Windows for Supercomputers needs less memory than Vista
HPC Windows less of a hardware hog than desktop version.
By Matthew Broersma, Techworld | Techworld
Published: 14:01 GMT, 19 November 07
With its first public beta of Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008, released last week, Microsoft coincidentally highlighted one of the reasons why Windows Vista adoption figures have remained near-nonexistent in the enterprise - its expensive hardware requirements.
One of users' gripes with Vista is its significant memory needs - a minimum of 1GB for all versions except the bare-bones Vista Home Basic.
It's one thing to compare this with the memory requirements of, say, Windows XP, Linux or Mac OS X. But a more relevant contrast is at hand: Windows HPC Server 2008, also known as "Windows for Supercomputers," which can run on 512MB of memory.
The new server software is aimed at the growing high-performance computing (HPC) market, with its stringent performance needs. It is designed for efficient HPC clusters, such as the 2,048-core production test cluster Microsoft used to test-drive the software.
It is the successor to Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, and is based on Windows Server 2008. Microsoft is recommending it for high-throughput applications such as service-oriented architecture (SOA) web services.
Vista, on the other hand, is intended for home and office desktops. On top of the 1GB minimum memory requirement, Microsoft recommends 2GB or 4GB to achieve the best experience.
Microsoft explained that Windows HPC Server 2008 also needs additional memory to perform at its best. "The minimum hardware requirements for Windows HPC Server 2008 are similar to the hardware requirements for the x64-based version of the Windows Server 2008 Standard operating system," the company said in a white paper on HPC Server 2008. "Windows HPC Server 2008 supports up to 64 GB of RAM."
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laptop battery | Published: 05:15 GMT, 17 January 2009
I also learn that Rechargeable dell batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused. Always store a inspiron battery pack in a fully charged staged for storage. so you need full charged before go hoilday, so will keep you new dell battery in 100% condition Dell inspiron 1100 laptop can't meet needs now, and the old dell inspiron 1100 battery ( http://www.batterygoshop.co.uk/dell/inspiron-1100-series-battery.htm) can only last 3 hours.
dell1100 | Published: 04:06 GMT, 30 October 2008
i don't like vista at all,i can't install it on my old dell inspiron 1100 laptop http://www.cheap-laptop-battery.co.uk/dell-inspiron-1100series-battery.htm And what's more it always costs more power. ubuntu is my favorite.
John From Canada | Published: 22:37 GMT, 03 February 2008
I am running a custom built PC, AMD Dual Core with ATI Video Card, 4GIG of ram, yet Windows XP or Vista only see's 3 Gig of it.
joe madajewski | Published: 16:40 GMT, 26 November 2007
OK...so how does MS expect one to use >3G of ram on ANY VISTA RIG with the 32 bit version. Using the /3G switch really doesnt cut it. I have 4G DDR on My dell E520 - dual core - and it will ONLY see 30xx mb no matter WHAT i do. what is MS smoking?
Thomas Muders | Published: 09:36 GMT, 20 November 2007
It's no wonder that Windows for Supercomputing needs less memory, because you can disable all the GUI-related stuff (except some very basic things). The same is true for Linux: On a typical Linux desktop system, a lot more stuff is running as on a Linux system part of a HPC cluster because the further has to run the complete desktop environment while the latter needs only a kernel and a scheduling system to run the batch jobs.