[Pafgbt] PAF beamformer size and cost

[Brian Jeffs]

Rick,

We have a rough architecture and cost estimate for a 40 channel  
correlator/beamformer capable of 40 channels (19 dual pol antennas  
plus reference or RFI auxiliary) over 250 MHz BW.  We worked this out  
with CASOER head Dan Werthimer and his crack correlator/beamformer  
developer Jason Manley.  It will require 20 ROACH boards, 20 iADC  
boards, 1 20-port 10 Gbit ethernet switch, and some lesser associated  
parts.

Our recent ROACH order was $2750 each, iADC: $1300 each, enclosures:  
$750 each, XiLinx chip: free or $3000,  ethernet switch: $12000.

You can use your existing data acquisition array of PCs as the stream- 
to-disk farm, but will need to buy 10 Gbit cards and hardware RAID  
controllers.

The total (which will be a bit low) assuming no free XiLinx parts and  
not including  is:  $168,000.

Of course this does not include development manpower costs.

Brian


On Feb 3, 2010, at 3:05 PM, Rick Fisher wrote:

> This is an incomplete question, but maybe we can beat it into  
> something
> answerable:  Do we know enough about existing applications on CASPER
> hardware to make a conservative estimate of what it would cost to  
> build a
> PAF beamformer with a given set of specs?  I'm looking for at least  
> two
> estimates.  What is a realistic set of specs for the first science PAF
> beamformer, and what would the dream machine that would make a big
> scientific impact cost?  You're welcome to define the specs that go  
> with
> either of these two questions or I'll start defining them by  
> thinking "out
> loud".  The first science beamformer will guide the initial system  
> design,
> and the dream machine will help get a handle on longer range  
> expectations.
>
> Cheers,
> Rick
>
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