Opteron 242 vs A64 3500+

[vax]

Hi!
I'm sorry for writing here over such a problem, but I've received a great number of different opinions on the following. I'm interested in a new system which would be used for following:
- Photoshop CS image handling files larger than 100MB
- Scanning on Epson 2450
- Microsoft .Net
- Rational set of tools
- Java Developing
- SQL server for development purposes
- Macromedia Flash
- etc.

Anyway, I am not a really professional user so my budget is rather limited. As far as I got, I set my mind on two almost the same configurations systems built around:
- 2 * Opteron 242 (single CPU at the beginning) on a Tyan Tiger K8W or K8T Master 2 FAR (MS-9130) moteherboard
- AMD64 3500 socket 939 on K8T or K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard or similar.

So, assuming that the developing part will be pretty much covered performance wise, I was wondering what is the comparison in performance between these two systems regarding the image processing. Is there a real advantage to 939 compared to single Opteron and secondly, is there a significal advantage of 2 * Opteron compared to the 939 solution. I mean, the differences surely exist, but I wanted to know if they are worth of impleneting since I am not a professional.

The other thing I'd like to know is if there are any recomendation to weather I should wait a bit longer for some new stuff from AMD. And yes, if it helps, I'm expecting to get CPU & motherboard for about 500 euros (dollars), the operating system would be Windows XP (maby Linux in the future and surely 64bit Windows when it becomes stable).

One again, sorry for the question that is propably not directly connected to this forum, but I'm quite lost so I'd be very greatefull for any kind of help.

Kind regards and a nice day to you!

Vanja

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Personally I would get the dual Opteron system if you know that your programs you are using are dual threaded and would take advantage of dual cpus. I am not sure how much those programs do. You can then upgrade to dual core late next year and double your processors in the same two sockets.

 

[vax]

Personally I would get the dual Opteron system if you know that your programs you are using are dual threaded and would take advantage of dual cpus. I am not sure how much those programs do. You can then upgrade to dual core late next year and double your processors in the same two sockets.

Mmm, thanks for the info, I was along the similar train of thought but wasn't quite sure about it.

 

[Mik3y]

i agree with michaelpatrick.

 

[dguy6789]

Yea, The Hammers at even 1.6Ghz are really fast. Running a dual setup would allow you to do gaming, and all kinds of multitasking and such.

 

[Markfw]

Go with the dual Opterons. Once you have gone dual you will never go back !

 

[vax]

Thank you all for suggestions, the decision is definitely for dual CPU setup. It will surely not be the fastest configuration around since my budget is rather limited, but I'll try and inform you of developings about it. Anyway, I think it comes around the same amount of money as the middle configuration recomendation on anandtech.
Vanja

 

[uOpt]

Well, before you jump on SMP, keep some things in mind:

the opterons need registered RAM. Which is not only more expensive, but also offers the problem that you can't move them to other computers later (which also implies less ebay value).

If you want to upgrade CPUs later, you have to upgrade two CPUs.

SMP is very nice, but if you are the kind of person who buys stuff for the future, for upgrade paths and for mixing parts with other computers later keep this in mind.

 

[Markfw]

Registered is not that much more. $111(non) to $157(registered) for a 512 meg stick of good Mushkin.