HV 20/11/1997 PC configuration Request For Comments Dear colleagues, the following is an attempt to describe a "standard" configuration for PC's used for Research and Development purposes (the requirements for administrative application are likely to be different). We all know the advantages of standardisation: - easy to exchange and re-use components - a pool of "knowledge" about the "standard" machine soon exists. If different kinds of hardware are used, a lot of extra work (reading manuals, downloading and configuring drivers) is done. - easy to manage - ... Looking at the demands of both Microsoft and Linux users, we come to the following suggestions (Geldhof prices in braces): CPU: For standardisation reasons it is, despite the price difference, safer to buy a true Intel processor rather than an equivalent AMD. This may be too conservative an approach as AMD processors are said to be highly compatible but better to be safe than sorry with Linux. Given the (current) low floating point performance of the AMD K6 processor, it is decided to stay with Intel. For overall operating system (NT and Linux) operation as well as for window manager, compiler, etc. performance, the integer performance of the processor is crucial. For simulation purposes, our main requirement is high floating point performance. Given the above issues, a reasonable choice would be a Pentium 2 MMX at 233 MHz with 512k cache (21.167BF). For users with less simulation requirements (i.e., the NT users or users who will run their simulations on "trantor", the SGI Origin compute server), a Pentium 200MHz MMX (11.228BF) seems the optimal choice. Once a CPU has been chosen, it is important to gather matching components which can keep up with the CPU's speed. It is crucial to realise that a fast CPU which is not accompanied by enough cache, and fast devices (such as swap device hard disk), is totally useless. Mother board: Depending on the above choice of processor, the following PCI boards seem appropriate: - for a Pentium 2 MMX 233 MHz : Tyan Tahoe Pentium Pro dual or Pentium II ATX S1682D (18.005BF) - for a Pentium 200MHz MMX: ABIT AX5 (TX) PENT ATX 512kb PLB cache (6.374BF) Note the 512kb cache (included in the Pentium 2). Sufficient cache has a major influence on performance. Please let me know if you know of more appropriate mother boards. Cooling: The lastest generation of processors dissipate large amounts of power (in the form of heat). To assure a long processor life, cooling is advisable: - for a Pentium 2 MMX 233 MHz : fan for Pentium II -> 266 (1.906BF) - for a Pentium 200MHz MMX: heatsink for Pentium 133 - 200 (327BF) Central memory: For our applications, 64 Mb EDO RAM parity 72 (9.728BF) is required. More memory would not hurt, but if SCSI and a fast disk are used, judicious use of swap space (in particular under Linux) alleviates the need for more memory (under the premise that this is a single user machine). Bear in mind also that a Pentium is a CISC processor which makes 64Mb equivalent to 80Mb for a RISC processor (such as a MIPS). Case: though very much a matter of personal taste, a MIDI TOWER ATX (4.356BF) seems most appropriate. A maxi tower is overkill as we don't need so many slots. A desktop case is not popular at BIOMATH as it either takes to much space on a desk or, when the monitor is put on it, puts the monitor too high. Device bus: the most standard device bus is currently SCSI. SCSI devices can even be interchanged between PC's and UNIX machines such as Silicon Graphics. Thanks to this feature, it becomes possible to buy external devices such as CD-ROM and backup devices and physically connect them to any machine. Note that it is often not even necessary to physically move a device as it may be sufficient to network mount the device. Only SCSI is standard enough to allow "plug and play". Another reason for using SCSI is that it allows for easiest Linux installation. This is related to the most important issue: performance. Given a fast processor with enough cache, central memory, fast processor bus (PCI), ... then it is crucial to have a fast connection to a fast disk (especially for swap purposes and for system applications). The faster the disk controller, the better the overall performance (especially under UNIX). Hence: Ultra SCSI controller Mylex Flashpoint LT (http://www.mylex.com/prodinfo/bt930.html) (price around 17.000BF ?) This NT 4.0 certified controller can deliver upto 20Mb/s transfer rate, backward compatible with SCSI-1, SCSI-2, and SCSI-3 devices. CD-ROM: external SCSI (only bought once, already present on Henk's desk specs/price ?) Floppy drive: performance doesn't matter any more as a floppy disk is currently only used for booting after a system crash and for exchanging small amounts of data (e.g., for Linux users, with tar). Low end floppy drive: Samsung FDD 1.44 (937BF). Hard disk: it seems one can never have enough disk space. In view of an attempt to centralise (= central disk server with fast disks is more cost effective and easier to maintain than multiple small disks), it seems reasonable (even with dual NT/Linux installation), to use 3.2 Gb narrow ultra-SCSI Quantum Fireball ST (17.003BF) with burst transfer rates upto 33Mb/s. Note: for truly high performance (as in a disk server), a Seagate Barracuda (such as the external disk on hobbes) is probably still the best buy (if suffuciently cooled). Video card: depending on the performance and the number of bitplanes required, the following video card seem to be the most standard (particularly important for Linux with the Metro-X server, but also for NT drivers): - PCI Diamond Stealth 64 (S3 chipset, upto 65K colours = 16 bitplanes in 1280x10124) (5.169BF ?) - PCI Matrox Millennium 8Mb (MGA chipset, upto 16.7 colours = 24 bitplanes in 1280x10124) (9.031BF + 4Mb price ?) for VRML. Video screen: - for standard users: standardise 17" ADI 1280x1024 (27.588BF) - for software developers: standardise 19" Sony 20sd II 1280x1024 (72.600BF) Ethernet controller: 3COM Etherlink XL PCI 3C900 (5.754BF) For most users: coax, in Simulation Lab I: TPU. Keyboard: Cherry QWERTY w95 (1.800BF) Mouse: Logitech 3 button serial mouse (864BF)