Dual P4 Xeon System

[Daevux]

I am currently researching motherboards, cpus, etc to build my next workstation and have already decided I want a Dual Xeon setup. The motherboard I have chosen, unless a new and better mobo is suggested, is the Supermicro P4DCE+ Extended ATX. Additionally, the system will be housed inside a 4U rackmount chassis, with 512 mb RDRAM, and pretty much the same components I have now (Maxtor IDE drives, SB Live, Radeon - unless I have enough to get a G4, CDRW and DVD).

My question is, however, which Xeon should I get? These are the results of my research:

Intel Xeon 2ghz 512k 400mhz 603
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80914
$290 x2

Intel Xeon 1.8 ghz 512k 400mhz 603
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80912
$250 x2

Intel Xeon 1.7 ghz 256k 400mhz 603
[ebay] (reputable seller - matched pair)
$200 x2

I would love to save the money and get a 1.7 - but it only comes with 256k ATC cache. Is the 512k cache, as included with the CPUs above 1.7, really worth the money? It kinda feels like getting a Ferrari with an automatic transmission - in that I'm getting a kickass core, with [skimpy?] cache. The price difference is obvious, especially when you consider getting 2 CPUs for that price. How much of a performance or stability increase will I get with an extra 256k of cache (more importantly, is that increase worth the price increase)? On a side note, does the 1.8 CPU work with a i860 chipset, or the new intel ?e5700? (i forgot the name) chipset?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

 

[SSXeon5]

Originally posted by: Daevux
I am currently researching motherboards, cpus, etc to build my next workstation and have already decided I want a Dual Xeon setup. The motherboard I have chosen, unless a new and better mobo is suggested, is the Supermicro P4DCE+ Extended ATX. Additionally, the system will be housed inside a 4U rackmount chassis, with 512 mb RDRAM, and pretty much the same components I have now (Maxtor IDE drives, SB Live, Radeon - unless I have enough to get a G4, CDRW and DVD).

My question is, however, which Xeon should I get? These are the results of my research:

Intel Xeon 2ghz 512k 400mhz 603
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80914
$290 x2

Intel Xeon 1.8 ghz 512k 400mhz 603
http://www.googlegear.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80912
$250 x2

Intel Xeon 1.7 ghz 256k 400mhz 603
[ebay] (reputable seller - matched pair)
$200 x2

I would love to save the money and get a 1.7 - but it only comes with 256k ATC cache. Is the 512k cache, as included with the CPUs above 1.7, really worth the money? It kinda feels like getting a Ferrari with an automatic transmission - in that I'm getting a kickass core, with [skimpy?] cache. The price difference is obvious, especially when you consider getting 2 CPUs for that price. How much of a performance or stability increase will I get with an extra 256k of cache (more importantly, is that increase worth the price increase)? On a side note, does the 1.8 CPU work with a i860 chipset, or the new intel ?e5700? (i forgot the name) chipset?

Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

Good idea on the Xeons I recomend:

-2x Prestonia (.13um) 1.8Ghz $240.00/each Retail
-Tyan Thunder i7500 $521.00/ Retail
-2x 512MB Samsung ECC Pc-2100 $160.00/each



SSXeon

 

[Daevux]

Unfortunately, the Tyan board you suggested does not have an AGP port, but rather an integrated AGP chipset. Very very bad. No way in hell I'm getting a PCI based graphics card.

Anyway, I just might go with the 1.8 for a $100 increase (over the 1.7s).

 

[SSXeon5]

Originally posted by: Daevux
Unfortunately, the Tyan board you suggested does not have an AGP port, but rather an integrated AGP chipset. Very very bad. No way in hell I'm getting a PCI based graphics card.

Anyway, I just might go with the 1.8 for a $100 increase (over the 1.7s).

Sorry I was kinda in a rush to tell you the info ... ill be more specific:

-The 1.8 Xeon (prestonia) .13um 512k cache is a good increase from the 1.7GHz (Foster) .18um 256k core. They are cooler and run faster with the cache burst. All socket603 cores can run on the i860 or the i7500 .... I recomened the i7500 because of its low price/DDR combo. The problem with the i860 is the RDRAM, Not that RDRAM is bad but that it maxes at 512MB. And the i860 below maxes at 2GB RDRAM and the i7500 can max at 16GB. Most of the boards need the Ram risers and those boards are $800+, the ones with 4 RDRAM slots max at 2GB but for a workstation its no biggie. I Misread your post and I see you said workstation .... my mistake .... I figured you wanted a mid server. For a workstation I figure your runing 3d Studio Max/ Auto cad ect. SO here is what I recomend again :

-2x Prestonia (.13um) 1.8Ghz $240.00/each Retail (Googlegear)
-Supermicro P4DCE+ Intel i860 $418.00/ Retail (Googlegear)
-2x 512MB Kingston PC-800 ECC $236.00/each (Googlegear)
-Ati FireGL 8800 128MB $700.00 Retail (Newegg)

The 8800 is the best Price/performace workstation card out .... Nvidia 750XGL being $760.00 and 900XGL $1,300.00. This motherboard has a AGP 4x and 2 open ram slots with the 2 added so its a good choice. I wouldnt also trust ebay but I would trust a 3-year Intel warrenty

The parts you have now might pose a problem .... the radeon wont perform well on any of the programs I said above (3d studio max/Auto cad) id you are using those. And a GF4 wont do well either in those feilds ....

SSXeon

 

[Daevux]

Thank you for your insight.

I have decided on the 1.8 unless I see a dramatic decrease in price for the 2.0s soon. Furthermore, I wish I had the dough for a Fire GL - I have always admired these cards (hey, did you know an IBM Thinkpad comes with one? cool, eh?). I guess I'll upgrade to the Fire GL once I get the cash. BTW, I'm definitely going with the i860 and RDRAM.

 

[hans007]

the firegl 8800 is just a radeon 8500 with like modded drivers. the one in the a31p is a firegl 7800 , which is a radeon 7500 . its like the quadro vs geforce i guess for ati.

 

[MrThompson]

Consider an Iwill DP400 for $435. It's overclockable too with some minor soldering. The current Prestonia price list is below.

1.8 Ghz Prestonia: $192 (14% decrease)
2.0 Ghz Prestonia: $224 (27% decrease)
2.2 Ghz Prestonia: $262 (44% decrease)
2.4 Ghz Prestonia: $615 (unchanged)

 

[Daevux]

I have just read (independently) what you, hans, have just informed me: that the GL 8800 is the Radeon 8500 . That is indeed interesting. (If only I had the dough for the GL4, hehehe).


I will start asking about workstation-level video cards, but in a different forum.


BTW, due to the recent price cuts by Intel (and probably future ones), I might be able to get the 2.0s or even 2.2s (that would be very sweet ). Lesse how low the prices can go!!

Thanks for all of your help.