Dual Socket Motherboard Recommendations Please

[DelusionalJJJ]

I am looking at upgrading a high end PC used for professional video editing.

I was contemplating using a dual or quad CPU board to try and maximize performance (Rendering video is a system crippler). It seems that Tyan, Supermicro, and Asus are the main players in this group.

Two high end PCI-Express video cards are being used currently to run three displays with the intension of adding an SDI PCI-Express card to run a large screen HD display, so I need decent PCI-Express support.

I have become a fan of Asus for a few gaming PCs I have built but don't have any experience with multiple CPUs so was hoping someone might shed some light on the subject...

Thank You in advance!

 

[21stHermit]

Here's an EVGA Dual LGA1366: More info

 

[Stefan Payne]

The problem with that is that it doesn't fit in many cases...

 

[21stHermit]

The problem with that is that it doesn't fit in many cases...

You jest.

That MB is going to cost at least $500, the CPU's double that, memory again, VGA cards again, and you're worried about a case!?!

 

[Ayah]

You jest.

That MB is going to cost at least $500, the CPU's double that, memory again, VGA cards again, and you're worried about a case!?!

He has right to be worried. That board is 1.5" taller than the ATX spec.

 

[Stefan Payne]

The problem is not the cost but that there is barely any case that board would fit in.
There could be a hand full or so but you don't really have a choice...

So Chenbros are not an option, Antec doesn't have anything, silverstone may have one or two, what's left??

PS: Compucase has one, but that's really nothing special, except that an E-XL ATX board fits...

 

[DelusionalJJJ]

Would it make more sense to go with a high end single CPU board and get the i7-975? I have up to around $3000 budget for the upgrade and have the video cards already and a nice case. Maybe I should consider a solid state drive?

 

[Stefan Payne]

What do you want to do?
Does your software scale well with cores?

 

[DelusionalJJJ]

HD Video Editing with Sony Vegas which does have multi core support. Also run alot of Adobe products.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/vegaspro/sysreq

 

[SolMiester]

My Silverstone TJ06 is made for that board, but my wallet isnt...LOL

 

[Stefan Payne]

My Silverstone TJ06 is made for that board, but my wallet isnt...LOL

No it isn't.
Count the slots, you'll need about 8-9, your TJ06 has just 7, so it wouldn't fit.

here is a list of cases that could be used

And it's pretty short -> Lianli PC80, HEC 98R9BB, Thermaltake Xaser VI, Armor Plus, Xigmatek CPC-T75UB-U01.

 

[21stHermit]

No it isn't.
Count the slots, you'll need about 8-9, your TJ06 has just 7, so it wouldn't fit.

here is a list of cases that could be used

And it's pretty short -> Lianli PC80, HEC 98R9BB, Thermaltake Xaser VI, Armor Plus, Xigmatek CPC-T75UB-U01.

Clearly you see the world with different rose colored glasses than I. The fact that you found ten cases to fit that MB and the component list will likely exceed $3000, could easily approach $10K. Spending $350 on a case would be for me a non-issue.

You see it otherwise.

 

[Stefan Payne]

Look closer, the HEC 98R9B isn't that expensive, should be under 200$, so that's not the problem.

But take a closer look on those cases.
Does any one of them seem like a server case?
Or what does make those cases special?!

For me it seems that that are all just pretty standard cases, the only difference from a standard case is that you can put an 'XL-ATX' Board in it - great...

 

[Jd007]

Wait till March for 32nm 6-core Core i7 980X to replace the i7 975, if you can.

 

[lopri]

That EVGA board is kinda scary with an X58 and TWO NF200 chips.

 

[SolMiester]

No it isn't.
Count the slots, you'll need about 8-9, your TJ06 has just 7, so it wouldn't fit.

here is a list of cases that could be used

And it's pretty short -> Lianli PC80, HEC 98R9BB, Thermaltake Xaser VI, Armor Plus, Xigmatek CPC-T75UB-U01.

?? Slots?, PCIe?, looks like 7 to me, unless I'm missing something...isnt that an E-ATX board?, which the TJ06 caters for...

 

[Tsavo]

Here's an EVGA Dual LGA1366: More info

No ISA slots! What's this world coming to?

 

[Stefan Payne]

?? Slots?, PCIe?, looks like 7 to me, unless I'm missing something...isnt that an E-ATX board?, which the TJ06 caters for...

I know someone would come with something like this...

Yes there are 7 slots on the board but it wouldn't fit in a normal case.
The reason for that is that the first slot usually is right under the I/O space.
Take a look at this board and you'll see what I mean.

Or just count the holes for the screws on the board, I count 5 on the outer left side of the board, at least one more than a normal ATX Board has.
So the lower two slots are violating the ATX spec, so it can not be an ATX board.