Difference between server processors and regular desktop

[senterprises]

I was just wondering what the difference is between something like an AMD Opteron 165 Dual Core 1.8Ghz and say AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+, dual core socket AM2?

Obviously the A64 are a real bargain at the moment and way cheaper, but lets say it is a month ago and they are around the same price. Which performs better under certain conditions? Is a top of the line server processor better than a top of the line desktop processor in games, encoding, graphics editing?

 

[stevty2889]

The differance between the opty 165 and the 360+ is the cache size, thats the only differance. The differance the cache makes depends on the program, but it's not usualy a huge differance either way. The other differance, is that some of the opterons are multi-cpu capable, and have extra HTT links, such as the 2xx series(for dual dual cores) or 8xx series. (for 8 dual cores). Otherwise if the specs are the same, so is the performance.

 

[senterprises]

Would it be pretty tempting these days if you were running a server to opt for a AM2, unless you needed the dual socket (for some really serious work).

 

[corkyg]

The tradition difference between a server and a desktop is only how it is used. A desktop is an independent machine responsive to a user or users.

A server is the center of a network, and carries the main software load of the network, usually supporting workstations.

Today, that has been diluted a lot. Many business networks are really linked desktops. But, there are a many that are server-workstation based. Check your localbank for an example.

Processors for servers should be robust, and contain some oplanned redundancy. When a server goes down - the whole network goes down. So, servers are often backed up by "deputy dawg" servers, or backup drives, etc.

Your discussion really departed from your posted question in some respects.

 

[Sonikku]

The Opterons are a cut above the Athlon 64's of the same clock speed and slot. They are AMD's cream of the crop. As servers can be far more punishing then gaming PC's, Opterons are high quality chips that can wistand the riggors of such a place.

 

[GrammatonJP]

Also say intel sells xeon, they have different variations, they got xeon with 1mb cache, 2mb cache and 4mb cache..

1-2 are gear towards desktop user, 4mb are gear towards database servers..

also I think the newer amd and intel are looking at 4mb + caches