platform for number crunching---resume

[Shimon Panfil]

Many thanks for everybody who answered my question.
Short resume is following:
1. x86_64 is really the only affordable platform( sure it depends on  
definition of "affordable" but anyway people got it right);
2. Good idea is cleaning off the dust from the box and check thermal paste;
3. Is the problem specific to my machine or has general nature still unclear,
since:
a) gamers forums are full of complaints about overheating;
b) nobody provides example of heavy *numerical* load without  
overheating, kernel compilation for example is not relevant becouse  
AFAIK compiler does not use floating point calculations and power  
consumption and heating may be essentially different;
4. All the subject of CPU power consumption and heating is complicated  
and needs serious investigation. Most of the references I've seen are  
of anecdotal character, very little reliable physical/engineering  
information. Probably manufacturers prefer to keep this information  
for own use.
S.

-- 
Shimon Panfil: Industrial Physics and Simulations
http://industrialphys.com