Help with Decision Opteron or Athlon 64

[Mike Smith]

I am in the process of evaluating Windows XP64 and the 64 bit
capabilities of the new processors. Basically, I run a lot of stuff
on my workstation during the day and my system is SLOOOOOOW.

I am going to use this machine for business and I need to be able to
do administration from the machine. (RDP is fine, MMC with Remote
Desktops to multiple servers). I am going to spend a few bucks on a
system and I want to be able to use it for VMWare to set up lab
servers so I want a lot of RAM although I do not think I will need
mroe than 4GB (unless I am way off on my assessment).

I am setting it up as a workstation which I will use daily. I will
test our applications and drivers and hardware so I want something
which I will not have TOO much trouble finding drivers for so I plan
to build or buy a machine which I know will have hardware currently
compatible with XP64. I have looked at Alienware's site and I noticed
that if I choose a Athlon 64 system (4800+) then I am only able to
choose XP Pro (32 bit). With their Opteron systems, I can get XP64
but a much slower CPU for around the same price (a dual core is an
extra $1200)

I want a high performance system which I am not gonig to run games on.
I don't mind limiting myself as far as drivers go.

I do run Linux from time to time, and I am assuming that there are NO
issues with Linux drivers, right? LOL I am sure the Linux-only guys
will say so. I figure if I spec the system to run Windows XP64 then
it should run Linux just as easily or better.

I will probably run Windows primarily instead of Linux just so I can
run MMC and Agent 3.0 natively. I can always put Linux in a VM.

Anyone have advice (Duron or Athlon)? How do the speeds compare?

 

[J. Eric Durbin]

I am in the process of evaluating Windows XP64 and the 64 bit
capabilities of the new processors. Basically, I run a lot of stuff
on my workstation during the day and my system is SLOOOOOOW.

You might want to post your questions to

microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general

as well if your server carries it. There are a number of people there
who have experience with both the Athlon XP 64s and Opterons.

I built a machine using the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum board, Windows XP
x64, and an Athlon XP 64 3000+ (Venice).

While my daily use is not as intensive as you described yours, I have
been quite pleased with the performance improvement over my slightly
older Pentium 4, 2.6GHz/Asus P4P800 machine. And, that's a relatively
low-end 64bit system.

 

[Mike Smith]

You might want to post your questions to

microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general

as well if your server carries it. There are a number of people there
who have experience with both the Athlon XP 64s and Opterons.

I built a machine using the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum board, Windows XP
x64, and an Athlon XP 64 3000+ (Venice).

While my daily use is not as intensive as you described yours, I have
been quite pleased with the performance improvement over my slightly
older Pentium 4, 2.6GHz/Asus P4P800 machine. And, that's a relatively
low-end 64bit system.

OK, thats a start. Thanks for the advice.

 

[A Guy Called Tyketto]

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You might want to post your questions to

microsoft.public.windows.64bit.general

as well if your server carries it. There are a number of people there
who have experience with both the Athlon XP 64s and Opterons.

Better yet, point your Usenet/NNTP client at news.microsoft.com
and you'll get it that way. Use that as a fallback if your local server
doesn't carry it.

BL.
- --
Brad Littlejohn | Email: (e-mail address removed)
Unix Systems Administrator, | (e-mail address removed)
Web + NewsMaster, BOFH.. Smeghead! | http://www.sbcglobal.net/~tyketto
PGP: 1024D/E319F0BF 6980 AAD6 7329 E9E6 D569 F620 C819 199A E319 F0BF

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[General Schvantzkoph]

I am in the process of evaluating Windows XP64 and the 64 bit
capabilities of the new processors. Basically, I run a lot of stuff
on my workstation during the day and my system is SLOOOOOOW.

I am going to use this machine for business and I need to be able to
do administration from the machine. (RDP is fine, MMC with Remote
Desktops to multiple servers). I am going to spend a few bucks on a
system and I want to be able to use it for VMWare to set up lab
servers so I want a lot of RAM although I do not think I will need
mroe than 4GB (unless I am way off on my assessment).

I am setting it up as a workstation which I will use daily. I will
test our applications and drivers and hardware so I want something
which I will not have TOO much trouble finding drivers for so I plan
to build or buy a machine which I know will have hardware currently
compatible with XP64. I have looked at Alienware's site and I noticed
that if I choose a Athlon 64 system (4800+) then I am only able to
choose XP Pro (32 bit). With their Opteron systems, I can get XP64
but a much slower CPU for around the same price (a dual core is an
extra $1200)

I want a high performance system which I am not gonig to run games on.
I don't mind limiting myself as far as drivers go.

I do run Linux from time to time, and I am assuming that there are NO
issues with Linux drivers, right? LOL I am sure the Linux-only guys
will say so. I figure if I spec the system to run Windows XP64 then
it should run Linux just as easily or better.

I will probably run Windows primarily instead of Linux just so I can
run MMC and Agent 3.0 natively. I can always put Linux in a VM.

Anyone have advice (Duron or Athlon)? How do the speeds compare?

MonarchComputer offers XP64 on the A64 X2. I'd recommend the 4400+ vs the
4800+, the performance difference is negligible but the price difference
isn't. I have a 4400+ with 4G running on an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum that I
got from Monarch, I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on it, and there
are no driver issues at all. As long as you get a motherboard with the
Nvidia Nforce4 chipset and get an Nvidia graphics card there won't be any
Linux problems. I don't have any experience with XP64 but I can't imagine
that you will have any problems with XP drivers on an Nforce4 A64 X2
system, if you look at the Nvidia website you'll see that they have
drivers for both 64 bit Linux and 64 bit XP.

