Quad Opteron

[Xyo II]

Quick question: is it worth it to get a Dual-cpu MB with 2 opteron 165's, compared to just a single 165? any major difference if you're gaming/surfing/encoding/compiling/(insert -ing word here)?

 

[Markbnj]

This question is on the bleeding edge of the ongoing dual core vs. single core for games debate. All I can tell you personally is that if I had the money for a four core platform I'd do it, assuming that the O/S supported it, and it didn't cause problems with games.

 

[Hard Ball]

You won't be able to use any pair of 1xx opteron in a dual socket mobo, since these can either only fit in single S940 or S939 socket. Plus, the only 165 I know is a S939, even the pin configuration won't work.

What you need is a pair of 265s, and those can be had for <700 USD at monarchcomputer.com

 

[bunnyfubbles]

No, because you don't seem to know how you'd use the power to take advantage of it, even then you'd be paying more than 4 times the cost (as Hard Ball has already mentioned). The 165 is a single CPU only Opteron. You'd need a 265 for a 2 way configuration, just as you'd need an 865 for a 4 or 8 way setup, of which the s940 (not s939) is needed for multiple CPUs.

 

[Lord Banshee]

yep you would need 2xx series opterons(expensive) and registered ram (more expensive).

Also the only thing you listed that will ever be faster is the encodeing. everything else you listed it will probally be 5+ years before we see genreal software take advantage of 4+ cores.

so stick with the 939 AthlonX2 or 939 Opteron 1xx (dual core models).

 

[Xyo II]

whoops, didnt even see it was socket 940. that sucks. I was hoping to run muchos distributed computing projects w/ normal computing, but oh well. Thanks for not bashing the hell out of me, I mean, I would have, if I had seen me post a stupid suggestion like this.

 

[Markfw]

Not only is it socket 940 which requires 265 opterons, but you virtually can't OC a 940 board. I will be getting a pair of 280's for mine next year (after I pay off the house)

 

[Zap]

Asus makes one with the Nforce 4 Pro chipset that has PCIe and overclocking for dual CPUs.