Advice on 2x MP vs. A64

[imported_maxx]

I have a PC with 1.5 GB PC2100 Registered ECC memory, right now with an XP1800+.

I run VMWare, sometimes more than one virtual machine at once, so more RAM is nice to have, and dual processors may be as well. ...But I am itching to try 64-bit Linux, and doing a 2x MP now would put off an A64 for a while.

The XP1800+ meets my needs, and I'm not doing anything now that requires an upgrade, but I am considering it anyway.

For around $450, I could get 2x MP2400+, and a motherboard, and I already have the memory.

Or I could maybe go for a low-end A64 and motherboard, but I would want to stick with the PC2100 memory. If I were to add for 1.5GB PC3200, the price of the upgrade goes up to where it is harder for me to do on a whim.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

[splice]

Going dual is awesome! I got my setup last week. I don't run VMware but I have noticed that winXP is a lot faster/smoother then my Athlon XP 2500+ on an nForce2 board. I noticed that encoding CD's in iTunes was a lot faster too. Once you go dual you won't go back

I got the Giga-Byte board and 2x MP 2600+. My total was $434 from Monarch Computers, which was the lowest price I could find it for.

 

[Mingon]

I have 2 x 2500+'s mobiles running at 2.4ghz performance as expected is pretty nippy giving 80-85% of a A64 in general use, but, given two tasks it really starts to show a good advantage especially with a 15k scsi drive

 

[dmw16]

I just got an A64 and I am very happy with the performance, but my main usage is gaming. For running multiple VMs at a time, you are probably better off w/ the dual CPUs.
-doug

 

[sisooktom]

Yeah, having to dump your RAM in order to go A64 kind of puts a damper on that idea. Dual procs should be fun, which is what it sounds like you're after.