Month: April 2024
The Cheyenne Supercomputer is going for a fraction of its list price at auction right now
If you’ve been thinking about picking up a new supercomputer but were waiting on a good price, now might be a good time to put in your bid. Right now, the US government, via GSA Auctions, is auctioning off the Cheyenne Supercomputer to the highest bidder with three days remaining. While we haven’t tested this one ourselves, we assume its 145,152 CPU cores will easily out-perform our current top pick for a laptop. You also won’t need to upgrade the memory anytime soon, as there’s a full 313,344GB of RAM currently installed, and the storage capacity tallies up to around 36 petabytes. No need to delete files to make room for new games or other media downloads.
The deal was spotted by Ars Technica, who also point out that the fiber optic and CAT5/6 cabling are not included in the sale. While the price the government paid for the supercomputer has not been disclosed, it’s safe to assume the cost was well into the millions, considering the price tags of other supercomputers. As of this writing, the bidding has reached $28,085, though the reserve has not yet been met. There are still three days to go and there’s currently no deposit required to place a bid.
The reason for such a hefty discount (other than the fact that Cheyenne has been decommissioned) could be faulty quick disconnects causing water spray and the fact that approximately one percent of nodes have “experienced failure” and “will remain unrepaired.” One other caveat to note before you start making room in your arena-sized climate-controlled garage is that shipping is not included. As GSA Auctions notes on the details page, “moving this system necessitates the engagement of a professional moving company” and that “the purchaser assumes responsibility for transferring the racks from the facility onto trucks.”
But where else will you find such steep savings on a machine that can carry out 5.34 quadrillion calculations per second? Cheyenne is also surprisingly energy-efficient, consuming 25 percent less energy per computation than its predecessor, Yellowstone. The massive supercomputer helped researchers understand the rapid intensification of hurricanes, how wildfires impact air quality, and simulated years of climate functions to predict outcomes decades in advance. It should definitely provide you with enough processing power for extreme multitasking at work while handling even the most demanding games after hours.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-cheyenne-supercomputer-is-going-for-a-fraction-of-its-list-price-at-auction-right-now-235330715.html?src=rss
If you’ve been thinking about picking up a new supercomputer but were waiting on a good price, now might be a good time to put in your bid. Right now, the US government, via GSA Auctions, is auctioning off the Cheyenne Supercomputer to the highest bidder with three days remaining. While we haven’t tested this one ourselves, we assume its 145,152 CPU cores will easily out-perform our current top pick for a laptop. You also won’t need to upgrade the memory anytime soon, as there’s a full 313,344GB of RAM currently installed, and the storage capacity tallies up to around 36 petabytes. No need to delete files to make room for new games or other media downloads.
The deal was spotted by Ars Technica, who also point out that the fiber optic and CAT5/6 cabling are not included in the sale. While the price the government paid for the supercomputer has not been disclosed, it’s safe to assume the cost was well into the millions, considering the price tags of other supercomputers. As of this writing, the bidding has reached $28,085, though the reserve has not yet been met. There are still three days to go and there’s currently no deposit required to place a bid.
The reason for such a hefty discount (other than the fact that Cheyenne has been decommissioned) could be faulty quick disconnects causing water spray and the fact that approximately one percent of nodes have “experienced failure” and “will remain unrepaired.” One other caveat to note before you start making room in your arena-sized climate-controlled garage is that shipping is not included. As GSA Auctions notes on the details page, “moving this system necessitates the engagement of a professional moving company” and that “the purchaser assumes responsibility for transferring the racks from the facility onto trucks.”
But where else will you find such steep savings on a machine that can carry out 5.34 quadrillion calculations per second? Cheyenne is also surprisingly energy-efficient, consuming 25 percent less energy per computation than its predecessor, Yellowstone. The massive supercomputer helped researchers understand the rapid intensification of hurricanes, how wildfires impact air quality, and simulated years of climate functions to predict outcomes decades in advance. It should definitely provide you with enough processing power for extreme multitasking at work while handling even the most demanding games after hours.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-cheyenne-supercomputer-is-going-for-a-fraction-of-its-list-price-at-auction-right-now-235330715.html?src=rss
Dave & Buster’s To Allow Customers To Bet On Arcade Games
Arcade giant Dave & Buster’s said it will begin allowing customers to bet on arcade games. “Customers can soon make a friendly $5 wager on a Hot Shots basketball game, a bet on a Skee-Ball competition or on another arcade game,” reports CNBC. “The betting function, expected to launch in the next few months, will work through the company’s app.” From the report: Dave & Buster’s, started in 1982, now has more than 222 venues in North America, offering everything from bowling to laser tag, plus virtual reality. The company says it has five million loyalty members and 30 million unique visitors to its locations each year. The company’s stock is up more than 50% over the past year. As a boom in betting increases engagement among sports fans, digital gamification could have a similar effect within Dave & Buster’s customer base by allowing loyalty members to compete with one another and earn rewards. Ultimately, it could mean people spend more time and money at the venues.
