Excellent. Now, more about dual processing.
1) Xeon or Opterons? Keep in mind heat is an issue.
2) What is the approximate percentage of software able to take advantage of two CPUs?
3) Lets say I go with Xeons and I get two 2.0Ghz processors. If I am using a piece of software that is not able to take advantage of two CPUs, does that mean that that piece of software will behave as if I have only one 2.0GHz CPU?
Also if anyone else has any other advice they'd like to give, feel free...
I think that most would say that Opterons will out do Xeons, although I like my Xeons just fine.
I think that most of your major business apps and programs like Photoshop, AutoCad and others take advantage of duals. I'm faily confident that most of the new versions of compiliers do to but don't quote me on that. At any rate as long as you go with XP Pro or other OS that are designed for multiprocessing even if you use a program that isn't totaly multithreaded capable the OS, especialy XP Pro, will monitor process and threads across both processors to help with the work load.
I suppose that if you benched out a 2ghz dual Xeon rig on a non-mulitthreaded program you would see a slower result than with a multi-threaded progy.
One of the main reasons I'm so reluctant about this dual processor thing is that I have no hard numbers to go on. One thing that would be REALLY helpful would be a link to a benchmarking site for dual CPUs. The majority of sites I've been looking at over the past few days show benchmarking charts testing a bunch of different processors and how they perform under various circumstances. If anyone can provide a link to such a site that tests Dual Opterons against Dual Xeons AND against a 3500, it would be HUGELY helpful.
Having a dual Opteron system myself, I can't help but reccomend it. But I also want to throw this out as I haven't seen where anyone has suggested it yet. Why not get a dual Opteron MB but only 1 processor to start. That'll keep the price down a bit up front but give you room to upgrade later as you need it. Most if not all of the dual boards that I've seen will run 1 processor quite well until you upgrade to the second one and accompanying memory. And then, should you win the lottery or something, when the dual core chips come out, you can upgrade yet again and have a Quad system running. It just seems the cheapest upgrade path to me from ground zero right now.
Masamune, It sounds like you have the PSU licked. My rule of thumb has always been to look at the combined 3.3V+5V rating. I want at least 200W for this. I have PSUs that range from 360W to 530W, and all of them are rated 200W-225W for the 3.3+5. And to be honest, if I have to choose between two similar PSUs I'll always take the heaviest one.
One thing that you can get with a single CPU system is a FN3ultra mobo (like a MSI K8N Neo2) that has all of the intergrated NF3 goodies. This would be the easiest route for you.
K8N $134
+3500 (retail) $339
memory, well go read this http://anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2226
I don't know of any low latancmemory available in 1GB sticks.
One thing I was liking about AMD's 939 single CPUs is that they no longer need ECC registered memory. If I go with dual CPUs, does that fly out the window?
Yes, but I wouldn't let that discourage you from the purchase of an SMP computer.
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Geeky1University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
edited October 2004
The Opteron requires registered ram, yes. The Xeon does not. The Athlon MP doesn't technically either, but the only dual Athlon board that I know for sure will run without it is the MSI K7D and K7D-L.
Okay, thanks a bunch guys; you've given me a lot to think about. I'm still open to any other suggestions, so if anyone wants to chime in with something, go ahead.
Comments
I think that most would say that Opterons will out do Xeons, although I like my Xeons just fine.
I think that most of your major business apps and programs like Photoshop, AutoCad and others take advantage of duals. I'm faily confident that most of the new versions of compiliers do to but don't quote me on that. At any rate as long as you go with XP Pro or other OS that are designed for multiprocessing even if you use a program that isn't totaly multithreaded capable the OS, especialy XP Pro, will monitor process and threads across both processors to help with the work load.
I suppose that if you benched out a 2ghz dual Xeon rig on a non-mulitthreaded program you would see a slower result than with a multi-threaded progy.
"g"
"g"
Flint
One thing that you can get with a single CPU system is a FN3ultra mobo (like a MSI K8N Neo2) that has all of the intergrated NF3 goodies. This would be the easiest route for you.
K8N $134
+3500 (retail) $339
memory, well go read this http://anandtech.com/memory/showdoc.aspx?i=2226
I don't know of any low latancmemory available in 1GB sticks.
Link #1
Link #2
Link #3
Link #4
Dual Opteron Mobo Pic
Another Pic
Dual Opterons will only consume ~120watts (less than an Overclocked P4 3.5ghz)
A64 3500+ 2.2ghz - 512K Cache - Dual Channel Memory
Opteron 246 2.0ghz - 1MB Cache - Dual Channel Memory
Opteron 248 2.2ghz - 1MB Cache - Dual Channel Memory
A 3500+ roughly equals a Opteron x46 (146, 246, 846)