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Supercomputing: The Video Game

Terry Olaes

Terry Olaes

I Used to be the [H] News Guy
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Nov 27, 2006
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Purdue University is challenging students to engage in supercomputing activity by designing a “Whac-A-Mole” style of game called “Rack-A-Node.” In a time where computers are ubiquitous in our lives, supercomputing still occupies a rarified area that many students fear to tread. Interesting concept.

The object is to find the right balance of hardware to fit the given task. It’s esoteric stuff, but Purdue sees it as a way of encouraging students to think about this technology.
Click to expand...
 
I'm tired, so I found it repetitive and dull. After 3 games of reaching level 6 using different methods each time, I realized that it wasn't fun enough to justify thinking anymore. :p Thanks for linking to it anyway, interesting game.
 
Argh, after many attempts, I got to level 15...I'd like to see how people get much past that
 
As a tip, it seems that a work unit can only interface with one server at a time, to maxamize work, space out your servers one at a time.

Start from the top of the rack down so you can hit it on the first pass

I just used one rack without spreading it out, although this eventually conflicts with my first point and is probably key to higher levels.
 
update: I made it thru level 17, can't get past 18.

I really hope this game dosn't represent the best Perdue has to offer, because it's extremely repetitive, with poor controls / layout, and while it is quite addicting, it does very little to educate the player.

It simply is a matter of trial and error to figure out the best "strategy", and just hope you don't click "sell" when you meant to click "upgrade", while frantically selecting the WUs and putting them in the correct rack (as if a computer couldn't do that for you - wtf).

Education Rank: 1 out of 5
Addictive Rank: 4 out of 5 :cool:
Creative Rank: 3 out of 5
Design / Interface Rank: 2 out of 5 :rolleyes:

Overall: 2 out of 5
;)
 
Perhaps those who can get over level 13 would share their configurations ?

Also I wouldn't suggest this to anyone with a 500Mhz pc as you can complete level 2 and that's it :D ( work pc )
 
I played a bit yesterday at work and found it fun enough that I was planning on coming back to it today. There is a new IT guy. He seems to be putting a crack down on certain things. No game for me today.

 
SudburyOntario said:
Perhaps those who can get over level 13 would share their configurations ?

Also I wouldn't suggest this to anyone with a 500Mhz pc as you can complete level 2 and that's it :D ( work pc )
Click to expand...
Finally got around to trying this game out. This isn't a game of skill, it's just trial and error. All you need to do is write down your process, then fix it when you fail. Here's how I got to level 15 after a dozen or so tries. I'm sure I could go higher because next time I know i need to spend more on processors before getting to level 15. Only problem is that it takes so long just to get back to where you failed, so I'm done trying.

Here's what I buy before starting each round to easily hit level 15 (definitely not the best). I also put everything in Rack 2 since it has the shortest path.

1 - Buy QC + Lvl 1 Mem in slot 1
2 - Nothing
3 - Nothing
4 - Buy QCEE in Slot 8 & QC + lvl1 Mem in slot 3, Up slot 1 to mem lvl2
5 - Buy QC in Slot 4
6 - Up Slot 8 com
7 - Buy QC Slot 2 + lvl1 mem, Up Slot 1 Com
8 - Up Slot 4 to lvl1 mem, Up Slot 3 com + max mem
9 - Up Slot 2 com + max mem
10 - Up Slot 4 com + max mem (add QCEE to Slot 6 during round - you could probably spend less on mem and buy this at the start instead)
11 - Up Slot 6 com
12 - Up Slot 1,2,3,4 with compiler
13 - Up Slot 8 compiler + processor, Up slot 3 &4, to processor lvl1, Up slot 1,2 processor lvl2
14 - Buy QCEE in Slot 5 + com + mem lvl2 , Up Slot 8 mem lvl2
15 - Up Slot 5 & 6 to processor lvl1, Up Slot 3 & 4 to processor lvl2 (FAIL - need more speed)
 
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