This web server (MS2k3/IIS6) will not be heavily visited, it's for a group of our select clients only. Like maybe 10-20 visitations a day, something like that. Very low.
However, the app running on the server is doing some hardcore CPU work; it's converting ms word docs to pdf's on the fly, on demand. So despite not having much traffic I need it to be super snappy. Right now my candidate release build of the site is working fine, but on the beta box (a single Athlon XP 2000+) it's taking like upwards of 6 seconds to respond/process/deliver 1 conversion request. A P4 2.8Ghz box is taking like 4 ish. So we need to build a production web server that will crunch that down as much as possible, like down to the 1-2 second range if possible. But that's all the server really needs to be built to do.
I did a little reading up I'm liking the Opteron 180, or the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (not sure which to use, really - going with Opteron I guess)
Either way it's Socket 939, so what I really don't know is which mobo to get - most seem geared towards consumer gaming w/ the dual PCI-E slots, couple thousand USB ports, firewire, 5.1/digital audio etc. etc. Are there any serverish/workstationish boards for 939 out there I should be looking at?
And if you have any other general advice for this server build I'm all ears. Absolutely, positively MUST build it this month - I do not have the luxury of waiting for Conroe, price drops, etc., unfortuantely so I gotta deal w/ whatever's out there atm.
However, the app running on the server is doing some hardcore CPU work; it's converting ms word docs to pdf's on the fly, on demand. So despite not having much traffic I need it to be super snappy. Right now my candidate release build of the site is working fine, but on the beta box (a single Athlon XP 2000+) it's taking like upwards of 6 seconds to respond/process/deliver 1 conversion request. A P4 2.8Ghz box is taking like 4 ish. So we need to build a production web server that will crunch that down as much as possible, like down to the 1-2 second range if possible. But that's all the server really needs to be built to do.
I did a little reading up I'm liking the Opteron 180, or the Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (not sure which to use, really - going with Opteron I guess)
Either way it's Socket 939, so what I really don't know is which mobo to get - most seem geared towards consumer gaming w/ the dual PCI-E slots, couple thousand USB ports, firewire, 5.1/digital audio etc. etc. Are there any serverish/workstationish boards for 939 out there I should be looking at?
And if you have any other general advice for this server build I'm all ears. Absolutely, positively MUST build it this month - I do not have the luxury of waiting for Conroe, price drops, etc., unfortuantely so I gotta deal w/ whatever's out there atm.
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