Re: [ccp4bb] Crystallographic computing platform recommendations?

[Roger Rowlett]

Anna S Gardberg wrote: Dear list, I haven't seen the "crystallographic computing platform" thread come up for a while, and I've got a chance to upgrade my desktop to a workstation, so I thought I'd ask the CCP4BB for advice on: 1. Mac vs. Linux (which flavor?) vs. Windows 2. Graphics cards 3. Displays 4. Processors - multiple processors, multiple cores? Speed? About half of what I do involves ~1.0 A X-ray structures - data processing, rebuilding in Coot, refinement, and so forth - so my current desktop (Optiplex GX745, Radeon X1300) machine drags on graphics sometimes. I don't seem to need stereo these days, for what it's worth. Anybody have suggestions or specs they'd like to share? Thanks in anticipation of your advice. Regards, Anna Gardberg My workstations and data servers: 1. Linux (Fedora Core 8, currently, as this distro is well supported in xtallography circles--I'm tempted to try Ubuntu next upgrade cycle) 2. If stereo is not an issue, any 8000 or 9000 series GeForce NVidia card is fine. I avoid ATI because of flaky Linux drivers. The 9600GT Nvidia is a bargain, but an 8600 is OK, too. 3. I use a 24" Samsung LCD display. You need CRTs only if doing stereo, but then you would need a really expensive Quadro card with stereo outputs. 4. Quad cores are so cheap right now, there is no reason not to go this route. I built my workstations from really cheap Intel DG35EC boards with Intel Q9300 processors. 250Gbyte drive for the OS and programs, and a 400 Gbyte drive for data, all SATA-300. I loaded up with a memory card reader, SATA DVD-writer, and packaged it all up in a tiny cubical micro-ATX box. You can build the whole workstation for under $1500, including the LCD monitor. My data and backup servers are installed on junk machines salvaged from offices and labs. Anything with a Pentium 4 is fast enough to be a data or backup server. The nice thing about building your own computer is when it comes time for an upgrade, you can save many of the parts (case, power supply, DVD writer, etc.) and just upgrade the motherboard, CPU, and maybe the hard drives. Cheers, -- Roger S. Rowlett Professor Colgate University Presidential Scholar Department of Chemistry Colgate University 13 Oak Drive Hamilton, NY 13346 tel: (315)-228-7245 ofc: (315)-228-7395 fax: (315)-228-7935 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]