Multi-core vs. Dual processor

[CuriousBuilder]

Well the "ole" reliable NF7 w/xp2500 M is beginning to be taxed by Revit 2008 & 3dStudioMax, so I have been researching a replacement. The office just upgraded to Dell 690 WS w/dual Xeons that easily handle Revit and with future CPU upgrades should provide 3+ years of service.

Now I am "green" at heart, so I am leaning towards AMD. I am looking for feedback, Pros & Cons about SMP vs MP. I have been spending time at 2CPU, but they are biased SMP and I have always appreciated the objectivity of this forum.

First, which MB? I am looking at TYAN & Supermicro that support 1207(F). I thought about Asus, but a local repair shop reccommended TYan & Supermicro over ASUS, comment?

I still have much research to do, so I will be coming back to tap the experience.

Thanks,
CB

[mobo57]

I suggest a re-think about going AMD for that type of work, unless you want to set it up with dual quad cores, LOTS of cash needed!!!
I'd go with a Q6600 and a decent motherboard. Save yourself several thousand dollars and be just as fast, if not faster than just about all of the AMD chips. Actually you could take the couple of thousand and buy 3 or 4 Q6600's and make yourself a nice render farm!
Think about that, 16 cores cranking out a 1200x800 photo realistic pic with a couple of million poly's with mentalray, caustics on, final gather on, 64 samples per pix, in-direct illumination on, a dozen or so light sources and a few hair/fur patches thrown in for looks, and it renders in about 5 minutes!!!
I can only dream.....

[fizur2002]

also, add to that about 4 gigs of DDR3 to go with that, now there is some really big power boosts.

[fizur2002]

This (http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=9&l2=39&l3=174&l4=0&model=1270&modelmenu=1) is a good Asus board.

[Lgbpop]

This (http://www.sysopt.com/news/article.php/3698881) will make the choice interesting!

[CuriousBuilder]

Good morning Gentlemen!

All your input is appreciated. Lgbpop, thank you, I have read the artical along with 4 or 5 others. I imagine with the launch of "Barc" there will be a flood of articals. I will also be looking at Intel products. The decision maker will be $.

Right now my question is, go with Dual processor or Multi-core?
Regards,
CB

[fizur2002]

Since your going to be doing high end rendering, i would go with multicore definatly.

[Rabbitrunner51]

These guys know more i'm sure.., but remember if you really do want to go with AMD, then its a fact thier new CPU line is coming out soon, probably by the end of this year. They are releasing their own quad cores, which i hear will be faster then Intels.., but lets get real here.... any of them,whether Intel or AMD are just going to be super fast anyways... If your technical, i'd say, power consumption and possibly differing mutipliers are the only difference of any value.

Right now anything AMD is cheaper, which does not mean they are cheap. Intels are the most popular overall,mostly because AMD fell behind when Intel released thier better dual cores... Higher bus speeds..,etc..ect.. Intel Mobos will be pricer also for this platform. AMD's are much cheaper overall, but only utilize DDR2 PC6400 for the norm. Intels range is the next step up for the C2Duals on the high end.

You can pick up a X2 6400 screamer for less then $180.00 Think about that. It seems that Quad cores will indeed be a bit better for your rendering or graphics apps. Thats a fact.

All i can say is i wish i had that money and yur situation good lcuk on that LOL

[fizur2002]

here is what ive typically run into in the real world. AMD has always been better for the video gamer, as their prices are lower and always performed better. On the actual business side of rendering and number crunching, that is where intel has always lead the market.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Whats even more impressing is ALL these HW choices whichever platform you choose is like a win win situation. Prices are just incredibly low, lowest they have ever been. Thats leads to a scenario that us as consumers puts us in a position of CHOOSING which to get or how many..etc... I say this from one who unfortunately, needs a new build pretty soon ( overdue is obvious ).
If not for this little rig still playing top end games,and whatever i do pretty good still, I would be greatly depressed.. but oh well!

Dual cores are still plenty good for most anything you throw at them.. its just they have had time (both companies ) now, to get things right etc.. Quad cores?? Makes one think of ..'What next' .... Octicores??? ha ha ..

[Lgbpop]

I read somewhere (PCMagazine, maybe?) the first dual-quads are coming out in January or February. Intel and AMD are both working on them 24/7.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Figures..... LOL What i find strange is I bet both companies will go for the gaming market as part of thier selling strategy, when in fact thats either extreme overkill, or in truth meant for the business, and or graphical venues... Graphical meaning those who make the games or other medium that might utilize visual elements...

The performance increase in Quads right now has IF ANY a very small advantage if you game alot over dual cores. Dual cores are so high end anymore, (along with the graphics cards and memory advancements ), that they are quite good enough for whats put out there... IMO :rolleyes:

[Peter M]

I read somewhere (PCMagazine, maybe?) the first dual-quads are coming out in January or February. Intel and AMD are both working on them 24/7.

