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Best QUAD Core2 with Virtualisation for GA-965P-DS3P 2.0?

plonka2000

plonka2000

plonka2000

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Joined
14 Jun 2004
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79
Location
Den Haag, Netherlands
Hi Guys,

As the title suggests, I'm looking for the best Quad CPU for an upgrade on my Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3P v2.0 motherboard, with Virtualisation support.

The background is this is for my home Linux server running VMware Server 2.0 so its crucial that I find a CPU that has hardware Virtualisation support.

I currently have an E6300 in there which is a hand-me-down from my workstation, and I think I've reached the capacity of the dual core 1.86GHz goodness it offers.

I've looked into getting an Q8400 but I cant tell for love nor money if this will work. The Gigabyte site says its unsupported here, but I really want to know if it will work. I dont intend to replace this again as this will be the last upgrade for this board in the server until the entire server is rebuilt at some point down the line.

The only most recent CPU I can find that is supported is the Q8200, but this does not do Virtualisation for some silly reason.

As far as I can tell, I might have to get a Q6600.

Can anyone help me to find the sweet spot CPU I need?
IS there something I'm overlooking?

Remember its a v2.0 motherboard not the v3.3, which I wanted when I bought it but OCUK sent me the v2.0. :(

Thanks guys.
 
malachi said:
Get the the Q6600, even cheaper second hand. I have it running my VMware Windows Server and its great.
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I'll back this up. Personally I have the Q9550 but for the money you're much better off with a Q6600.

For virtualisation needs I think I'm holding off on upgrading until I can find a VT-d processor...
 
Does having hardware virtualisation support improve noticably things when running in a home environment? Isn't it only for enterprise-style applications where many many machines are running at a time?
 
Look for a GO stepping q6600, theese are the latest revision of the cpu and tend to run a bit cooler/overclock more than the earlier B3 revision.
 
setter said:
Look for a GO stepping q6600, theese are the latest revision of the cpu and tend to run a bit cooler/overclock more than the earlier B3 revision.
Click to expand...

Thanks was thinking of q9550 myself but if its not worth paying the money then i will save it for a nice cooler.
 
Yep, prior to my current q9550 i was using a q6600 clocked at 3.8ghz, absolutely great cpu, i can certainly agree about getting a decent cooler for the q6600 as they tend to run pretty hot when overclocked.
 
Saundie said:
Other than the fabled "XP Mode" for Windows 7, I'm unable to think of another use for it for the home user...
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you need it if you want to run a 64bit guest OS. :p

and i think the OPs dual core is plenty powerful enough already. i guess it depends what his server is doing though.
 
marc2003 said:
you need it if you want to run a 64bit guest OS. :p

and i think the OPs dual core is plenty powerful enough already. i guess it depends what his server is doing though.
Click to expand...
This. And the fact that the OP specified he uses VMs on his Linux server. I have a VM environment on an 8GB machine to practise with new software installs, etc.

I have Oracle + APEX running on Windows Server 2003 at the moment. :)
 
But you can still do virtualisation on non-hardware-assisted (ie cheaper) CPUs right? Do you really only need it if you want to run 64-bite systems on a 32-bit host? I did a lot of learning about other OS' and how to administer Linux systems on a Athlon XP 2700 which had no fancy hardware assistance :confused:
 
OrphanBoy said:
Do you really only need it if you want to run 64-bite systems on a 32-bit host?
Click to expand...

you can't run 64bit guests on a 32bit host. to run a 64bit guest you need a 64bit host OS and hardware VT.

running 32bit guests on 32/64bit systems without hardware VT is just fine.
 
According to that mobo support list the entire Quad core 2 range is your choice. Here is the cpu support list: http://ee.giga-byte.com/products/mb/cpulist/ga-965p-ds3p_rev2.html

I would say the Q9550 is probably the best bang for the buck option. I've had one great CPU. But for a home server a Q6600 , Q8400 , Q9400 would be fine , depending on cost. I would personally lean towards the Q9550 with 12MB catch would be good for a while yet.

McT
 
Richdog said:
Have you ever heard of a virtual machine? :confused:
Click to expand...
It turns out you're completely right, I just spoke to my 77 year old grandfather and he was talking about how he loves being able to run Windows 7 x64 in a VM on his Windows Vista x64 host for evaluation purposes. Then there's my teenage sister, she's got an entire virtual domain complete with Exchange and System Center.

How could I have not realised that virtual machines are the bread and butter of home computing?
 
What's your point? A lot of non-professional users run VMs now and then - I myself have dabbled with them a few times. Just because you don't use 'em doesn't mean VT isn't important.
 
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