considering building a dual xeon sys

[smthmlk]

For fun, I was considering building a dual-xeon system. I see prices for p3-xeon 450/500's on pricewatch being under $30... I guess my questions should start there:

1. http://www.pricewatch.com/h/pr...i=3&a=2238&f=1
Would these types of xeon work in a dual proc mobo? Or is there another version of them for multi-proc setups?

2. What's a decent motherboard for a dual xeon system? Looking for cheap here, doesn't need any bells or whistles, just an ide-controller built in and at least 2 pci slots. no agp needed, this will be a headless system.

Why a slow p3-xeon, you ask? Well, Im looking for cheap, and I just want to mess around with it 🙂 Plan to run some sort of linux on it (probably slack10). I really don't know much about intel stuff, I've been using AMD for too long. Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[MDE]

There were some cheap 1.6GHz Xeons floating around that you might be able to pick up still. Most people reported overclocking them to about 2.4GHz or higher without any special cooling and an Asus PC-DL motherboard.

 

[MichaelD]

Hello,

For any questions concerning Dual-CPU systems, may I recommend 2CPU.com forums.

Not to slight AT in the least bit, but 2CPU is a much better source for dual-CPU related information than AT is. For anything else, AT is THE source...but not for dual processor systems.

I picked up a pair of those LV Xeons that MDE was talking about. Ironically, I got my motherboard (Asus NCCH-DL) in today but can't install b/c my CPU HSFs arent' here yet. :roll: As he said, most folks are getting to 2.4 on stock voltage and most 2.8 and better with some minor voltage mods. 😎

The PC-DL that MDE mentioned is the cheapest way to get into dual Xeons and is a good board, but it's got it's faults; most noted of them is the single-VRM module shared b/t both CPUs.

The NCCH, while costing about 2x as much, has dual VRMs; one for each CPU (as it should be) as well as many other features.

Again, check 2CPU for more info.