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Marek
marekc@web.de

>I consider a grant application to build a computer for MP2 geometry optimization jobs. It seems SSDs with PCI Express interface are the best storage for scratch files. Any experience with them?  
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>On Thu Nov 26 '09 0:19am, Marek wrote
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>>Hello,

>>here are my experiences with ssd:
>>- hdd performance is only nescessary if your ram size is to small (see ram usage during a conventional run)
>>- Western Digitar Raptor = best mechanical drive (performance/price), very good durability :)
>>- MTron 16GB ~ 1.5x faster than Raptor, but after 1.5 hard years of usage one of my MTrons died
>>- OCZ Vertex ~ 2x faster than MTron, till its my favorite ssd :-)
>>- use raid0 arrays of ssds

>>Have fun!

Hello, in general i would suggest dirscf runs on SMP machines with many cores.
If you don't have the possibility of full dirscf runs i would suggest SSDs.
The average CPU Usage increases drastically for bigger simulations.

SSDs with PCIe are great, but expensive.
An alternative is to use todays SSD i.e. the Vertex SSDs of OCZ.
In general write performance and MTBF are the key parameters.
The new SSDs can 500MB/s read and 300MB/s write and are available as SATA3 Devices, but they are compatible with SATA2 Controllers.
The price of PCIe SSDs is at least twice time higher as the normal 2.5" SSDs.

In conclusion:: SSD yes if dirscf is not possible. PCIe yes if you got a cheap device with a lot of memory.

Good luck !