Honorable Mentions
Centuria

From left to right: Drew Henkels, Brien Weick and Joseph Moorman

Project Description:

The project in essence is to take any given number of old computers, fix them up to working condition, and connect them in a setup called a "cluster"--which basically means the computers distribute certain programs amongst themselves, functioning as one large "supercomputer.” This orientation is excellent for calculating prime numbers, rendering gargantuan video files, 3D modeling, and things of similar sizes.

Along with this, we have a conceptual design that addresses ways to drastically improve current cluster setups. While the functioning cluster will be connected via ethernet cables, our concept will utilize motherboard card ports—which are hundreds of thousands of times faster than ethernet ports—to communicate among the computers. Our hope is that by doing this, one can not only distribute specialized tasks as in a standard cluster, but literally combine two separate computers into one faster one, on nearly all levels of its functionality.

We'll also try to throw some other interesting ideas in with those if everything else works out. Thank you for your time.