is it possible to...

[galaxyAbstractor]

...Make a cluster with 2 computers running windows xp?
If it is possible, can anyone explain how to do or post a tutorial...

[tnl2k7]

Do you mean like a grid computing platform? If so, look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grid_computing

And if grid computing is what you're after, it's more for servers than home PCs, the software and/or hardware involved isn't cheap.

-Luke.

[galaxyAbstractor]

I mean for rendering graphics and movies and 3D

[Nathan H]

So then that sort of system, (using ethernet as the bus) would be appropriate, getting it set up would be tricky. Why don't you (for movies) chop it in two and render the sections seperately

[Smith6612]

So I get what you mean. At first I thought you wanted to make two computers terminals so that you could save some energy, but now I see that you want two computers to add some power to your system. One thing I'd do is upgrade your system, as mentioned above this is tricky setting up. Don't forget as well, unless you have Gigabit Ethernet, transferring data that needs fast RAM normally would take ages to get anything done. For example, to transfer just 11GB over Standard Ethernet (10/100 Full Duplex) takes about 20 minutes at full capacity and at a properly tweaked setting.

If you are looking for power, build yourself a gaming computer. While you may not be gaming, they are very good for HD video editing and the such because of their hardware, including High Speed RAM (800MHz-1066MHz+), the processors (3 GHz Dual Cores or 2.79GHz Quad Cores) along with Fast Video cards, which are actually used to help aid the processor in transcoding videos and of course are important for rendering things, especially multi-poly objects. Any card that can handle Crysis at the max settings possible under DirectX 10 and do some or full antialiasing will be the best thing to go for.

Just running two computers at full power would probably make you expend and use up MORE power than you would with one strong computer. Also, note that if you're going to be sending large amounts of data over Ethernet, depending on what you're doing, most residential grade home routers will crash after long periods of full speed utilization of the router, including going over Ethernet. You'd have to end up if this does happening getting yourself an expensive router, a CISCO router, or setting up another computer like I have done to act as a router.

[componentwarehouse]

Well unless you already have 2 computers (of dual core standard, with 2GB or so RAM and some decent graphics) then it would probably be cheaper to build one fast system (as mentioned above), and a whole lot easier. If you double everything in one of the computers (eg. take your dual to a quad and 2GB ram to 4GB) then it will be a better result, and faster than stringing 2 computers together.

Having said that I would love to try and complete the challenge of stringing 2 (or more) computers together to act as one :P

Alex

[galaxyAbstractor]

Ok I never belived it would be that hard lol. I have an old comp with just 256 MB ram and P4 1.5 GHZ proccesor. I thought I can use it in some way instead of it standing there lol.

But is it possible to add 2 proccessors in 1 computer then. If it is possible, is it easier?

[tnl2k7]

But is it possible to add 2 proccessors in 1 computer then. If it is possible, is it easier?

The simple answer: for old hardware, no. I'd just upgrade your current system, you're not going to get very far with this ;).

-Luke.

[Smith6612]

Ok I never belived it would be that hard lol. I have an old comp with just 256 MB ram and P4 1.5 GHZ proccesor. I thought I can use it in some way instead of it standing there lol.

But is it possible to add 2 proccessors in 1 computer then. If it is possible, is it easier?

For two processors, you need to rebuild that thing and not to mention get yourself a bigger case. They really only started doing Dual processors (Quad cores I think for each processors) only recently, and you can tell since the Mac Pro can get 2 processors in it. But yeah, 1.5GHz processor is slow.

Hey, if you have a good use for the system, turn it into a router. Here I have a 700MHz Pentium III box with 512MB of RAM and an 80GB HDD acting as my router, web server, and firewall/filtering solution all running on Fedora Core 9. It runs pretty nice while under load and has sure made my Linksys WRT54GX perform a lot better than having to process all of my routing info.

[Daniel S]

Yes but isn't a computer setup and working as a router basically a server?