in Boston. “The lab is an entirely performance-driven facility,” he said. “The processors run at more than 99% capacity around the clock with uptime on the order of two weeks.”
Gains with 64-bit Computing
Keville recognizes the benefits of moving the lab’s scientific applications to 64-bit systems but has hesitated due to the cost, power usage and proprietary nature of other 64-bit solutions currently in the market. He’s looking forward to implementing AMD Opteron processor-based systems because he believes this solution will provide a performance boost and an easy migration path to 64-bit computing.
“Many people are not ready for the culture shock of jumping into 64-bit computing with both feet,” he said. “But because the AMD Opteron processor supports both 32-bit and 64-bit applications on one system, researchers can start running existing code from day one. They can take advantage of an immediate performance boost and give application coders a chance to port applications without significantly impacting the production environment.”
The AMD Opteron processor’s integrated memory controller is an important feature to improve performance in cluster computing, Keville added.
“Bandwidth to memory is a bottleneck in high performance computing and the AMD Opteron processor’s integrated memory controller should significantly improve performance in this area,” he said. “It lowers latency to memory because it eliminates the need to traverse the front-side bus. Because the memory controller is part of the processor, it runs at processor clock speed.”
Keville added that the AMD Opteron processor’s 64-bit architecture also provides scalability options. “With 64-bit systems, we will be able to run denser code on fewer nodes, so we can recode application software to improve efficiency and performance on individual nodes rather than adding new nodes,” he said.
AMD Software Developer Center
To support customers and partners in getting up and running on AMD Opteron processor-based systems, AMD has initiated the Software Developer Center. Keville has taken advantage of the center to port his cluster operating system, a version of Linux called Debian. The AMD Developer Center offers AMD partners and customers with code and development platform services supporting the AMD Opteron processor, either directly at the center in Sunnyvale, California or remotely via secure, high-speed access.
About AMD
AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. AMD produces microprocessors, Flash memory devices and support circuitry for communications and networking applications. The company was founded in 1969 and is based in Sunnyvale, California (NYSE: AMD).
For more information, contact Phil Hughes, AMD public relations at 512-602-4797.
© 2003 Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. All rights reserved.
AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, AMD Athlon, AMD Opteron, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Other product and company names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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