Hey Steve, I am going to try to replicate my thought and decision making processes so you can understand why I did what I did and how I came to do it.
First, I knew that a multiple processor/hyperthreaded/dual core CPU would be a plus since PowerSDR is multi-threaded. I do see the load evenly distributed across the two processors when running PowerSDR, so it does work. Second, I wanted to get a 64-bit CPU to be future proof. Third, since the DSP software can be very CPU intensive, CPU cache, internal processor bus speed (between the two cores), and memory I/O is much more important than the "fastest" CPU. After evaluating Intel D dual core & Athlon 2X, I chose the Athlon. It is a tad bit more expensive than the Intel, but there are some big advantages. First, the Athlon 64 2X (dual core) is an on-die dual core CPU which means that inter-core communications runs at CPU speeds (GHz/ full duplex) and not at memory bus speeds (MHz/ half duplex) like the Intel. It also has direct access to the memory controller using what is called HyperTransport technology. www.hypertransport.org Second there is an integrated memory controller on the CPU rather than a separate chip on the mobo. It has a processor to system bandwidth of 14.4 GB/s where the Intel is 6.4 GB/s. I looked at side by side comparisons for business processes and games and they both had their advantages & disadvantages. The Intel seemed to do better with graphics and the AMD on computational things. When choosing the model of chip, I went with the one that had the most L1 cache (128K per core) and L2 cache (1 MB per core), so I got the Athlon 2x 4400+. The only other one I considered was the 4800+, but the cost delta didn't match the gain in processor speed (2.2 GHz vs. 2.4 GHz) I purchased it off the web from the company that had the best price located in the US with a phone number I could call. I really like the AMD. I do not regret my decision at all. I have used every Intel made from the 8088 up and just recently the AMD Athlon. They are so close in price/performance to the Intel chips now that it is almost a wash. Then came the mobo evaluation. I called the most intense gamer/mobo over-clocker I know and ask him for a recommendation. He said Asus. AMD recommends them too. I already had a lot of PCI cards and a NVIDIA GeForce 5200 8X AGP graphics controller and didn't want to change to PCI Express, so my choice of chipsets was limited to NVIDIA or VIA. The VIA had better specs and performance than the equivalent NVIDIA. I also wanted hardware SATA RAID for disk redundancy, a Firewire port, and a GB Ethernet controller. So I chose the Asus A8V Deluxe mobo. I got this from my local neighborhood computer store. RAM. I got a gig (2-512 chips) of Simple dual channel un-buffered DDR400 RAM off the Internet for the cheapest price. Do not go small here. RAM is cheap and well worth it. Disks. I got two 150 GB Western Digital SATA drives because they are faster than EIDE. I am using hardware RAID I for redundancy - performance isn't an issue since this isn't a database server. Never use Windows software RAID. It is BAD. Case. I wanted a GOOD case that had good RFI protection (lots of steel), excellent thermal properties and was quiet (minimal fan noise) It had to have a good, low EMI-RFI (FCC class B rated) power supply that was heavy duty (450 watts) and quiet as well. (It is the fans that make all the noise). After an extensive Internet search I chose the Antec Sonata II with the SmartPower II power supply. All black with blue LEDs - It matches my black Powermate and the SDR. (I got a Johnny Cash thing going!). I got the case as a floor display model from a local computer store at about 1/2 retail. A little cheaper than if I ordered it off the net. Operating systems. I chose Windows 2003 Server (32-bit). Microsoft's server O/Ss are a little more tested than their home consumer stuff and I don't need all the freaking add-ons that come with XP. I run it as a pure application server, no domain operations as I have another server for that. I can (if I choose) easily upgrade to a 64-BIT OS easily, but until driver support becomes better -OR- PowerSDR is made into a native 64-bit program, there is no real need to change from something that is tried and true. On the issue of FireFox - IT ABSOLUTELY ROCKS! I NEVER use Internet Exploder (IE) anymore except to get Windows updates once a month. I'm lovin' it! I think that fairly well sums it up. -Tim --- Integrated Technical Services "You can't close the door when the walls cave in" --Robert Hunter -----Original Message----- From: Steve Nance [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 7:57 PM To: Tim Ellison Subject: RE: [Flexradio] Building a "Flexible" computer for the future Hi Tim, I'm planning to build a new machine also and what you did interests me as I have been considering the same. If you wouldn't mind I would like to know a few details. Where did you get your parts? Assume on-line. What MOBO did you use? What case? Is OS 64 bit? How do you like the FireFox? Had any problems with it? How do you like the Athlon? I've only used Intel. Thanks & 73, Steve - K5FR -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tim Ellison Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 10:24 AM To: Richard Bischoff; FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [Flexradio] Building a "Flexible" computer for the future Boy, will you get a wide range of answers for this one. :-) I just built a PC specifically for using my SDR1K last October. Here is the configuration I use. AMD Athlon 64 2X (dual core) +4400 (2.2 GHz) processor Asus mobo with 1 GB Ram (2) 150 GB SATA hard drives in a RAID 1 configuration NVIDIA GeForce 5200 Graphics controller 19" LCD NEC monitor (NO RFI) Windows 2003 Server (32-bit) Delta 44 (using 64-bit beta driver) Native parallel port interface to the SDR1K .NET 2.0 DirectX 9.x With 1.4.5 Preview 15 my CPU utilization with just FireFox, VAC, VCOM, a logging program (Prolog2K or EasyLog5) and PowerSDR running is between 2- 8%. If I add MixW, it goes up to 15% Overkill? Maybe. But this system should not be obsolete for some time to come unless we start using the SDR to crunch SETI data. If that happens, I'll drop another faster CPU in :-) -Tim --- Integrated Technical Services "You can't close the door when the walls cave in" --Robert Hunter -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Bischoff Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 10:51 AM To: FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Flexradio] Building a "Flexible" computer for the future Team, I currently have an SDR-1000 on order. In support of that, I am going to build a computer. I understand the current "minimum system requirements", but I'd like to build 1 computer that would not only support current, but also projected software and hardware needs. Any input you'd have would be greatly appreciated! Rick , K5RCB _______________________________________________ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com _______________________________________________ FlexRadio mailing list FlexRadio@flex-radio.biz http://mail.flex-radio.biz/mailman/listinfo/flexradio_flex-radio.biz Archive Link: http://mail.flex-radio.biz/pipermail/flexradio_flex-radio.biz/ FlexRadio Homepage: http://www.flex-radio.com
