New PC (Dual Core Opterons)

[oceaness]

Seeing as this combined with this with 8 AMD Opteron 885's and 32 2GB DDR Memory Modules is a tad out of my price range (bearing in mind this is just a cruncher).

I was wondering what kind of budget calculator I can build with perhaps two Dual Core Opterons.

Looking at overclocking 2 265's at the moment, though I've haven't touched an Opteron yet

I'm kind of looking for some advice I guess.

 

[BillytheImpaler]

The dual/quad PGA940 mobos are wicked expensive if I recall correctly. It was that which kept me from building one last summer. Maybe if they've dropped in price...

 

[Biffa]

Tyan K8W is £148.83 Excl VAT
Opteron 265 is £226.33 Excl VAT (each)
Then you need ECC registered DDR (say 512MB for £226.33 Excl VAT)

Thats from where I would get the kit from. You may be able to get it cheaper on egay. Also opteron server standard boards arent known for their overclocking abilities.

 

[NickK]

Hmm.. Two 2nd hand Shuttles - each with an X2 and memory with a small HD will probably be cheaper.

 

[Garp]

Hmm.. Two 2nd hand Shuttles - each with an X2 and memory with a small HD will probably be cheaper.

probably.

Not sure on the performance difference though, given the extra L2 cache on the Opterons.

If you're looking for advice, the guys on the forums here http://www.2cpu.com/ are quite good, given the natural interest in dual processor rigs.

 

[oceaness]

Cool

Thanks for all the help

And yes Biffa that was the one thing I was afraid of, the overclocking capabilities of the boards.

Know any good boards that are any good at overclocking that I can stick 2 265's on?

Atm I'm considering

Tyan Thunder K8WE £319.60
2x 265's £482.18 (£241.09 each)
2x 1GB ECC Registered Memory Modules £155.08 (£77.54 each, to start with will add more eventually)

 

[NickK]

probably.

Not sure on the performance difference though, given the extra L2 cache on the Opterons.

If you're looking for advice, the guys on the forums here http://www.2cpu.com/ are quite good, given the natural interest in dual processor rigs.

The opteron has either 512MB or 1MB per core - inline with the A64 and X2... Without the need for ECC registered, the cost of 512MB is far lower so that budget can be used elsewhere.