Dual Core 64 vs Single Core Opteron x2

[stingerama]

Hello to all.

I was wondering with dual core AMD 64's soon being available, whether it would be more viable to purchase an AMD 64 4400+ x2 (for example) or get two (single core) opterons, say 250. Common sense tells me it would be better to get the dual core 64 as I can use the same mobo I have now (with a bios update I believe).

I'm going to build a new game server and it needs to have the horsepower to run multiple kinds of servers at a time. More specifically UT2004 (and eventually UT2007 which will support multiple processors and will be multi-threaded) Onslaught at 24 players. Also I need headroom for any other games that will come along that I may want to host. And btw, I co-locate my servers and they are on a 100mbps connection so network bottlenecks aren't an issue. Pure hardware performance is what I'm looking at.

I've got an AMD 64 3500+ winny core, on a Asus A8V Deluxe with 1 gig of ram. It runs 24p ONS quite well and I've been very pleased with it. However, the box is simply maxed out and I would like to run a couple servers on one box for the next system. Am I to guess dual core will solve this problem? Notice I didn't mention dual core opteron because they are waaaay too expensive. I'm trying to figure out what the best course is at this time because the next system I build has to last me a year.

 

[jpeyton]

Mark is probably the best qualified to answer this question since he has both types of systems.

 

[Lonyo]

I would say Dual Opterons, someone in Video says they're about the same, if not less than a single X", since many people are selling them cheap to upgrade to DC Opterons.
If you're looking to do UT2007 serving, then dual Opterons NOW will give you the option of Dual Core Opterons later, while a single DC AMD64 won't give you that option.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

I agree with Lonyo. If you can afford it, go with the one dualcore Opteron now in a two way board and in the future you can always throw in another dualcore Opteron if you need it. Can't do that with the X2's.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I agree with Lonyo. If you can afford it, go with the one dualcore Opteron now in a two way board and in the future you can always throw in another dualcore Opteron if you need it. Can't do that with the X2's.

Well, I meant 2 SC Opterons then go DC later, since apparently Ebay has cheap SC Opterons.

Dual 250's can handle RO mod for UT2k4 (equal or higher load than ONS) with about 24 players and 3 HL2 servers on the second CPU.

 

[stingerama]

bump

 

[imported_jtworldwide2]

I would say the two memory contollers would be better than one. Game server i have right now is a SMP box, dual xeon to be exact. From expirence UT is a hog, right up there with BF.
Our current loading is a follows.
CPU 1- 64 man BF2
CPU 2 - 40 man COD, 40 man COD:UO, 20 man CS:Source, 20 man COD match server, teamspeak.
FYI, with two CPUs you will quickly find that 1 GB of ram wont be enough. we had to goto 2 GB of ram as we were running out of physical memory long before out CPUS would get maxed out.

 

[RichUK]

Originally posted by: michaelpatrick33
I agree with Lonyo. If you can afford it, go with the one dualcore Opteron now in a two way board and in the future you can always throw in another dualcore Opteron if you need it. Can't do that with the X2's.

i personally think that is the best shout as you can have two cores and a great upgrade path, for another if you need to for UT2007 :thumbsup:

PS.. when is UT2007 expected to be released ..

 

[Leper Messiah]

Originally posted by: stingerama
Hello to all.

I was wondering with dual core AMD 64's soon being available, whether it would be more viable to purchase an AMD 64 4400+ x2 (for example) or get two (single core) opterons, say 250. Common sense tells me it would be better to get the dual core 64 as I can use the same mobo I have now (with a bios update I believe).

I'm going to build a new game server and it needs to have the horsepower to run multiple kinds of servers at a time. More specifically UT2004 (and eventually UT2007 which will support multiple processors and will be multi-threaded) Onslaught at 24 players. Also I need headroom for any other games that will come along that I may want to host. And btw, I co-locate my servers and they are on a 100mbps connection so network bottlenecks aren't an issue. Pure hardware performance is what I'm looking at.

I've got an AMD 64 3500+ winny core, on a Asus A8V Deluxe with 1 gig of ram. It runs 24p ONS quite well and I've been very pleased with it. However, the box is simply maxed out and I would like to run a couple servers on one box for the next system. Am I to guess dual core will solve this problem? Notice I didn't mention dual core opteron because they are waaaay too expensive. I'm trying to figure out what the best course is at this time because the next system I build has to last me a year.

