Need help building monster

[Rich]

I am trying to build a high performance PC and having a difficult time with
RAM/CPU/mainboard speed ratios.

This is what I am trying to accomplish:
The PC will be used as an analysis server, running floating point
calculations and using up to 3GB of RAM at all times. I need at least 4GB of
fast ram. The processors will be nearly maxed out much of the time.

The speed of the RAM, CPU and mainboard, and the ratio at which they run is
extremely critical from what I understand. The speed of the memory is most
critical for my application. Large amounts of memory will be moved around
constantly. The CPUs will be crunching numbers (floating point calculations)
all the time.

I have experience building PCs but for this project, I have no idea on what
I'm looking for in a mainboard, CPUs, and RAM

1. I don't know which CPU is best for fp operations. I heard that AMD was
fastest for floating point calculations. Is this true?

2. I've seen all sorts of RAM specifications like DDR2, DDR, 4000, 4400,
400Mhz, 800Mhz, etc. I have no idea what all this is, but I would assume
that 800MHz is better, if the mainboard and CPUs could handle it?

3. I'm not sure about the power supply. I guess it needs to be 550 watt?
This will be a 2U rackmount deal, I think. It will have two SATA hard
drives.

The most I want to spend is $3000 per machine. I have to build a few of
these.

I posted a job on www.rentacoder.com to find someone to help, but can't find
anyone qualified.

Would appreciate pointers or references, or bids on my rentacoder listing.
Thanks.

Richard

 

[Rich]

I am trying to build a high performance PC and having a difficult time with
RAM/CPU/mainboard speed ratios.

This is what I am trying to accomplish:
The PC will be used as an analysis server, running floating point
calculations and using up to 3GB of RAM at all times. I need at least 4GB of
fast ram. The processors will be nearly maxed out much of the time.

The speed of the RAM, CPU and mainboard, and the ratio at which they run is
extremely critical from what I understand. The speed of the memory is most
critical for my application. Large amounts of memory will be moved around
constantly. The CPUs will be crunching numbers (floating point calculations)
all the time.

I have experience building PCs but for this project, I have no idea on what
I'm looking for in a mainboard, CPUs, and RAM

1. I don't know which CPU is best for fp operations. I heard that AMD was
fastest for floating point calculations. Is this true?

2. I've seen all sorts of RAM specifications like DDR2, DDR, 4000, 4400,
400Mhz, 800Mhz, etc. I have no idea what all this is, but I would assume
that 800MHz is better, if the mainboard and CPUs could handle it?

3. I'm not sure about the power supply. I guess it needs to be 550 watt?
This will be a 2U rackmount deal, I think. It will have two SATA hard
drives.

The most I want to spend is $3000 per machine. I have to build a few of
these.

I posted a job on www.rentacoder.com to find someone to help, but can't find
anyone qualified.

Would appreciate pointers or references, or bids on my rentacoder listing.
Thanks.

Richard

I have no idea what I'm doing, but how does this sound.. I called Fry's
Electronics and this is what a salesperson recommend:

Two AMD Opteron 64bit model 246 w/ 1mb cache $250 each

Asus dual socket 940 CPU mainboard $329

2U rack mount case $169

600 watt power supply $179

4 sticks Patriot ECC 3200 400MHz $189 each

I am told this is a 1600Mhz FSB setup. I am not sure why she recommended
that type of memory. I thought that 800MHz was faster. She said something to
the effect of, "with this setup, it will run faster than with 800MHz
memory". I just don't get it.

Also two Raptor 10k 74gb drives at $239 each

Does this sound like what I need?