[MITgcm-support] Inter or AMD: that is the question...

[Dierk Polzin]

Did anyone get back to you on the MITgcm Intel or AMD question?

Stefano posted it on 21 March.
squerin at ogs.trieste.it 

We are looking at building a new cluster and the issue are if the model will scale better on :
-- One node with 4 sockets with 12 or 16 cores per socket = 48-64 cores
-- Four nodes with 2 sockets with 8 cores per socket using Infinband = 64 cores

-- I understand the 4 socket with INTEL chips is more costly than 4 AMD, but the performance may be better.

-- Does anyone run a 4 x 12 cluster box built in the last two years?

-- How much memory per core, 2 GB seems to be overkill unless your running a ton of tracers.


> In brief: same cost, about half (0.66) number of Intel cores, with  
> almost double performance (or vice-versa for AMD...). So: same cost,  
> same cluster performance (with Intel, probably, a bit better...).
> Of course, there are many variables acting on overall cluster  
> performance (hardware, software (compiler), configuration of the  
> simulations...) and specific benchmarks using our present and planned  
> MITgcm configurations would settle things once and for all.  
> (Unfortunately not all vendors are willing to do these tests on their  
> facilities...)
> 
> Anyway, generally speaking, it seems to me that, for the same budget,  
> nowadays, either solution (AMD or Intel) is fine.
> Do you confirm this "feeling"?
> 

Regards
Dierk Polzin
UW-Madison