Dilema: Dual Xeon or Dual Core system ?

[jupiter8]

Dual CPU is slightly more efficient than dual core.

Is that for Intels only or is that applicable to AMDs as well ?

I believe i read something about the memory controller architecture that made DC AMDs more efficient than duals.Could have misunderstood the whole thing though.

Just curious.

I'm going by benchmarks I've read about the 'net. The dual CPU was a tad bit faster than the dual core. Which CPU? I'd have to go digging. Really, I didn't care that much when a dual core is so much cheaper than buying a dual cpu motherboard, 2 CPU's, and Windows XP Pro compared to Home to even get it to work, not to mention, good chance you need registered/ECC memory that is a bit slower than standard unbuffered memory.

Devon

Nevermind the digging. I was just curious. Indeed DC are cheaper so even if a Dual CPU setup is faster the money you save on DC could go for a faster CPU so money/fast ratio is still better.

I was just interested in the technical explanation that a dual was more effective than DC.No biggie,found an article about dualcores that i'll read when i get around to it.

[RTaylor]

The specific Dual Xeon 3.06 uses standard DDR400, and the price is for a used system, if that makes a difference...

Not wanting to build one?

A good Tyan {supermicro, whatever} board with a future {multiple slots with one processor if need be and some sort of compatibility with the systems that are going to come out with Vista so that you can upgrade components for the maximum amount of time} and a few hours learning how to put one together would {will be} be your best bet. If you really don't want to go through that... I'd probably go with the dual core single. I really would suggest that you learn the fine art of putting tab a into slot a though. It will save you a small fortune, afford you much more control and I've never yet seen a commercial machine that could begin to compete with the home built stuff. It's a whole different story.

[DevonB]

Really, I didn't care that much when a dual core is so much cheaper than buying a dual cpu motherboard, 2 CPU's, and Windows XP Pro compared to Home to even get it to work, not to mention, good chance you need registered/ECC memory that is a bit slower than standard unbuffered memory.

Read up on it.

You can always buy the board and a single dual core processor and put in the second when you feel the need. {How 'bout them "common sockets"?}

Read up on what? You've lost me.

One concern about buying CPU's "at a later date" is making sure the steppings of the processor are comaptible between eacch other. Best to buy both now, really.

Any way you slice it, a dual core system is cheaper than a dual CPU system. The slight boost in performance, IMHO, is not worth the extra expense. And to most people, music is an expensive hobby. Wherever you can save money, you do it. Would I mind a dual dual core Opti system in my studio on a full time basis? Not at all (aside from the noise.) I paid about $735 for my X2 3800+, 2 gigs of ram, motherboard, case, and CPU cooler back in December. You're not going to come close for that with a dual CPU system. The price drop this month will make it even more affordable.

Devon

[vicious_angel]

MAIN DIFERENCE ABOUT CPU's

AMD's cpu's communicates in the core of the cpu by the very good technology amd has and put the memory controller in the core.
INTEL cpu's has to go threw FSB to communicate each other?

what do you all believe is faster?

my xp3,8 - 2 gigs of ram - n force4 mobo can beat a lot of machines out there.

If you wanna go with the machine that carry all vst plugins its a one way path
amd opteron quad core if the price its not a big fact.

[gilwe]

How about getting a Dual Xeon mother board and equip it with a single dualcore Xeon ? Later on you can add another Xeon. So you have a dualcore system which later becomes a dual-core-dual-xeon (quad).

[supersub]

Does the host have to be dual core aware ?

thanks

[OMU]

Does the host have to be dual core aware ?

thanks

I believe so.

[original flipper]

HI

All I can tell you is my dual Xeon 3.06 has been running like a dream for 2 years ... very stable with no crashes, works well under a VERY slim XP configuration of having most services switched off as well.

I would personally go for a tried and tested sysyem and save myself the heartache of problems later ... assumimng alternatives have any issues, that is.

Flipper.

[DevonB]

Does the host have to be dual core aware ?

thanks

To work on both cores? Yes. To work at all? No. It'll just run on one core instead.

Devon

[supersub]

Yes I meant to use both cores

thank you

[RTaylor]

Really, I didn't care that much when a dual core is so much cheaper than buying a dual cpu motherboard, 2 CPU's, and Windows XP Pro compared to Home to even get it to work, not to mention, good chance you need registered/ECC memory that is a bit slower than standard unbuffered memory.

Read up on it.

You can always buy the board and a single dual core processor and put in the second when you feel the need. {How 'bout them "common sockets"?}

Read up on what? You've lost me.

Price it.

One concern about buying CPU's "at a later date" is making sure the steppings of the processor are comaptible between eacch other. Best to buy both now, really.

Processors aren't nearly as picky about being matched as they once were. At any rate, by the time you need the second, the prices will be much lower.

Any way you slice it, a dual core system is cheaper than a dual CPU system. The slight boost in performance, IMHO, is not worth the extra expense. And to most people, music is an expensive hobby. Wherever you can save money, you do it. Would I mind a dual dual core Opti system in my studio on a full time basis? Not at all (aside from the noise.) I paid about $735 for my X2 3800+, 2 gigs of ram, motherboard, case, and CPU cooler back in December. You're not going to come close for that with a dual CPU system. The price drop this month will make it even more affordable.

Devon

A 3.2 dual core can be had for around $350. A Tyan board to run it will cost $3-400. This gives you a great board that will last for years and the option to add a second processor with minimal fuss. Approved memory runs at about a hundred for a 512 chip. If I were to shop... I could come up with it cheaper. I think it's worth the cost.

[RTaylor]

Yes I meant to use both cores

thank you

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 9&start=15

[VitaminD]

you have a dilemma I wish I had..

[gilwe]

Pardon ? ...



Well, I couldn't find any dualcore dual Xeon supporting motherboard for less than 500$ so far... Which Tyan board are you refering to ?

Anyhow, I decided that for the same price of the used dual CPU, it is better for me to build a dualcore based machine, even though it does not have HT, and there is *some* chance that it won't perform as good as the Xeon system (although ALL benchmarks I came across on the net shows better performance on the dualcore !). I don't think it would be wise enough to make an investment in obsolete technology when you can get more or less the same performace out of a new technology based system. We should not forget that the new systems are based on faster motherboards, better chipsets, faster RAM, faster AGP technology, SATA support, etc. And that's a part of the overall calculation.

[RTaylor]

http://www.tyan.com/products/html/tempesti5000vf.html

I got this from a quick froogle. I don't know that it's the best or cheapest option. You might dig through the Tyan pages:

http://www.eastluna.com/hardware/details.php?id=1979

The same search at pricewatch:
http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.a ... st+i5000VF

Just in case:

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=KVR ... &scoring=p