Re: PC requirements

Posted by Benjamin Smith on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/PC-requirements-tp7587774p7587789.html

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There is no one best solution.  If almost all of your tasks are going to be
multi-threaded on large image sets (such as median filters, etc.) then a
server wins.  However, if the tasks are also going to be single threaded
(such as EDTs and most plugins) then a desktop wins easily.  If you need
just one computer, then I've found a single CPU desktop with as many cores
and as much RAM as you can afford is a great compromise (you can never have
too much or too fast RAM for image processing).  Add on a quality
motherboard to push the data and some nice fans for a bit of over-clocking,
and you'll have a decent enough work-horse.  An M.2 drive is also nice to
keep the system stable in the event of hard faults.

In short, if all tasks can be multi-threaded, go with a server, but for
anything else go with a desktop.  The problem with servers is they can get
profoundly bogged down when distributing single-threaded tasks.  Although,
you can also do what I call a "poor man's" multi-thread and run multiple
different instances of the image processing at the same time. For
suppliers, we've had excellent luck with Puget Systems, good support and
excellent build quality.  No personal interest, just a very happy repeat
customer.  Even better if you have a good in house IT person, but those are
a rare treat.

-Ben Smith



On Mon, Jan 15, 2018 at 4:22 AM, Owens, Peter <[hidden email]>
wrote:

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> Dear listers,
>
> I am looking into purchasing a high end image processing PC , that will be
> capable of processing large multidimensional data sets up to 1 TB in size.
> Does anyone have any recommendations on a PC configuration that would be
> suitable?
> Do people build custom PCs or buy off the shelf?
> Are high spec gaming PCs up to this task?
>
> thanks for any advice on this .
>
> all the best
>
> Peter
>
>
> Peter Owens
> Centre for Microscopy and Imaging,
> National University of Ireland Galway.
> P: +35391494036 m: +353863326749
> W: www.imaging.nuigalway.ie e: [hidden email]
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Oliver Biehlmaier
> Sent: 15 January 2018 10:17
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: Cleaning of CSU W1 spinning disk scan head
>
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> Dear all, dear Pascal,
>
> This is indeed very annoying!
> As some of you might remember from the conversation that Kai started last
> year asking about the experiences with current spinning disk systems, the
> reports on dust problems on the W1 were by far the most frequent.
> I wonder how the manufacturer can get away with such a problem without
> being obliged to replace or at least fix those dust collecting systems?!
>
> Pascal, I thought that your system already was “fixed” with the magic tape
> solution…. So apparently this did not help. Is that correct?
>
> Did anyone of you guys purchase a new W1 within the past 6 months?
> According to the manufacturer and the local distributers the dust problem
> should be fixed on those recently sold W1 systems. Can anyone confirm this?
>
> Concerning the problem described I would really try to ask the distributer
> to solve this, in particular if the system is still under warranty.
> I have no idea how to clean the disk but the system should clearly only be
> opened and cleaned in a clean room. Otherwise Gabor’s solutions should at
> least reduce the dust problem.
>
> Best regards,
> Oliver
>
>
>
> Oliver Biehlmaier, PhD | Head of Imaging Core Facility  | Biozentrum,
> University of Basel | Klingelbergstrasse 50/70 | CH-4056 Basel
> Phone: +41 61 207 20 73 | Email: [hidden email]<mailto:
> [hidden email]> | www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/imcf<
> http://www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/imcf> | www.microscopynetwork.unibas.ch<
> http://www.microscopynetwork.unibas.ch>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 15 Jan 2018, at 09:51, Csúcs Gábor <[hidden email]<mailto:
> [hidden email]>> wrote:
>
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> Dear All,
>
> Though I fully agree with Ferhan that it would be good if either the
> manufacturer or the distributor would offer a solution to this dust
> problem, perhaps I can  make two suggestions that will certainly not
> eliminate the problem but perhaps make it less frequent (less frequent
> cleaning required). The first one is reduction of the dust in the room
> (very obvious). This can be potentially achieved by installing filters in
> the air-conditioning unit (if possible) and to apply some other "tricks"
> used in clean environments (sticky floor tapes etc.). The other suggestion:
> I believe (of course I have no scientific proof for this) that box-type
> incubators (enclosures) also may help. But again this does not solve the
> issue....
>
> Greetings Gabor
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Ferhan A
> Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2018 9:58 AM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: Cleaning of CSU W1 spinning disk scan head
>
> *****
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>
> Dear Pascal,
>
> We have exactly the same headache with our dust gathering CSU W1 spinning
> disk unit which started to produce images resembling the ones in the cover
> pages of dendrochronology journals. As discussed earlier in this forum,
> this seems to be a design flaw of W1 system. We will be very happy if the
> original manufacturer comes up with a no-cost-to-customer fix to this
> problem and offers free dust cleanup and reimburses us for the aspirins.
> Best regards,
> Ferhan
> -------
> Ferhan Ayaydin, Ph.D.
> Cellular Imaging Laboratory
> Biological Research Center
> Hungarian Academy of Sciences
> Temesvari krt. 62
> 6726 Szeged
> Hungary
>
>
> On Jan 12, 2018 16:23, "Pascal Lorentz" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
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>
> Dear list
>
> We have a CSU W1 spinning disk scan head and most likely a dust particle
> on the disk that creates a well defined line in the image.
> Please find an image here: https://imgur.com/a/e3NKg Did somebody ever
> clean the disks successfully? I heard that it is very tricky to do on site
> in a non dust free environment.
> How would I need to proceed if I would like to clean it myself? How can I
> access the disks and are there any tips and tricks on how to prevent even
> more dust flying onto the disks. So far I just accessed the emission filter
> wheels and the dichroic mirrors but did not dare to access the disks. Any
> manuals would be helpful.
>
> Thanks a lot for your help and best regards
>
> Pascal
>
>
>


--
Benjamin E. Smith, Ph. D.
Imaging Specialist, Vision Science
University of California, Berkeley
195 Life Sciences Addition
Berkeley, CA  94720-3200
Tel  (510) 642-9712
Fax (510) 643-6791
e-mail: [hidden email]
http://vision.berkeley.edu/?page_id=5635 <http://vision.berkeley.edu/>