Which setup is best?

[beansbaxter]

would you rather do a dual athlon mp 2800 setup rather than a amd64 setup?

 

[sisooktom]

A64 at what speed? It really depends on that, but unless you're primarily going to be running apps that are optimized for multiple CPUs, I'd still say the A64.

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: sisooktom
A64 at what speed? It really depends on that, but unless you're primarily going to be running apps that are optimized for multiple CPUs, I'd still say the A64.

ditto, though the dual setup does look really tasty

 

[hokahknow]

If you are gaming do the AMD64. If you do SETI, Video or Music editing do the Dual.

Or if you are like me do both

 

[coolred]

I am kinda wondering the same thing, I do light gaming, mainly RTS's(my current vid card is an 8500DV, my new system will have either 9600Pro or XT or possiblly a 9800 if I can find a good deal). But I do tend to do quite a bit of multitasking and will soon be doing some encoding. IS there anyway to tell at what point the video card would be holding back the CPU? I mean it would be kinda stupid for a gamer to go out and get a top of the line CPU and a mid range video card, since the video card would likely choke before the CPU, right?

 

[Mik3y]

well, how would a dual mp 2800+ work on games like doom 3 and half-life 2 with a top of the line gfx card? if it's smooth enough for gameplay, then i'd totally go for teh dually, since i've always wanted one.

 

[Connoisseur]

as far as I know I dont' think Doom 3 and HL 2 support multiprocessors (correct me if i'm wrong). In that case the MP2800 system will be effectively one XP2800 as far as teh game is concerned. So the A64 will spank it. If those games DO support MP then it'll be interesting.

 

[Mik3y]

i wonder how well an athlon xp 2800 handles doom 3 and half-life 2 then. i would so get a dually system if i know it can handle those games fine, not as an mp, but just as a single 2800+ itself.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
i wonder how well an athlon xp 2800 handles doom 3 and half-life 2 then. i would so get a dually system if i know it can handle those games fine, not as an mp, but just as a single 2800+ itself.

Oh they will handle it just fine as long as you have a good video card like say a radeon 9800 pro.

 

[Chaotic42]

Heh, I just made this decision. I went with the 2800s.

Multitasking is as smooth as glass.

 

[sisooktom]

It sounds like you're really wanting to game, and just want the MP for the "cool factor". I can't say I blame you, but honestly it sounds to me like the A64 will suit your needs better.

 

[Moltres]

Get the best of both worlds. Go for the dual Opteron.

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Heh, I just made this decision. I went with the 2800s.

Multitasking is as smooth as glass.

damn right, and I only have 1800MP's!

I definitely want something faster. I am thinking MP2400's.

I'd go for the dually rig. the 2.13 GHz MP2800 CPU will push games at a very decent framerate.

 

[savx]

Is there any real difference between AMD Athlon XP's and MP's.

In the past, I've setup many dual cpu systems from regular off-the shelf CPU (PII, PIII, ...)

 

[Mik3y]

the only difference is that the MP's are smp enabled, allowing it to run dually. you can actually hardmod the xp mobiles to run mp, but i'm not sure abouit teh desktop mp's. by running dual mobile xp's, you can actually clock the cpu's at 2.5ghz, which i think is a great, especially pricewise.

 

[SickBeast]

Why don't you just buy the cheapest dual Opteron motherboard you can find, buy a single "2" series Opteron, then call it a day? That way you could have SMP in the future and you're resolving your dillema.

 

[savx]

SMP????

All I had to do in the past is to reinstall Windows to recognize the 2nd process and be able to divide the work load accordingly.