Need help picking a Mobo/Chipset for my new build

[BassKozz]

It's time to upgrade my D865GBF/P4 3ghz system, and I am looking to build a new computer that will be used mainly for VM of multiple OS's. I will run 64bit Ubuntu as the host OS so I can utilize 8GB of RAM and spread that out over the various VMs (WinXP, etc), this way I can run multiple VMs on this computer and consolidate some of the other machines I have in my house. For example I could run 3 VM's and spread out the 8gb's across the various machines like so: 2gb host, 2gb VM1, 2gb VM2, 2gb VM3.

I plan on initially going with the http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115017"]Q6600[/URL] CPU to get the most bang for my buck, and then later upgrade to a Penryn 45nm proc once the novelty & prices drop on them (in a year or so).

I would prefer to stick to DDR2 only boards, due to the cost of DDR3. But my concern is that once I upgrade to a Quad Core Penryn proc I won't be getting its peak performance due to the DDR2 memory I'll be using. I've read that there are boards that support both types of memory (DDR2/DDR3), but the only boards I've seen that will support this only have 2xDDR2 & 2xDDR3 slots, and because I want to run 8GB of RAM I would have to purchase 2x4GB DDR2/DDR3 chips which as far as I know these don't even exist

My main concern isn't DDR3 compatibility but Penryn compatibility. I was wondering how much of a performance hit I will get by using a Penryn proc with DDR2 instead of DDR3, if the difference is negligible then I'll be happier saving money and going w/ DDR2.

Bottom-Line Requirements:

• Must support 8gb of RAM
• 6+ Sata Ports (preferably w/ RAID support, but not nessesary as I can setup Software RAID in ubuntu)

So the two main questions here are:

1. How much of a performance hit will I see using a Penryn proc w/ DDR2 memory (vs. DDR3)?
2. What's the best board/chipset I should use for this build? Should I go X38 or save $$$ and get a P35 board?

p.s. I am not a gamer, and I don't OC, so these features (overclocking ability, sli support, etc...) don't pertain to me.

Thanks in advance for any/all comments, suggestions.
-BassKozz

 

[Mondoman]

Originally posted by: BassKozz
... But my concern is that once I upgrade to a Quad Core Penryn proc I won't be getting its peak performance due to the DDR2 memory I'll be using....

Since we're still dealing with memory controllers in the north bridge rather than the CPU, all data to/from RAM has to go through the FSB and throughput is thus limited by the FSB speed. Even the quad-core Penryns you mention will run at 1333MHz datarate FSB, meaning that DDR2-667 in dual-channel mode is enough to saturate the FSB throughput. DDR2-800 (in dual channel mode) is enough to saturate throughput of a 1600MHz datarate FSB.
Thus, I wouldn't worry about limiting performance with DDR2 for at least a few years yet.


PS - The X38 won't provide any substantial boost to performance, so I'd just get a nice P35 board with some bells & whistles for $150 or so.

 

[BassKozz]

Thanks for the feedback Mondoman,

Any suggestions on a specific P35 board, I've heard rumors that the Gigabyte boards don't play nice with over 4GB of RAM installed:

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=83&threadid=2059915

ThyMaster:
When I run with 4GB of memory (2 X 2GB sticks) in the system, it is extremely fast, but as soon as 8GB (4 X 2GB sticks) is installed the system is extremely slow, at least 4 times as much. There is lag with everything I try to do, whereas everything before would be snappy.

All 4 sticks are the same speed and from the same manufacturer (PATRIOT), I purchased them in 2 dual channel packs. I'm thinking that either the motherboard (Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P) or the operating system (Vista 64-bit) is the culprit.

I have tried Fail-Safe defaults and running the memory at less agressive latencies than recommended by the manufacturer. I've even tried overvolting the dimm slots slightly to see if maybe they weren't getting enough.

There are no driver issues in Vista that would make me think that's the cause, and I have all the latest Windows Updates. Let me know if you have any suggestions, I'm desperate to get this working! Thanks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128050

Cons: will slow to a crawl in windows xp, vista, fedora core whenever 8gb ram are installed. Bios v.2 would crash after only a few minutes in the OS. v.3 would not crash but is extremely slow. When updating the bios, if you have a form of raid set up it will corrupt it, so you have to update the bios before everything else.

 

[BassKozz]

Ok change of plans, I've been reading around on the Q6600, and apparently the G0 stepping version of this cpu easily OC's to 3ghz on air...
So I am going to go this route and not worry about Penryn (i'll wait for Nehalem) to upgrade again.

So what's a good board for OC'ing the Q6600 to 3ghz and us DDR2 memory?