Need. More. Power.

[Ack19105]

I have an Asus KGPE-D16 mobo with two G34 sockets, but only one AMD 6136 2.4 GHz 8-core CPU on there now, with 48 GB memory and GTX 580 graphics. I need more processors for some computational chemistry work. I could add another Magny-Cours CPU of the same type for $780.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=amd%206136

However, Newegg also lists a 12-Core Interlagos CPU with some faster/larger specs for only $480.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819113032

I'm a chemist, not a comp sci, so I don't know what the second CPU is lacking, or why it is so much less expensive. The comparison utility on Newegg suggests that it doesn't have hypertransports, an L2 cache, or an integrated memory controller - but that can't be right, can it? It has an L3 cache listed.

Q1: will the 12-core Interlagos CPU do everything that my 8-core Magny-Cours CPU does, only a bit faster?
Q2: can I mix the 2 processors on the same mobo?

Thanks,

 

[MisterMac]

Not really a expert on your workload.
However, i'm assuming you will definately miss the FPU in interlagos.

The reason the 12 core interlagos is cheaper - it "can" be seen as a 6 core with "Hyperthreading".

It has 12 integer cores, but lacks... 12 "full blown" floating point cores.



It would depend on your workload, it could MIGHTY well be faster - but that depends on your floating point usage.
Id have to assume computational chenistry work is very vector and floating point based.
So my geuss would be - no, not faster.


But yea, show the programs you use, ill check em out

 

[BallaTheFeared]

This help?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5058/amds-opteron-interlagos-6200/1

 

[bononos]

You could try asking at the amdzone forums about mixing cpu types on your mb since it sounds a little more offbeat than the usual questions here.

 

[VirtualLarry]

At least with Intel DP boards, you cannot mix processors. At least, officially. (For Intel, they have to be identical. Not just model, but also stepping and S-Spec.)

 

[AtenRa]

Q1: will the 12-core Interlagos CPU do everything that my 8-core Magny-Cours CPU does, only a bit faster?

Depends on the application, does the application need more FPU or INT ?? Does it use any new ISAs ???

Which application are you going to use ??

 

[blckgrffn]

You either need to buy the Magny Cours or sell off your existing CPU and buy two of the new ones.

It should still be a net gain, I believe.

They are so much less expensive because a) they are currently being made, so not latecomer tax and b) the CPU you have was much more competitive in its "day" vs the Intel offerings.

You'd likely be better off migrating wholesale to Intel, you can do a motherboard and two Intel SB-E Hexacores for ~$1200 and they are going run rampant of an AMD offering in pure computational power.

That's not to say you won't get a lot of grunt from a pair of Interlagos, you will. Just not as much as you could have for similar investment from Intel, IMHO.

Since you've likely got ECC Registered memory already, you'd likely have minimal extra investments.

 

[tweakboy]

Grab another 8 core server chip, CPU's must be identical . 16 cores + HT =

Add the ram and most importantly buy a SSD ,,,,