AMD need not put any work in that, simply because their quad-core CPUs are a drop-in upgrade to the existing 4x4 platform.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Extrapolate please.. on that Peter. Just what does that mean???

[Lgbpop]

AMD need not put any work in that, simply because their quad-core CPUs are a drop-in upgrade to the existing 4x4 platform.Right, as if everyone's going to go out and buy multi-socket mobos? I doubt it. AMD will make them for the same reason that Intel will - there'll be a market for them, for a short while at least. The CPU core wars will mirror the cylinder wars of American car mfrs. of the 1930s. More cores at first will be the simplest way to handle more calculations, until a radical breakthrough allows two or four cores to do the work of eight, twelve or even sixteen.

Then, people will look back and laugh about it all. "Can you believe he's still using that old 12-core processor? That's so 2008!" :D

[Rabbitrunner51]

I just thnk its so funny that for instance, I myself would be happier than i could ever imagine just to get the current upgrades i want to keep up with alot of you guys. Thats not the reason though.. its just a fact we as users and gamers, need the better or higher end systems ,just to play our games or do the other things one might be into... ( more important stuff i'm sure )

I tend to agree with you Lgbpop. the whole of the industry puts out higer and higher spec stuff , for no oother reason than quite alot of us ( you out there ), will go buy the best and latest out there, when in fact, I do not think most really trullly need them or that upgrade. They say they do it case they can and want it. IMO, thats just plain not using ones brain or any sort of practical wisdom.

Its the industires nature and business to put out faaster,better or whatever. That will never change. Its what we as humans strive for...,esp. if your in the business like this one.

Don't laugh.., I am very good at forseeing trends and they'll come a day when 24 CPU,s will run something we have. Home computers?? obviouisly the whole of the platform will change. Thats a given. I'm still amazed we use form factor ATX boards still. That should change quite soon enough i imagine. PSU's are going upwards of 900 and 1000 watt now,so think about it.

Please.. just because yu have something very very high end today, you feel as though you have to run out and buy that $800.00 CPU. Wait at least a bit for the sake of reviews, your wallet, and of course it will be outdated as soon as you get it LOL

[Train]

I think both Intel and AMD are trying to catch up to this one.

http://www.sun.com/processors/UltraSPARC-T2/

The UltraSPARC T2 processor is the industry's first "system on a chip," packing the most cores and threads of any general-purpose processor available, and integrating all the key functions of a server on a single chip: computing, networking, security, and input/output (I/O),

[fizur2002]

nice, wonder what a offspring of that thing would be like in todays gamers market.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Interesting reading Train. Yeah, most of what we hear about for the higer end CPU's and systems are meant for servers, and or networks on a hub. That makes sense.
Extreme future technology, possibly what one might see in some science fiction scenario, might include something of this sort in every home, running your home so to speak, along with your being able to play any game made to boot. Think about it.

Don't laugh fizur, its coming sooner than we think obviously...

What percentage of home users and gamers consume what share of these CPU giants in thier overall market share I wonder today? :confused: :eek:

[Rabbitrunner51]

Well, once again to reiterate and keep this nice post dicussion going a bit more, AMD is very shortly going to come out with the Tri-cores. The article i read from CNet describes how for once in a long time, AMD will service a market that Intel will not go for. regardless of the discussion here. Intel has no need to participate in this. AMD felt they needed to at least compete in some area, and future specualtions are that this is a nice little coup for AMD of thier own.

If not for the fact that my new upgrade is coming sooner then this will happen, i might opt for one of those bad boys.. future specs, indicate they will be a top performer, and not just a new little tech. achievelment for the above purpose. LOL

[Train]

Basically for most of what I do, a XP 2500 Barton is plenty good enough CPU. But when I do client video work, Something better was needed.

So, I looked at this chart.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/charts/cpu-charts/clone-dvd-2-8,296.html?p=617%2C613%2C615%2C611%2C608%2C606%2C6 03%2C600%2C601%2C641%2C643%2C638%2C594%2C587%2C578 %2C591%2C585%2C588%2C576%2C569%2C567%2C561%2C562

Clone DVD 2.8 is a good indicator of what I have to do at times.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Great link Train.. i could use that.... esp. considering am getting a new upgrade soon.

[Train]

Glad to hear it helps out.

[mobo57]

Processor

* Up to 8 cores at 900 MHz – 1.4GHz
* Up to 64 threads per CPU
* Up to 64 FB-DIMMs, 4 memory controllers

I don't think for the desktop market, AMD or Intel have much to worry about. Get yourself a decent Tyan mobo a couple of quad Xenons, and you got a start on a system that would hand the T2 it's lunch in most desktop applications.

[Rabbitrunner51]

I guess the new CPU i'm getting very soon will be good to go. Its like fourth on the overall list in performance... ( AMD X2 5000+ Black Edition )