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OT (kinda): Dual Rig Questions....now in the works

deerslayer

deerslayer

Lifer
I hope to build a dual rig this summer, for distributed computing of course 😀 I have a few questions for you dualie guru's 😉

What are some good places to pick up a dualie motherboard, etc? Does newegg have the best prices/selection?

If I were to run a game server, such as BF1942 dedicated server, would it utilize both processors?

Are there any games that when you run the server it does use both processors?

Edit: I have an Asus A7M266-D and (2) 1900+ processors coming sometime next week 😀 Hopefully I will find a good PSU and a nice large case for it within the next month or so.

Who really needs a case anyways right 😉

Anyone know where I can get a good deal on a cube type case or a double wide one like Confused has been working on?
 
Newegg appears to have a reasonable selection and pretty good prices (if other places are cheaper, they often make up for it by less than satisfactory service). Now, I've never actually built a dually myself, so I can't give you specific recommendations, but I will be looking forward to seeing what the other fine folks of the DC forum have to say, because I'd like to build a dually myself before too long. 🙂

I don't know if a game server would utilize both processors, but even if it didn't you could always run two game servers, for twice the gaming action. 😀

The only game I recall getting much benefit from dual processors was Quake III, but my memory of those benchmarks was a bit fuzzy. Maybe the more modern and processor-demanding games have been better optimized to use threads, so they might work better on dual CPU boxes. I have no idea, as I'm not much of a gamer myself.
 
Dually deffintely helps in loading maps for any FPS such as QuakeIII or UT2K3.

I would say that the ASUS A7M266-D is an awesome board especially since it can run dual XP processors and save some bucks.

BTW YGPM.😉
 
I just built a dualie last month. I use it as a server, so it doesn't have high-end graphics or sound.

Asus A7M266-D
AMD MP 2600+ (x2)
1 Gig Samsung ECC Registered PC2100
Antec 550w TruePower
GeForce4 MX 440SE
SB Live Value
etc.

First, I used the Asus board since it cost much less than the Tyan boards AND it's Asus...I never have trouble with them. ALSO, it uses a standard ATX Power supply instead of the special EPS supplies that most other dualie boards use (although it still must output at least 430w). Only bad thing about this board is my Epox RAID controller won't work with AMD chipsets, but no problem with Promise or Highpoint controllers. Make sure you plan your COOLING in advance. Two or more high-end processors generate a LOT of heat in that little case. I have 2 80mm blowing right at the HSFs, one 80mm intake in the front, 3 chipset-sized intake fans mounted in a 5.25 bay, a PCI slot exhaust fan, a 80mm exhaust in the back, and the double temperature-controlled exhaust fans on the Antec PSU only cool the chips to 50 C at full load. I have 2 Swiftech MCX462's on the way to replace the retail HSF's to help out. I wish I would have bought a dual water-cooled case in the first place instead of the noisy air cooling (at least it's in the store room where we don't hear it).

I use Win2K Advanced Server which does a good job of balancing the processing over the 2 processors...even with non-optimized programs. For instance, two Distributed computing processes use 100% of both processors even without setting processor affinity. I'm not sure if other OS's do the same. I also don't think it does so well with games. I've only tried BF1942 and Freelancer and they don't balance well, especially their server programs.

I run Freelancer server and BF1942 server on it in addition to its regular server duties and 2 SETI processes. The instructions for BF1942 server and my experience indicate 2 processors allow you to run 2 servers. It doesn't allow double the number of players on a single server. Either way, your bandwidth probably wouldn't handle that many players anyway.

That's about all I can offer since this was my first experience with a dualie.
 
it uses a standard ATX Power supply instead of the special EPS supplies that most other dualie boards use (although it still must output at least 430w).
Click to expand...

I'm only using a 330W enermax power supply and it is working just fine running my Asus A7M266-D.
 
Originally posted by: Baldy18
it uses a standard ATX Power supply instead of the special EPS supplies that most other dualie boards use (although it still must output at least 430w).
Click to expand...

I'm only using a 330W enermax power supply and it is working just fine running my Asus A7M266-D.
Click to expand...

