Dual Xeon Or Single P4?

[Mr. 2 1]

My P4 LGA 775 2.8GHz recently fried after about 6 months so now I'm looking for something new, and I have my eyes on IntelliStation Z Pro 6221-LC1, I have a sweet deal for it too(less than 1k, brand new of course). I don't know if i sh ould buy it or not, since server is usualy data processing and I don't know how well their graphic processor are, and I play game alot hence the burn CPU..

 

So I just want to know if I should get the Server or just use the money to replace my LGA CPU?

[CmpFreak88]

CPU's don't just burn from playing games... Did it overheat or what?

[asus]

well.. dule processers mean 2 licences for windows XP :-) .. but ya.. if you can get 2 of thoes suckers.. go for it :-)

[DECwakeboarder]

What are you talking about asus? Last time I checked in order to run a dual CPU'd PC on windows, all you needed was XP Pro to take advantage of the 2nd processor. I take it he's talking about a single dual xeon board, and not 2 seperate ones tho.

[cybergrunt69]

The newer Xeon procs also run hyperthreaded, which would make a dual board appear to have 4 procs - and WinXP can't handle that, you'd have to run them in 'single proc' mode so it only shows the actual 2.

 

Also, Xeons are generally good at data processing (like databases, graphics/video manipulation, etc), but since internally it's mostly a standard P4 chip (IIRC) it should play your games just fine. A dual proc setup for a game is kinda pointless since most games don't use SMP.

 

Personally, for price vs. performance vs. actual useability, I'd say to get a regular p4 for your desktop and save a buttload of cash - unless you have some app you run often that could justify the huge increase in price...

Edited May 12, 2005 by cybergrunt69

[DECwakeboarder]

I mean't to say this earlier, but unless it is going to be used as a server for multiple online games/websites/databases/whatever else then there is no need to go with a dual xeon pc.

[drago]

If you have the money to do dual go for it... its kinda an advantage for you. even the speed might be pointless right now, hell i'd do it.

[bigred]

you'll run into a few thigns that might limit your ability to game with a dual xeon.

 

1 registered ECC ram

2 crappy onboard graphics / lack of good support for card (if it's a server setup)

3 smp can actually cause some games to run slower

4 cost

 

 

and yes XP pro WILL run on a dual HT cpu system. since HT is only a virtual cpu it isn't really 4 cpus (which xp pro couldn't do). Xp home can handle an HT processor setup (2 virtual cpus).