Dual-Proc rig

[Orsorum]

'K... just got a (for once) legal copy of Win2K Advanced Server... I'm thinking about building a dual-proc rig to play around on.

It's been a while since I've looked at multiprocessor systems, so I'm wondering if anyone can help me out as to configuring a system, etc. I'd like to see how newegg compares (I prefer them) in terms of prices.

Athlon, maybe a Tyan board, etc... any suggestions? I don't think I'm going to try RAID or SCSI, but I'm still looking for a high quality HD as well... are there any good Firewire hd's out there?

 

[mckennma]

I have the Tyan Thunder K7 with SCSI. If you want performance, you need SCSI. You will not have the problems of ATA or EIDE drives. I went through 10 Maxtor ATA100 drives in 15 months. They could not take the beating. I have not had any problems with the Seagate 10K and 15K U160 hard drives. The performance is incredible. The on-board SCSI controller make it simple to implement. SCSI is worth the cost.

 

[Orsorum]

<< I have the Tyan Thunder K7 with SCSI. If you want performance, you need SCSI. You will not have the problems of ATA or EIDE drives. I went through 10 Maxtor ATA100 drives in 15 months. They could not take the beating. I have not had any problems with the Seagate 10K and 15K U160 hard drives. The performance is incredible. The on-board SCSI controller make it simple to implement. SCSI is worth the cost. >>



How loud are the 10 and 15K drives as opposed to an IBM 60GXP?

 

[Orsorum]

bump

 

[Orsorum]

C'mon, anyone?

 

[Superwormy]

I'd say try for Dual Athlon, Tyan MP (if you're really serious) or MPX boards (cheaper, less features, still awesome) (only if you need USB and lots of PCI ports, not a good idea, USB is broken so you need to use add-in card) or maybe for the new Dual Tualtin 1.26ghz.

Either way, once you go dual, you'll never go back

Also as far as this comment goes:



<< I went through 10 Maxtor ATA100 drives in 15 months >>



Short of dropping your hard drives repeatedly on the floor or hitting them with sledgehammers... thats EXTREMELLY unlikely.

 

[Orsorum]

Thanks for the advice!

Know anything about SCSI drives?

 

[Colt45]

<< Thanks for the advice!

Know anything about SCSI drives? >>



Great performance (faster transfer rates, seek times, and sychronous transfers)
Good support (many have 5 year warranties)
Quite costly.

the faster seek times make a great improvement over IDE. The fact that all your drives can be going at once, without waiting for the other drive(s) is great as well. The extra bandwidth is great. And the cost is suck.

<edit> BTW, you did know that normal win2k (ie. win2k pro) supports dual cpu's, right?
your post makes it look like only adv. server supports it.

 

[Orsorum]

<<

<< Thanks for the advice!

Know anything about SCSI drives? >>



Great performance (faster transfer rates, seek times, and sychronous transfers)
Good support (many have 5 year warranties)
Quite costly.

the faster seek times make a great improvement over IDE. The fact that all your drives can be going at once, without waiting for the other drive(s) is great as well. The extra bandwidth is great. And the cost is suck.

<edit> BTW, you did know that normal win2k (ie. win2k pro) supports dual cpu's, right?
your post makes it look like only adv. server supports it. >>



Sorry, I did know that. I just figured, hey, if I'm trying out Adv. Server, might as well get something totally kick-a** to play with it on.

*sigh* Maybe I'll just stick with my Athlon 1.4... ho-hum.