What's the best investment ?

[Axel Weiß]

Umberto Iemma wrote:
> I have a long experience on high performance computing using Linux,
> but I'm almost completely ignorant concerning data analysis. In order
> to use my budget in the proper way I need some help from you all.
> Specifically, I need a PC with good real-time performances to handle
> multiple channels data acquisition (at least  32 ch), with a hardware
> compatible with RTAI in terms of easy compilation and stability. At
> the same time, the computer should be capable to perform heavy
> numerics.

Hi Umberto,

in your own interest, could you be a bit more specific? What exactly are 
the real-time demandings of your application? Clearly, data acquisition 
requires equi-distance sampling, but what will happen after collecting 
the measuring signals? Do you need to perform data analysis in 
real-time? Do you need to perform 'heavy numerics' in real-time? Where 
do you draw the line between real-time and off-line?

If you intend to perform multi-channel data-acquisition, you should think 
about plugging one or more dsp-boards with multi-channel/multiplexed 
analog inputs. What are the expected sample frequencies at 32 channels? 
What is the expected upper bound of frequency information you need to 
concern? Do you need sample-accurate correlations between the different 
channels?

BTW: If you intend to do complicated things with your sampled signals, 
I'd like to recommend NI's LabVIEW, (which is available for Linux, 
including special prices for universities, e.g. we got it free of 
charge :). It is *very* useful, esp. for quickly visualising results, 
for playing with analysis methods and for rapid prototyping.

I hope, my questions help you with your decisions.

Cheers,
			Axel

-- 
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Institut für Informatik
Signalverarbeitung und Mustererkennung
Dipl.-Inf. Axel Weiß
Rudower Chaussee 25
12489 Berlin-Adlershof
+49-30-2093-3050
** www.freesp.de **