Research on Underclocking Processors ( 2 Views )

1. I'm currently doing research on heterogeneous clusters. This is where you take machines with different processor speeds, network speeds, architectures, etc, and hook them up to run as a cluster. This is opposed to the standard cluster which is homogeneous with all machines the same.
   
   We are looking into ways to evaluate performance of these clusters and the problem is that most of the computers we have running in the cluster right now are the same speed. I want to find a way to simulate lower clock speeds on these machines to in turn simulate a more heterogeneous cluster.
   
   I used to be fairly into overclocking, so I know the ins and outs of changing clock speeds. I checked the bios on the machines and they're dells so they don't allow the changing of clock speed from within the bios.
   
   I've looked at tools that allow you to change the FSB from within windows (these are pentiums so no multiplier adjusting possible), but our lab machines are all running on linux. It would be possible to switch ALL machines over to windows for testing, but it's generally frowned upon to do scientific work on windows :rolleyes:
   
   Any help? Thanks in advance.
   
   
   (bahar, Spain)


2. Raises eyebrow? Bios settings my friend. Drop the multi down and walla lower clock speeds, not even simulated! Pretty sure you can reflash dells with new bios if it won't let you muck at all with mutli's
   
   
   (SIDIKA, Tonga)


3. Since you can't do anything with the bios settings, try ClockGen.
   
   http://www.cpuid.com/clockgen.php
   
   You will need to run this tool under Windows though.
   
   
   (erkan, Estonia)


4. sunin - I thought about looking for a new bios that allowed adjustments, but wasn't sure how safe this is, or if they are available. Do you have any links to get me started on where to look? BTW no multiplier adjustments as a I said, these are older pentiums that are locked.
   
   talonz - thanks for the link, I looked at that program, but like I said, I'd like to avoid windows. It would involve installing windows on EVERY computer in the cluster since different OS's don't always play well together. (That's several hundred computers).
   
   
   (ali, Svalbard and Jan Mayen)


5. Unfortunately you are pretty much out of luck because ClockGen wont work on most Dells. It is about your only option though. That or you could figure out if your processors support SpeedStep (not likely since Intel only really puts that on mobile processors). If they do support SpeedStep you could find a program that forces the processor to run at the slower speed.
   
   
   (ebru, Taiwan, Province of China)


6. You would have to give me some clue of what Dells you have at least as a starting point.
   
   
   (mine, Indonesia)


7. The majority are Dell Optiplex GX115, I'll try to stop by the lab today to get more detailed info on the hardware like motherboard chipset, etc. There are some compaq's in there too, I will have to look and see what model/motherboard.
   
   Something like ClockGen that runs on Linux would be perfect if anyone knows of something like that, or somewhere to get source code for a program like ClockGen that I could port to linux.
   
   
   (volkan, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the)


8. Ick Dell Optiplex GX115 might be hard to crack!
   
   Your best bet is going to be going the clock gen way, unless yoru up for replacing a ton of MOBO's.
   
   Search around for bios hacks as well. I'm not sure why there are not some out there, but I could not readily find any. Also the mobo's are proprietary to dell so they are not going to be something like ASUS, etc... Which makes your task that much harder.
   
   
   (Halil, Sierra Leone)


9. Bump.....anyone who can help with a ClockGen like program for linux or the source code for such a program gets a cookie :D
   
   
   (arda, New Caledonia)

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