Quad p3 Xeon system - to buy or not to buy...

[Vicodin]

Alrighty...

I have the opportunity to buy a quad p3 xeon 500 system for about 300bux. 4 proc, some dinky little scsi 9.1X3 raid array and 512m ram.

Now for the question.

What the hell could I use this thing for?

Why am I compelled to buy it?

If I added a couple pci cards and some RAM would I even be able to somehow transfer my current fileserver (8 total hd's, 1.5terrabyte, blahblah) onto this mb?

Would it run as well/better/worse than my current fileserver? (Athlon at 2.2ghz, 1gig of pc2700)

I'm stupid, confused and getting itchy to buy something to tinker with.

Fold on.

[mmonnin]

The lure of more than 1 CPU in one machine has you by the throat.

Well I just saw Quad P3 Xeons, 500 or 550, on ebay for $100. I guess with what else you are getting it wouldnt be that bad of a deal.

I cant answer the array question but I would say no esp if it has the OS on it.

[Gargoyle]

I'm thinking that four P3's @ 500 still wouldn't be as powerful as one Athlon 2200, and that's if the programs you were running knew how to use all four processors to begin with. Not to mention memory bandwidth will pale in comparison to your Athlon.

Get it if you'd like a new pet project, but I wouldn't transfer your file server to it unless you have grander plans for the hardware that is currently your file server.

Would you need to come up with a special version of Windows to run four processors? I think 2K and XP Pro. only run up to 2 processors in their standard releases. I could be wrong though.

[Omega65]

Vicodin A better option would be to grab yourself a Dual Opteron 240 (1.4ghz) or 242 (1.6ghz) mobo & CPUs. Opteron 240,242 go for ~$150-200 on Ebay

Two Opteron 240, 242 would kick the crap out a Quad Xeon 500 for around the same price. Plus you get all the latest stuff GigE Lan USB2.0 AGP 8X. You gotta get PC2700/3200 Reg/ECC memory though...

[Tex]

It is tons slower then your current fileserver. For most things you do its gonna feel like... well......a 500mhz p3.

Tex

[Vicodin]

Thank you for the common sense infusion.

I will not put it in my house,

I will not use it with my mouse,

I will not buy it here or there,

I will not buy it anywhere,

No xeon 500, Sam I am -

I do not like Green Eggs and Ham.

Fold on.

[Omega65]

You're just suffering from Intel P3 admiration. :)

I had to put a stop to a P3 Tualatin Lovefest a little while ago. (Athlon MP are cheaper, faster and cooler clock for clock)