Cool Computers

  • Thread starter Thread starter TexRoadkill
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TexRoadkill

TexRoadkill

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A friend of mine works for a data processing company that has some pretty serious computer hardware. They even have a server with the new 64bit Hammer processors but they are waiting for Win XP to support them.

One of the things he mentioned that got my interest was they have a rack full of 1U size computers. They use them as process farms. I didn't know they had rack computers that small and I imagine they aren't cheap. Anybody familliar with these?

I'll try to get some more info but he doesn't deal with the hardware and didn't know much about them.
 
Just like that except native windows and Intel. I can't imagine buying a Mac like that. Must be $10K.
 
Just checked the prices. Surpisingly they start at $3k. I wonder how well one of those would work as a recorder with a firewire setup.
 
As a measure of computer speed, a gigaflop is a billion floating-point operations per second.
 
One of those with one of these would make a kick-ass 3RU setup!
Click to expand...

That's the type of setup I'm trying to spec out to go along with an API lunchbox. I would love to have a rock solid studio and portable rig.
 
Damn, more cool hardware....

....that I can't afford!:(

I need a beer......
 
1HE computers are great for servers. The main problem is that they have very little room for extra's. I mean everything a server would need like a network interface, simple videocard (sound?, a server doesn't need a soundcard) are onboard with no free PCI slots. You'd be hard pressed to find a unit that can use a decent sound interface (whether it's PCI, firewire or USB) properly.
And from the units I've seen (and heard) they're noisy. They need quite powerful fans to force much needed cool air through the flat case.

But hey, I don't know every computer on the planet. There might as well be a perfect 1HE computer for recording on the market. But it won't be a server.
 
Get something like this only instead of the 16.6 get a 2.2AGhz, and 512DDR, get another drive (120gig portable system anyone?) an Aardvark Q10 or Echo Mona, the monitor/keyboard system, and a 1U rackmount surge protector/power supply and you got one kick ass portable recording system.
 
That looks like a really cool 1HE computer on that site, even just as it is.
 
christiaan said:
That looks like a really cool 1HE computer on that site, even just as it is.
Click to expand...

They've got a 2U one too that's got a bit more room in it, and it already comes with 1 80gig 7200 IDE drive, for $999.00.

They use Asus boards, from the look of it.

Sure, a laptop would be cheaper, but you can't get a laptop with 120gig 7200rpm drives.....yet.

Plus, having the PCI cards expands the possibilities a bit more as far as sound cards.

Unfortunately, that whole rig would probably run you like $4K.
 
What's the big deal about squeezing this rig into 1U unless you're gonna have a FarmField Full of them?

I love my 4U PC case. Nice and roomy- decent ventilation.
 
Dr Stawl. How heavy is that 4space rack? I'm trying to keep everything as small and light as possible.

Polaris - Those vision computers are suprisingly cheap. With a firewire PCI card you could add all the convertors and HD's you need. I'll have to keep those in mind.
 
>Dr Stawl. How heavy is that 4space rack? I'm trying to keep everything as small and light as possible.

It's not light but I can lift it and I've got a bad back..... :)
Probably over 40 pounds. And it's a bigger footprint than other ideas but not that much bigger.

The Delta 1010 breakout box is another 1U that's moved separately.

I saw that cute flatscreen/keyboard/mouse in a slide-out drawer that occupies 1U, but I'm not James Bond. $1875 is too steep.
 
That keyboard flatpanel is a little more than I would pay for that also. They have some pretty sweet 1-2 space computers for under a grand. I like the idea of an entire 4space recording rig. I don't know if they will really work though. I need to do a bit more research.
 
TexRoadkill said:
Dr Stawl. How heavy is that 4space rack? I'm trying to keep everything as small and light as possible.

Polaris - Those vision computers are suprisingly cheap. With a firewire PCI card you could add all the convertors and HD's you need. I'll have to keep those in mind.
Click to expand...

The nice thing is that they do use name brand components; not mystery meat.

I wish that 15" monitor/keyboard thing was cheaper. I can't believe it's that much more over a 15"LCD for $349.95 and a keyboard/mouse combo for $40 that they'd need to charge $1800 bucks for it.

I'm quite disappointed by that. Now that I know they exist, I'm going to see if I can find a more reasonably priced alternative.
 
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