Gladiator

hello all,

I was at my job (vallet parking in a resturant) when a manager of the resturant came up to me with an offer.

He works as a computer editor. He runs his own company making animations and computer movies (Shrek type of stuff but for commercials and simple).

He asked me to build him a super computer that would be able to load numerous graphics and sound recording applications for simultanous use. In specific he said he wanted Dual Xeons P4 2.8ghz each with 512 L2 each. I agreed to find out prices and info on it for him.

Now, my problem is that I need some help. I found a pretty good offer for 2 new Xeons with 512 L2 that are matched for 1000 bucks. But motherboard is my problem. I looked into SuperMicro boards, P4DPE board. Ram is only at PC 1600 and the guy wants no less than DDR 333. Also, he needs AGP for his editing.

Does anyone know any good branded Dual Xeon board with 333 ddr, agp and back capability for 33bit PCI as he has no use for the PCI pro slots.

Gladiator

I am looking into the Tiger i7505 (S2668) but I can't find a place to buy it other than completed servers

Gladiator

Has anyone built a P4 xeon system here?
I am intrested in the following motherboard:



It supports ddr 2100 and since I have no use for the 64 bit PCI, it is perfect. I need your guys help. Your opinions and comments.

Do you guys think it will fit into the server cheiftech case?

Gamma_Goblin

well that board looks fine to me, but the PCI-X (not PCI pro. ur think in of AGP pro )

but those supermicro boards have worked well for me when i setup xeon systems to sell occasionally
(they can be big tho)


brandon

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Gladiator

Guys where can I buy 2 xeons at 2.8ghz each and that are matched. Must be 512 L2. I am having a hard time finding them

Maverick

wish i could help but i know basicly nothing about xeons. im not sure what you mean by matched. why do they have to match? i think all the 2.8's have 512k of L2.

Gladiator

See, each batch of a CPU has a tiny little difference in them.
When processors are matched, they work together better then those that are not.

I tried to run 2 PIII 1ghz together, although they were not matched, during max CPU load, one cpu was doing 100% load and the other only 30%.

The serials of the cpu are usally a few numbers apart in the most right digits. Matched CPU's cost 2x more. But I am having a problem finding a shop to sell the latest xeons!

I will try ebay although I will hate to do that.

Maverick

oh ok... that makes sense. thanks for the info even though I doubt ill get to build one. lol! its good to know.

BigAkita

Gladiator, have you tried calling any of the major players to see if they could match a set up for you? Newegg, Spartantech, Directron, etc... You could probably find a vendor willing to hook you up if you told them exactly what you wanted.

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Gladiator

I have not tried calling, but it is the best idea I heard yet.

Thanks BigAkita!
I will call them noon-ish.

abyssling

I've never had any problems getting matched cpus for Xeon rigs I have built.

Try Monarch or Googlegear or Newegg, i have gotten matched cpus from all 3 resellers.

Also, if i could recommend a board, Id go with the Supermicro X5DA8

There are NO Xeon boards that will utilize DDR333.

Sorry. you can run pc2700 on it, but unless you are overclocking (which SMP rigs generally do poorly) then it is kind of pointless

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the pip

try monarch. the best mobo combo is pretested here:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merch...ry_Code=INTELC
it has lan, ddr, and agp8x