Xeon processor

We are looking at new machines and are debating P4 vs. Xeon processors.
Similar machines are about 25% higher for the Xeon. Any relevant
comparisons out there?

WT

 

Hey CSWP...

Me thinks you don't need to spend more on the Xeons. They got twice as much
cache as the P4, but I don't think you would see a great deal of performance
from running SW on it. Better to use the Xeon on a server than a desktop...


Mr. Pickles

 

are amd's not in the running?

 

Wayne,

I'm in the same boat and have been doing a lot of reading on anandtech.com
and tomshardware.com. The Xeon only really offers more cache over the P4.
And if you're really worried about cache there is a P4 Extreme Edition that
has 2.5MB of it. From Tomsharware.com it looks as if the extra cache doesn't
really give enough performance to justify the $600-$700 charge over the
regular P4-3.2GHz.

As far as RAM, I'm going for 1GB of PC3200, the 400MHz stuff. I'm still
debating on hard drives and video cards. Western Digital has a 36GB
10,000rpm 8MB cache sata drive thats fast, but I read that it has an
annoying high pitched whine thats sometimes worse than scsi's. So I may just
go with a 7,200rpm drive with 8MB cache. I'm still torn between whether I
should get the GeForce FX 5950 or the Quadro FX 1100 video card. Both can be
had for the same price, but the 5950 is a better performer, but come with
the no more than 12 windows limitation. Who opens 12 windows that often? And
would this be eliminated anyway with the softquadro hack?

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20031223/cpu-guide-21.html
http://www.anandtech.com/cpu/showdoc.html?i=1948

You may want to wait for the next gen procesors to come out this quater as
they will definitely lower the cost of the P4-3.2GHz CPU.

I'm comparing what I can get between Dells 360 Precision, Alienware's gaming
and professional systems and xicomputers offering.

So to answer your question, skip the Xeon and go P4 or AMD.

 

Jeff,

Were did you find the information on the 12 window limitation of a FX5950?

I just ordered one thinking that I will have to softquadro it with 4x.xx
drivers to make it make it work.

Would be nice to avoid this. Don't think I would care about a 12 window
limitation.

Jay

 

I believe this was listed on the video card support section of the SW site.
But, why even run Softquadro with this card, unless you are dying for
realview? How often does anyone work with that many windows open at once?
Personally I will go with the 5950 since I believe it to be a faster card
that the FX1000 or 1100.