Help me build a new workstation for work!

[blurredvision]

Hey guys. After building a sweet little work system for my boss, he has now tasked me with building a new workstation for a HUGE flatbed solvent-based printer we will be getting in the next month or so. This workstation will basically be a number cruncher, something that will be processing large amounts of graphical data to be printed.

A national company who deals with this stuff has quoted us 3 different teirs of workstations, all with differing hardware setups. We first determined the lowest tier shouldn't even be on the list, so we threw that one out. My boss then decided he wants me to build a system based on the very top tier workstation. After a couple of phone calls, I was able to secure the complete specs on the system, but little did they know I was only using it as a template. We do not intend on paying them a dime . Here are the specs of that workstation, so you guys will know what type of comp we're looking for:

Dual AMD Opteron's 242
Tyan S2885ANRF
2GB PC3200 RAM
RAID 1 80GB SATA array (OS)
RAID 1 250GB SATA array (DATA)
DVD dual format/dual layer burner (dual layer just because it's price practical)
Iomega REV Drive IDE Backup system 30/90 gig
128MB Radeon 9800 Pro
WinXP Pro

So that's where we're going with this comp. They quoted us this comp at around $5000 (no monitor either). So I went to newegg and zipzoomfly, added in all the major parts they list, added about $1000 more just for overhead and miscalculation, and I still wasn't spending $3500. My questions:

1.) How are the 242 Opterons? Which Opteron offers the best price-to-performance ratio?
2.) Would considering a dual Xeon system be worth my time and effort?
3.) I looked this Tyan mobo up on zipzoomfly, and it is around $450. Is this a top-of-the-line mobo for Opterons, or are there cheaper alternatives out there?
4.) What should I look for in these kinds of motherboards?
5.) With the 2GB of RAM, what latency should I shoot for? Any brands work better in workstation environments (<-- possibly a stupid question, but I asked anyway)?
6.) Should I go with gig sticks, or 512x4? (We don't currently plan to ever increase the RAM)
7.) Any info about this Iomega REV drive system? I've never heard of it before.
8.) Would a 9800Pro be ideal for a workstation environment? I've just always pictured it as a consumer card. Any other suggestions for video cards?
9.) I need some professional looking case ideas.
10.) What power supply should I look into for this system? I definitely want something that delivers clean power and lots of it.

Thanks for reading through this. My boss mentioned purchasing the parts for this comp sometime in the next couple of weeks, so I need to get info as much as I can. I've never dealt with workstation and dual processors and such, so I'm a bit taken back. All I need is a little info so I know what kind of parts I need to look for and what features.

Thanks guys.

 

[blurredvision]

No one has any input?

 

[fishmonger12]

why would your workstation need a 9800 pro if it's only going to be used for crunching numbers?

i would just go with a good 2d card... unless you want to do some 3d workstation stuff... i'd go with a workstation card (quadrofx, firegl, 3dlabs wildcat....)

i'm not a professional or anything but it just seems like you would get a good workstation card for a workstation or you would just get a 2d card because you aren't worried about doing CAD and stuff.

also, from what i've heard, opterons are better price\performance wise.

 

[blurredvision]

TTT

 

[dullard]

I've purchased 3 ~$5000 workstations for work. I'm certainly no expert, but here are my thoughts.

Originally posted by: blurredvision
They quoted us this comp at around $5000 (no monitor either).

Workstation computers have big profit margins. Are you willing to do a half OEM/half build? If so you can save thousands. There are two (usually easy) things that someone with some computer knowledge can do on their own: Install the processors and install the memory. For example, Dell charges $2050 more for dual 3.6 GHz Xeons over the single 2.8 GHz Xeon. You can buy the base model, plop in two top Xeons for $1500 and pocket $500 and still have a free 2.8 GHz Xeon. Same goes for other companies and for Opterons. Same goes for memory.

1.) How are the 242 Opterons? Which Opteron offers the best price-to-performance ratio?
Opterons are just fine. 242 is getting towards the bottom of the line for dual Opterons. I'd feel pains spending $5000 and getting the bottom of the line. To me, the 244 isn't much more expensive and is probably a good price-performance.

2.) Would considering a dual Xeon system be worth my time and effort?
Opterons and Xeons tend to both have strong points where they dominate the other. You'll have to ask the software company which is better for their software. Most will provide benchmarks. Contrary to popular opinion, the P4 based Xeons are no longer expensive (P3 Xeons were). I'd look into them if the software runs better on them, otherwise get the Opterons.

3.) I looked this Tyan mobo up on zipzoomfly, and it is around $450. Is this a top-of-the-line mobo for Opterons, or are there cheaper alternatives out there?
I'm not a motherboard person, hopefully others can help. But for a real workstation, $450 is the typical motherboard price.

5.) With the 2GB of RAM, what latency should I shoot for?
Shoot for stability. You won't be overclocking the thing. Get Whatever the manufacturer of your system/motherboard recommends.

6.) Should I go with gig sticks, or 512x4? (We don't currently plan to ever increase the RAM)
I'd take the 4x512. 1 GB sticks are horribly priced. Plus if you ever do upgrade 512 MB sticks can be useful in other machines. Definately consider buying a base computer and adding the 2 GB yourself. It may save a thousand dollars or so.

7.) Any info about this Iomega REV drive system? I've never heard of it before.
Can't help you there.

8.) Would a 9800Pro be ideal for a workstation environment? I've just always pictured it as a consumer card. Any other suggestions for video cards?
Workstation cards have lost their performance edge (unless you are willing to spend ~$2000+ on one). If the software will run on a consumer card, that is what I'd go with.

9.) I need some professional looking case ideas.
I can't help.

10.) What power supply should I look into for this system? I definitely want something that delivers clean power and lots of it.
These are expensive and often tailored for a specific motherboard. I'd select a motherboard first and take the power supply for it.

 

[blurredvision]

Nice, thanks a lot dullard. You had a lot of great info. I'm not sure if you understood me or not, but I am planning on building this myself. IF we bought the comp this company wants us to buy, we'd spend $5000. But our plans are to purchased the parts seperatly, and I will put it together (which is no problem, I've built many a computer).

I do appreciate the answers. Good idea on calling the software company to get benchmarks. I will try to do this tomorrow morning first thing. Thanks again.

 

[jose]

That is a nice mobo selection for an Opteron system. Be aware there are issues w/ ATI and this mobo. It has to do w/ the AMD 8151 AGP graphics tunnel.
Goto 2cpu.com for more info. I'd recomend a Nvidia 5900 or 6600 agp card.

As far as the selection of cpu there is a diff at what speed they will run memory.. Someone else maybe will know at which speed the Opteron switches memory speed.. ?
Personally I'd get the 246 Opteron.

As for as a power supply I'd look at the Antec 550EPS minimum, Zippy 600w & 700w models .. Depends on how many hd's you plan on using.

For a case , look at the CM Stacker, because it is very spacious and you could use 2 - 4-in-3 devices to cool your hd's .. Also their is the Lian-Li pc-76 case..

As far as memory, w/ this workstation class of machine , I'd get 4gigs, but it really depends how heavly the machine will be used. How many users will access this machine ??
Why not use win2003 instead of XP pro ?? If your going to use xp then 2gigs.

Regards,
Jose