Upgrading computer

[bozilla]

In short:

Current -> Dual Xeons 3.6 Nocona 1.mb cache

Thinking about -> dual dual core AMD Opteron 285 @ 2.6Ghz

1. Should I wait for Conroe or some Xeon version of it so I get dual Xeons based on Conroe? But who knows when that will come out

2. Should I wait for new AM2 socket version of Opteron, using DDR2 memory? How much faster will this technology be anyways?

3. Maybe get AMD X2 5000+ that's just out, or wait for it's AM2 version too?

4. Wait for new Powermacs? That's in 2007 though, so it's not really gonna be a short wait.

These are hard time to make a decision. Currently though this machine does the job, but I"m getting more and more into high-def video content in addition to all the coding and flash-ing and I pretty much need something really fast and modern then my current machine. I'm also thinking of upgrade to 64bit XP since I'm not playing any games or anything on this machine.

 

[bozilla]

hm..anyone?

 

[SlitheryDee]

I'm a supporter of the "get what you need when you need it" school of thought, so the dual 285's sounds good to me. Hard to make a solid recommendation seeing as the whole face of the industry is probably gonna change later on this year. I guess it depends on whether you want to get a platform that's upgradeable (both woodcrest's platform and AM2) or if you just want to update now and make the big jump later when the two platforms are more mature.

 

[bozilla]

Well I hear what you are saying, and basically I don't think that AM2 will bring anything that revolutionary as far as performance goes, at least not for a year of two when it matures.

At this moment, I'm more interested in new Conroe processors and wonder if they'll come out with Xeon variations for use in dual cpu workstation configurations. I know that Conroe is scheduled to come out in a few months, but I'm not sure if Xeon flavors will come out at the same time. I would get those at that point. I'm just afraid that it's gonna be a long wait.

 

[SlitheryDee]

The Server version of the intel's next family of processors is currently named Woodcrest. I don't know if the'll be keeping the Xeon brand name seeing as they're already dropping the Pentium brand in favor of Core solo/duo/??.

If you want to believe the hype then all indications are that Woodcrest is going to be behemoth performance-wise, and as you said there aren't going to be any significant changes on AMD's side of things other than DDR2.

Something to think about however is that in configurations like you're proposing (dual dual-core processors) the added bandwidth offered by DDR2 coupled with AMD's already great multiple processor scaling may close the gap a bit. Intel's solution will still be reliant on the FSB which may start to get a bit clogged when you add enough processors to the mix. A lot of "mays and maybe's" there, I know. The truth is we won't know very much till these technologies hit the shelves.

 

[bozilla]

So you think I should take a plunge and just go ahead and build a dual 285 Opty workstation using regular DDR400 ECC ram?

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: bozilla
So you think I should take a plunge and just go ahead and build a dual 285 Opty workstation using regular DDR400 ECC ram?

I can't answer that for you.

The only thing I can say is that it would be an incredibly powerful machine and would surely be competent performance-wise for quite some time. That dual xeon rig you have now is no slouch I'm sure, but if you need the extra processing power now then then do it. If you want to wait then there's lotsa cool stuff just over the horizon. Base what you do on your needs and you'll never go wrong.