Research Resources: A High-Performance Shared-Purpose Cluster for Computer Architectural Simulation and Perceptual Interactive Ray Tracing

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EIA 02-24434Luebke, David P.Skadron, Kevin; Stan, Mircea R.University of Virginia CISE RR: A High-Performance Shared-Purpose Cluster for Computer Architectural Simulation and Perceptual Interactive Ray Tracing This proposal, building a cluster platform (with high computing and memory requirements, and graphics and display hardware) to support research in computer graphics and architecture, enables projects studying interactive rendering, computer architecture, and temperature-aware computing. A 16-node rack-mounted cluster with dual CPUs, large memory (4 GB), gigabit networking, and high-end graphics is expected to facilitate the research. Specifically, the infrastructure supports the following three research projects:Perceptually Driven Interactive Ray Tracing,Thermal Simulation of Computer Architecture with Graphics Hardware, andLarge-Memory Architectural Simulations.The computer graphics research investigates new scene rendering algorithms motivated by models of human perception, and requiring flexible (programmable) graphics hardware. This work investigates unconventional rendering techniques that exploit the ability to vary sample location, density, and frequency. Examples include frameless (replaces double buffering with randomized update of pixels), interruptible (unifies spatial and temporal error for a principles fidelity/performance tradeoff), and gaze-directed (varies detail and resolution according to user's attention) rendering. Thermal modeling is directed towards solving heat transfer equations for studying the run-time thermal behavior of microprocessors, especially multithreaded (SMT) and single chip (SCC) systems. The computer architecture component involves performance of SMT and SCC systems and investigation of aggressive branch prediction techniques using distant correlations.The educational aspects involve folding relevant topics into the current graduate seminars and students in the research.