Basic Opteron System

[cjbruin09]

2 x 244 $422
Tyan S2875ANRF $259
4 x 512Mb Corsair 3200 RLP $324 (Each CPU uses 2 sticks)
2 x Hitachi 160 GB Deskstar 7K250 $182
Antec True480 $91
Antec SLK3700-BQE $89
Lite-On Combo Drive $34
NEC 3520A DVDRW $59
Microsoft Keyboard/Mouse $39

Total: $1499

I am buying all of the components from Monarch because 1) I live in CA, no sales tax with Monarch and 2) I need to be able to buy via purchase order and very few places seem to do this.

Do all of these components seem like they would work together? Is there anything that you would change? If I increase the RAM quality I would have to drop the CPU to 240's to make up the cost difference. There just arent that many registered memories out there for a decent price. Remember, buying everything from Monarch makes it much simpler for me.

Is that PSU going to work for that board? I have also tried to find a case w/out PSU that would be cheaper, but they all look like crap, at least the ones on Monarch, and if this is the only problem i have with them, that is definitely not going to stop me from purchasing there.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

[arcas]

You're spending $180 on your case+PSU. Personally, I'd check any other places that will accept POs before ordering these two pieces from Monarch. Even if you have to go with a place that charges sales tax in CA, if you can get an acceptable case+PSU for, say, $100-$130, it's probably worth the effort.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Nice. Make sure that ram is Registered ECC.
Also make sure that the case supports the E-ATX format.

 

[dguy6789]

The ram does not have to be ecc. It just has to be registered.

 

[HappyCracker]

The 2875 (Tiger K8W) does not need an E-ATX case. Also, while you're ordering, you may as well get a power supply that fits the board. It has a 24 pin ATX connector with an 8 pin additional connector (ATX-GES?).

 

[cjbruin09]

The RAM is ECC. Why do I have to get an E-ATX case? The board says it is ATX (as do NewEgg, Tyan, and Monarch) 12" x 9.8". This is ATX, right? Could anyone suggest a quiet case for about $50? Should I just go to PC club and get one?

 

[imported_llama]

that is indeed an ATX board based on your measurements, good luck with the rig

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: HappyCracker
The 2875 (Tiger K8W) does not need an E-ATX case. Also, while you're ordering, you may as well get a power supply that fits the board. It has a 24 pin ATX connector with an 8 pin additional connector (ATX-GES?).

To add to that, the 2875 also uses a shared memory bus so each CPU does not get its own memory, CPU2 sends request for memory through CPU1's bus.

I went with the MSI K8T MASTER 2-FAR over the 2875 myself, very comparable performance at stock but the MSI allows for limited overclocking. I didn't need the extra 2 SATA ports since I use a 4 HDD PATA RAID 5 setup+PATA boot drive, and I run 2x242@1.725ghz 215mhz at the moment, not a big overclock but that is still 250mhz of extra CPU power on CPUs that scale well with more mhz, and the ram gets overclocked as well=free performance boost. 244s cost what 246 cost now when I bought The MSI comes with the coolers too, but they are Xeon 603 style so AMD retail packaged cooling isn't an option. I have found that with a 60-80mm adapter and fan on CPU2 things are OK with the MSI provided ones, and that further saves by being able to buy OEM 242s and not needing to buy cooling for them. Newegg has the MSI for $212 shipped so you could pay the tax and still get out substantially cheaper than the Tyan if going OEM 244s and not needing coolers Just an option to the Tyan for you, but I know some are really sketchy about both Via and MSI, I know I was before I bought this board It has been a jewel though, and it runs 24/7 2xEinstein@Home, gaming, DVDShrink, ect. rock solid.

Both are ATX, allow the use of regular ATX PSUs, use the dual channel shared memory architecture, and have AGP, so the overclocking and cost savings provided by the included coolers and lower board costs swayed me to try the MSI. I also use 2x1GB reg ecc, 6600GT, and power this whole thing off a lowly True430 no problemo

MSI v. Tyan

 

[cjbruin09]

so, do you think i could run mine on a True380? Or, is it not worth the risk? This would save me about $75 since I could just get a Sonata 380. I could then upgrade something else.

 

[imported_llama]

i dont recomend using it for a long time, somewhere near the limit i guess

 

[ribbon13]

That would be foolish to say the least.

Is this for an employer? or is it something that you can upgrade later?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

The 380w that comes with the Sonata now has 24A +12v so I'd say you will be good to go based off what I am running. The 242s I got from Monarch are CGs only 90 chips apart off the line too, so that is a good place to get your CPUs

 

[cjbruin09]

TT Soprano

How would this one rate compared to the Antec Sonata and Antec True480?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: llama
i dont recomend using it for a long time, somewhere near the limit i guess

Summer is coming, so if this True430 doesn't cut it I'll let you guys know. This system has about 6 months up-time now so it speaks well for the PSU....so far.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: cjbruin09
TT Soprano

How would this one rate compared to the Antec Sonata and Antec True480?

My guess is they use a crap PSU in that for the price they are asking, I'd call and ask.