why can you not run twin desktop cpu's?

[boing]

i know to have a multi cpu machine you have to run server processors and MB's etc but why? and is there really that big a difference between xeons and i7's? to the best of my (limited) knowledge the 5500 range is based on i7 architecture anyway.

 

[Flipped Gazelle]

Besides any sort of technical reasoning, CPU & motherboards mfr's want to make $$.

 

[Rick James]

5500's have a second QPI to talk to the other processor if i'm not mistaken.

 

[ilkhan]

dual socket nehalems (the xeons), like opterons with HT, have one communication link to the NB, and one to each CPU its connected to. No link to the other CPU, no worky in dual config.

 

[boing]

ok, that makes sense, so presumably running a single socket xeon system for 3D rendering wouldn't be a benefit over an i7 system if that's the main difference?

 

[ilkhan]

the current xeon chips are more expensive but have much lower TDP ratings.

 

[sgrinavi]

Originally posted by: boing
ok, that makes sense, so presumably running a single socket xeon system for 3D rendering wouldn't be a benefit over an i7 system if that's the main difference?

I thought multi threaded apps would take advantage of the additional cores of the dual processer systems


The Best Server CPUs part 2: the Intel "Nehalem" Xeon X5570

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Rick James
5500's have a second QPI to talk to the other processor if i'm not mistaken.

Correct.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: Flipped Gazelle
Besides any sort of technical reasoning, CPU & motherboards mfr's want to make $$.

This. In fact, in many cases businesses will shy away from things that cost too little because they're afraid there's a catch. Jack up the price and they say, "hey, it's so expensive it HAS to be worth it!"

 

[boing]

Originally posted by: sgrinavi

Originally posted by: boing
ok, that makes sense, so presumably running a single socket xeon system for 3D rendering wouldn't be a benefit over an i7 system if that's the main difference?

I thought multi threaded apps would take advantage of the additional cores of the dual processer systems


The Best Server CPUs part 2: the Intel "Nehalem" Xeon X5570

oh yes, the more the merrier with 3DS Max but i couldn't afford a multi processor machine (unless i could build it with desktop components which i can't) so i was curious if there was any performance advantage in just building a single processor xeon machine instead of an i7 one.

 

[heyheybooboo]

Title: why can you not run twin desktop cpu's?

Actually, you can in a 'distributed' environment. In the case of 3DSM by using 'backburner' and a dedicated 'manager' you may distribute the rendering of individual frames across 9,999 desktops - with a single license. You may want to start with a single switch and 4 nodes - LOL

The cheaper the desktop the better and it frees up you and your workstation.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: boing
ok, that makes sense, so presumably running a single socket xeon system for 3D rendering wouldn't be a benefit over an i7 system if that's the main difference?

No difference at all, other than it may draw less power.