Is it possible to utilize multiple CPUs over a network?

[Alien18]

Hi All,

Just had a random thought, not really a serious question. But is there any way/software, that would allow say two or three PCs that are networked, to all use the CPU's on the same task, such as video editing or something?

Cheers,
Alien

 

[Jackal]

yes, but this isn't the right section

 

[Jono]

Beowulf cluster?

 

[AGD]

http://www.gridpp.ac.uk/explain.html

 

[Dolph]

As Jono said.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf_(computing)

 

[jamief]

Hi All,

Just had a random thought, not really a serious question. But is there any way/software, that would allow say two or three PCs that are networked, to all use the CPU's on the same task, such as video editing or something?

Cheers,
Alien

Yes, it is possible.

For example, render "farms" are (or certainly were) very common - 3dsmax includes the facility to do this out of the box.

 

[dave-lew99]

Lots of high end video editing apps include 'agents' for placing on other machines to perform rendering tasks, i think FinalCutPro does this.

Then there's bigger stuff like the Beowulf clustering, or wider area like the SETI@Home project or Folding@Home.

 

[Alien18]

yes, but this isn't the right section

Sorry, thought it'd be ok in General since it wasn't a "proper" question as such.

Thanks for all you other replies. It's interesting to know these things, I'll have a read up on it later.