Dave and Buster’s is using technology by gamification software company Lucra. […] Lucra and Dave & Buster’s said there will be a limit placed on the size of bets it will allow, but that they’re not publicly disclosing that threshold just yet. Lucra said across its history the average bet size has been $10. “We’re creating a new form of kind of a digital experience for folks inside of these ecosystems,” said Madding, Lucra’s chief operating officer. “We’re getting them to engage in a new way and spend more time and money,” he added. Lucra says its skills-based games are not subject to the same licenses and regulations gambling operators face with games of chance. Lucra is careful not to use the term “bet” or “wager” to describe its games. “We use real-money contests or challenges,” Madding said. Lucra’s contests are only available to players age 18 and older. The contests are available in 44 states.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Arcade giant Dave & Buster’s said it will begin allowing customers to bet on arcade games. “Customers can soon make a friendly $5 wager on a Hot Shots basketball game, a bet on a Skee-Ball competition or on another arcade game,” reports CNBC. “The betting function, expected to launch in the next few months, will work through the company’s app.” From the report: Dave & Buster’s, started in 1982, now has more than 222 venues in North America, offering everything from bowling to laser tag, plus virtual reality. The company says it has five million loyalty members and 30 million unique visitors to its locations each year. The company’s stock is up more than 50% over the past year. As a boom in betting increases engagement among sports fans, digital gamification could have a similar effect within Dave & Buster’s customer base by allowing loyalty members to compete with one another and earn rewards. Ultimately, it could mean people spend more time and money at the venues.
Dave and Buster’s is using technology by gamification software company Lucra. […] Lucra and Dave & Buster’s said there will be a limit placed on the size of bets it will allow, but that they’re not publicly disclosing that threshold just yet. Lucra said across its history the average bet size has been $10. “We’re creating a new form of kind of a digital experience for folks inside of these ecosystems,” said Madding, Lucra’s chief operating officer. “We’re getting them to engage in a new way and spend more time and money,” he added. Lucra says its skills-based games are not subject to the same licenses and regulations gambling operators face with games of chance. Lucra is careful not to use the term “bet” or “wager” to describe its games. “We use real-money contests or challenges,” Madding said. Lucra’s contests are only available to players age 18 and older. The contests are available in 44 states.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Quordle today – hints and answers for Wednesday, May 1 (game #828)
Looking for Quordle clues? We can help. Plus get the answers to Quordle today and past solutions.
It’s a new month, but the same old Quordle, serving up the usual challenge of dastardly difficult word puzzles. I didn’t find today’s to be too tricky, but you might do – so read on for my hints if you need them.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #828) – hint #1 – Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #828) – hint #2 – repeated letters
Do any of today’s Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 2.
Quordle today (game #828) – hint #3 – uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today’s Quordle answers.
Quordle today (game #828) – hint #4 – starting letters (1)
Do any of today’s Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?
• The number of today’s Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.
If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you’re not ready yet then here’s one more clue to make things a lot easier:
Quordle today (game #828) – hint #5 – starting letters (2)
What letters do today’s Quordle answers start with?
• R
• S
• P
• P
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
Quordle today (game #828) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle, game #828, are…
ROUGHSYNODPOSSEPARRY
This was a relatively straightforward Quordle puzzle for me, but maybe not for you. A couple of the words – PARRY and POSSE – have repeated letters, and SYNOD has an uncommon structure with a Y sandwiched between S and N at its start. None caused me any real issues thanks to my three start words, STARE, DOILY and PUNCH, giving me all but one of the letters needed to solve today’s quartet of words. It’s not the most flamboyant way to play, but it works for me…
How did you do today? Send me an email and let me know.
Daily Sequence today (game #828) – the answers
(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)
The answers to today’s Quordle Daily Sequence, game #828, are…
FAITHCACAOGIVENGUMBO
Quordle answers: The past 20
Quordle #827, Tuesday 30 April: STASH, FUSSY, REEDY, WALTZQuordle #826, Monday 29 April: STAKE, PURGE, PECAN, PLANTQuordle #825, Sunday 28 April: LLAMA, CUMIN, CAULK, RABIDQuordle #824, Saturday 27 April: QUACK, BERET, SKULL, LATHEQuordle #823, Friday 26 April: AMONG, FLING, SOUND, AGILEQuordle #822, Thursday 25 April: WHILE, DODGY, MACHO, LOATHQuordle #821, Wednesday 24 April: STEAD, CANAL, SHEEN, UNITEQuordle #820, Tuesday 23 April: PLANK, SPOIL, GAVEL, STOOPQuordle #819, Monday 22 April: PLAID, ADAGE, DIODE, ELBOWQuordle #818, Sunday 21 April: CASTE, FUNKY, CAVIL, MANGAQuordle #817, Saturday 20 April: STAMP, FORTH, DULLY, OUNCEQuordle #816, Friday 19 April: WOMAN, WAXEN, FLIRT, FLOATQuordle #815, Thursday 18 April: MATCH, APTLY, BISON, CLINKQuordle #814, Wednesday 17 April: COLON, EQUIP, SUITE, BLURBQuordle #813, Tuesday 16 April: METAL, MATEY, AGREE, DRIVE Quordle #812, Monday 15 April: STINT, RAPID, BRING, BUILDQuordle #811, Sunday 14 April: WITTY, DADDY, SHORT, SLUNGQuordle #810, Saturday 13 April: GROVE, ALLOY, TIMID, TWISTQuordle #809, Friday 12 April: GUILD, VOMIT, DROOP, BIGOTQuordle #808, Thursday 11 April: STRIP, EVENT, EPOXY, GROSS
Tens of millions secretly use WhatsApp despite bans
Will Cathcart reveals how many people are secretly using his app in countries where it is banned.
Will Cathcart reveals how many people are secretly using his app in countries where it is banned.
Tens of millions secretly use WhatsApp despite bans
Will Cathcart reveals how many people are secretly using his app in countries where it is banned.
Will Cathcart reveals how many people are secretly using his app in countries where it is banned.