HA! 100meg connection not maxed out. You want GBE/CAT6.

The X2 might be faster, because there is no regestered ram, plus you can get CAS2 RAM, run DDR500, etc. with the X2. Opterons are nice for business servers but X2 is going to be faster.

JMHO, though. I could be wrong.

EDIT: After reading what loyno said, thats probably your best bet. Leaves open the option for ugrade. Do that.

 

[blckgrffn]

Wow, you guys run some serious gaming servers.... For the longest time, my game server was a 2.0ghz barton w/768 ram, ran 20 man UT2k4 and CoD fine, although I only ever had one game up...

If that kind of power is what you are after, I would certainly go with the opterons...

Nat

 

[Markfw]

The advantages of the dual Opterons are the ability to use more than 2 gig of memory (easily), more memory regardless, and depending on the motherboard, the ability to use PCI-X for a very fast raid array, which for a high end server comes in quite handy. The dual memory controllers vs 1 is almost a wash. One more thing is the ability to use 2 dual-core or 2 quad core (later), but the Opteron solution will come at a very high price. (>$3k)

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
The advantages of the dual Opterons are the ability to use more than 2 gig of memory (easily), more memory regardless, and depending on the motherboard, the ability to use PCI-X for a very fast raid array, which for a high end server comes in quite handy. The dual memory controllers vs 1 is almost a wash. One more thing is the ability to use 2 dual-core or 2 quad core (later), but the Opteron solution will come at a very high price. (>$3k)

$300 for a dual proc mobo, $300 for 2 1.8GHz Opterons (both off Ebay)
$120/GB stick of PC3200 RAM.
Go for 4 sticks of RAM and it works out to be $1100 or so before HDD/case etc.
Or with less RAM it's obviously cheaper.

 

[Markfw]

That $300 mobo won;t buy you 8 ram slots and PCI-X I don;t think. Got a link ? Otherwise you are better off with X2.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
That $300 mobo won;t buy you 8 ram slots and PCI-X I don;t think. Got a link ? Otherwise you are better off with X2.

With 1GB sticks at $120, you only need 4 slots really, but:

Memory ? 128-bit dual channel memory bus ? Eight 184-pin 2.5-Volt DDR DIMM sockets - each CPU controls four ? Supports up to 16GB of Registered DDR ? Supports ECC/Non-ECC type memory modules ? Supports PC3200 / 2700 / 2100 / 1600 DDR ? Supports Single/Dual/Quad-Rank memory

Expansion Slots (Total of five usable slots) ? Two independent 64-bit PCI-X buses - Two 100/66/33 MHz PCI-X slots at PCI-X bus A - Two 133/100/66/33 MHz PCI-X slots at PCI-X bus B ? One legacy 32-bit 33 MHz (5V) PCI slot

Ebay link

 

[blckgrffn]

There should be plenty of those left over from the AMD launch events Seriously, just go pick up one of those bundles for $500....

Nat

 

[Markfw]

No AGP slot on that one. Couldn;t play a game while hosting.

 

[stingerama]

I was tending to lean towards the opterons. I figured this next system would cost some $$$$. I'll have to get new everything.

Any comments on a particular mobo? I've been looking at the Tyan Tiger K8W 8151 which is ATX form factor mostly because it would fit in my current case. The price is not too bad but the down side is it doesn't have as much memory support and other features like other boards have. Also, I'm not sure if there is really any difference between and ATX and ATX-E board other than size dimensions. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Oh and UT2007 is supposed to be released before Christmas 2006.

 

[blckgrffn]

Why would he need an AGP slot? This definitely a hosting only box we are talking about here...

I could be wrong though

 

[stingerama]

No. This is a dedicated server for serving the game only.

 

[Boogak]

Originally posted by: stingerama
I was tending to lean towards the opterons. I figured this next system would cost some $$$$. I'll have to get new everything.

Any comments on a particular mobo? I've been looking at the Tyan Tiger K8W 8151 which is ATX form factor mostly because it would fit in my current case. The price is not too bad but the down side is it doesn't have as much memory support and other features like other boards have. Also, I'm not sure if there is really any difference between and ATX and ATX-E board other than size dimensions. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Oh and UT2007 is supposed to be released before Christmas 2006.

Most extended ATX / dual Opteron motherboards also require a EPS12V power supply instead of the standard ATX power supply (found this out the hard way while upgrading to a dual Opteron 246 system).