 

[Mike Smith]

MonarchComputer offers XP64 on the A64 X2. I'd recommend the 4400+ vs the
4800+, the performance difference is negligible but the price difference
isn't. I have a 4400+ with 4G running on an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum that I
got from Monarch, I'm running 64 bit Fedora Core 3 on it, and there
are no driver issues at all. As long as you get a motherboard with the
Nvidia Nforce4 chipset and get an Nvidia graphics card there won't be any
Linux problems. I don't have any experience with XP64 but I can't imagine
that you will have any problems with XP drivers on an Nforce4 A64 X2
system, if you look at the Nvidia website you'll see that they have
drivers for both 64 bit Linux and 64 bit XP.

Cool, thanks for the info. I love Monarch as I have purchased several
MB/MEM/CPU combos there as well as various parts.

It sounds like I am on the right track by specifying a system which
will Win XP64 well (with hardware known to have 64 bit drivers
support) AND it should run Linux just as well or better. Fedora Core
3 seems like a good choice.

 

[General Schvantzkoph]

Cool, thanks for the info. I love Monarch as I have purchased several
MB/MEM/CPU combos there as well as various parts.

It sounds like I am on the right track by specifying a system which
will Win XP64 well (with hardware known to have 64 bit drivers
support) AND it should run Linux just as well or better. Fedora Core
3 seems like a good choice.

I have FC4 running on a couple of single core A64 systems and it's working
fine on them so you can consider FC4 also.

 

[Odie Ferrous]

I am in the process of evaluating Windows XP64 and the 64 bit
capabilities of the new processors. Basically, I run a lot of stuff
on my workstation during the day and my system is SLOOOOOOW.

I am going to use this machine for business and I need to be able to
do administration from the machine. (RDP is fine, MMC with Remote
Desktops to multiple servers). I am going to spend a few bucks on a
system and I want to be able to use it for VMWare to set up lab
servers so I want a lot of RAM although I do not think I will need
mroe than 4GB (unless I am way off on my assessment).

I am setting it up as a workstation which I will use daily. I will
test our applications and drivers and hardware so I want something
which I will not have TOO much trouble finding drivers for so I plan
to build or buy a machine which I know will have hardware currently
compatible with XP64. I have looked at Alienware's site and I noticed
that if I choose a Athlon 64 system (4800+) then I am only able to
choose XP Pro (32 bit). With their Opteron systems, I can get XP64
but a much slower CPU for around the same price (a dual core is an
extra $1200)

I want a high performance system which I am not gonig to run games on.
I don't mind limiting myself as far as drivers go.

I do run Linux from time to time, and I am assuming that there are NO
issues with Linux drivers, right? LOL I am sure the Linux-only guys
will say so. I figure if I spec the system to run Windows XP64 then
it should run Linux just as easily or better.

I will probably run Windows primarily instead of Linux just so I can
run MMC and Agent 3.0 natively. I can always put Linux in a VM.

Anyone have advice (Duron or Athlon)? How do the speeds compare?

You will struggle to get an AMD Athlon 64 motherboard to support 4GB of
memory.

If you want more than 4GB, you'll be restricted to the Opteron.

The boards for these are more expensive, as is the memory - you
generally need ECC registered.

Iwill do a good board for the Opteron - about £300 plus VAT in the UK.
I think it goes up to 16GB - but at £350 per 2GB chip, the memory is
expensive.

As for a CPU, the Opteron 275 (dual core) is something I am looking at -
two of those on the Iwill board. (Needed to run a 4TB storage array for
large recoveries.)

However, I also have a 939 AMD x2 4600 with 4GB of memory, and which
performs incredibly well running Windows 32- and 64-bit.

With this sort of processing power, your bottleneck is going to be your
hard drives. Areca do a good range of PCI-e and PCI-x controllers.


Odie

 

[John Weiss]

. . .I want a lot of RAM although I do not think I will need
mroe than 4GB (unless I am way off on my assessment).

. . .I plan
to build or buy a machine which I know will have hardware currently
compatible with XP64. I have looked at Alienware's site and I noticed
that if I choose a Athlon 64 system (4800+) then I am only able to
choose XP Pro (32 bit). With their Opteron systems, I can get XP64
but a much slower CPU for around the same price (a dual core is an
extra $1200)

I want a high performance system which I am not gonig to run games on.
I don't mind limiting myself as far as drivers go.

I do run Linux from time to time, and I am assuming that there are NO
issues with Linux drivers, right? LOL I am sure the Linux-only guys
will say so. I figure if I spec the system to run Windows XP64 then
it should run Linux just as easily or better.

It depends on what you want to pay... Alienware is probably not the cheapest
place to buy, but they may give you a good idea of the price/performance
tradeoff.

The driver issue is between the OS and the hardware, so you just have to ensure
the hardware you buy is supported by the Linux distribution you use. In
general, though, Linux runs on Opteron systems with no problems.

Though Opterons may have slower clock speeds than the A64, the architecture may
make the Opteron system faster than the A64, depending on your usage. Also,
with a newer Socket 939 or 940 board, you can upgrade to a dual-core CPU when
you want to spend the $$. If you opt for a dual Socket 940 board, you can start
with 1 single- or dual-core CPU, and add another later, for a possible total of
4 cores.

Bottom line is, if you can afford the initial cost, a dual-capable Opteron
system will give you the most flexibility in upgrade paths.