I got the 430W figure from the other dual boards. Actually, ASUS only requires 10mA on the +5 volt lead. So, 330W Enermax supplies do that quite well. I tend to overdo the PSU since I kept having problems with 2 computers after upgrading to XP 2000+ where the video card didn't seem to come on without several cold reboots. Turned out to be cheap 300W supplies not providing enough power for the new chip plus all the extra fans. Two other boxes with an Enermax 250W and 300W supply had no problems. I replaced them all, anyway. Now I run 330W TruePower supplies in all the 2000+ and 2100+ boxes, 430W TruePower in the 2200+ boxes, 550W TruePower in the dualie, and 480W TruePower in my 2400+ with tons of doodads. Sold the rest on eBay. Still keep the 300W as a backup.
 
I have two duallies. Tyan 2466 and an Asus A7m266-D . I am running 1600+ MP and 1gig MP. I bought the Tyan board used for $125 on For sale forum . I bought the Asus refurb from TCWO for $89 . They both work fine, no problems . The ram and CPU`s came from Ebay. There are a lot of good deals on ram and CPU`s on Ebay. Look for boards there too. Right now someone is selling MP 2400`s for $125 a pop. That is $30 cheaper than Pricewatch. With the release of Sledgehammer the prices might go way down on MP`s .
 
Originally posted by: ken008
I have two duallies. Tyan 2466 and an Asus A7m266-D . I am running 1600+ MP and 1gig MP. I bought the Tyan board used for $125 on For sale forum . I bought the Asus refurb from TCWO for $89 . They both work fine, no problems . The ram and CPU`s came from Ebay. There are a lot of good deals on ram and CPU`s on Ebay. Look for boards there too. Right now someone is selling MP 2400`s for $125 a pop. That is $30 cheaper than Pricewatch. With the release of Sledgehammer the prices might go way down on MP`s .
Click to expand...

Only $89 for the asus board refurb? That sounds like a nice price to me.

I have two AROIA 1600+ processors, is there some sort of mod I would have t do to them for them to run in the Asus board? Don't I have to close some of the L5 bridges?

My friend has 512mb of Crucial PC2100 ECC REG ram that I am going to get from him when I build this rig....assuming I do it.
 
Right now there are four or five Asus refurbs on Ebay. Closing the L5 bridges might work on all the dually boards. If you already have the CPU`s it is worth a try. I stick with MP`s myself. 2CPU.com is the place to go for a ton of info on duallies. Here is the modding thread from 2CPU.com Thread
 
Originally posted by: LyNx01
I have two AROIA 1600+ processors, is there some sort of mod I would have t do to them for them to run in the Asus board? Don't I have to close some of the L5 bridges?

My friend has 512mb of Crucial PC2100 ECC REG ram that I am going to get from him when I build this rig....assuming I do it.
Click to expand...
Look at the L5 bridges and see how many of them are cut. If only the middle two are cut then the chips are smp capable. However, if one of the outermost bridges is cut, you must close it in order to unlock the processor.

 
I closed the bridges on my 1800+ but there is an option in the BIOS of the ASUS board to ingor if they are MPs for not so I'm assuming that with that board closing the bridges insn't neccessary.

The ASUS board also doesn't require ECC RAM but if you want to use it thats cool I guess.

$89 is a great price. I bought mine for $150 in November.
 
Originally posted by: Baldy18
I closed the bridges on my 1800+ but there is an option in the BIOS of the ASUS board to ingor if they are MPs for not so I'm assuming that with that board closing the bridges insn't neccessary.

The ASUS board also doesn't require ECC RAM but if you want to use it thats cool I guess.

$89 is a great price. I bought mine for $150 in November.
Click to expand...

This sounds like the board for me then.

I have (2) 512 Crucial PC2700, (1) 512 Crucial PC2100, (2) 256 Samsung PC2700

I wouldn't need to get ram or processors then 😀 I couldn't find one for $89, but I didn't look too long. If anyone finds it that cheap please let me know!

Thanks for all the help! 😀
 
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