> Xeons could be better. They're not just an SMP capable P4. Ahh, but that's exactly what the new Xeon is-- an SMP capable P4. The only differences are SMP and the optional L3 cache sizes (and hyperthreading, although the latest--3Ghz--P4 has it also). Also keep in mind that the XeonDP doesn't have an L3 cache option, and that its L2 cache is the same size as the P4. So, the XeonDP *IS* merely a P4 with 2-way SMP support:
http://developer.intel.com/design/Xeon/prodbref/ And, regarding hyperthreading, is seems safe to assume that no one read the links I posted before. sigh... At this point, Intel's Hyperthreading (again, generically called Simultaneous Multithreading, or SMT) is nothing more than marketing hype. As Intel plainly states, Linux does not support it, nor do any of MS's current server OSs. Don't waste any brain cycles on it. The 10.0Ghz Xeon (yes, ten, equal to ~2 years) will be out before hyperthreading enjoys *cough* widespread *cough* support anyway. By that time Hammer will be out, and then, well, all bets are off. Early indications are that Hammer will run Xeon into the ground, and will only have serious competetion from Itanium3/4. Can anyone here afford an Itanium machine? I can't. And I'd bet that AMD will price at least one Hammer variant in the "mere mortal" category. The Xeon is an overpriced, under performing (as far as user expectations go) processor. It'll cost you ~double a comparable AthlonMP platform, and give you little or no performance gain for server work. From PriceScan: AMD Athlon MP 1900+ 1.60GHz/Socket A/266 FSB/384K (Box) $147.00 AMD Athlon MP 2000+ 1.67/Socket A /266 FSB/384K (Box) $156.00 AMD Athlon MP 2200+ 1.8GHz/Socket A/ 266 FSB/384K (Box) $216.00 Tyan S2460 Tiger MP $159.00 Asus A7M266 DPA Multi Processor $209.00 Giga-Byte GA-7DPXDWP $240.71 Intel Xeon 2.0GHz/Socket 603/400 FST/512K (Box) $218.00 Intel Xeon 2.2GHz/Socket 603/400 FST/512K (Box) $218.00 Intel Xeon 2.4GHz/Socket 603/400 FST/512K (Box) $255.50 Intel Xeon 2.6GHz/Socket 603/400 FST/512K (Box) $367.11 Intel Xeon 2.8GHz/Socket 603/400 FST/512K (Box) $481.05 Intel SE7500CW2 $373.47 SuperMicro P4DCE+ $380.00 Tyan S2720GN $384.87 I'd suggest (since a suggestion is what the original question asked for, iirc) acquiring a dual AthlonMP 2000+ based on a Tyan S2460/2466 mobo. You'll get far better performance per clock tic than a Xeon system, and save a ton of money. Hell, for some applications, a dual AthlonMP 2000+ may out perform a dual P4 Xeon 2.8Ghz. To date, I've never owned an AMD system. I've been all Intel. However, any new system I build will be AMD based, because of the phenomenal price/performance advantage, ESPECIALLY regarding SMP systems. Intel shot itself in the foot when it decided to strip 2-way SMP suppport from the P4, and force one to go Xeon. This created an enormous cost hurdle for those of us who build 2-way boxen from components. Even if Intel had left regular P4s with 2-way capability, I'd still go AthlonMP due to price/performance. StanTheMan TheHardwareFreak rcon admin at: Beer for Breakfast servers <http://bfb.bogleg.org/> 209.41.98.2:27016 (CS multi-map) 209.41.98.2:27015 (DoD) 209.41.98.2:27017 (CS militia/dust2) Dallas, TX _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds_linux
