[Pc_Support] Hardware recommendations.

[Damien McKenna]

Austin (Ozz) Denyer wrote:
> There is a choice of four.  The first 2 are from Monarch Computers, the
> third is Penguin Computing and the last is from Dell.
> The main difference between them is the CPU.  
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Dual-Core 1MB
> AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Dual-Core 1MB
> AMD Athlon 64 FX-55 (939)
> Dual Intel® Xeon™ Processor 2.80GHz 2MB 
>   
Of the three CPU types the Biathlon 64 X2 is the best chip for 
multitasking, i.e. when you want multiple tasks getting lots of CPU time 
and not just one all-for-nothing (e.g. gaming).  Intel x86 processors 
aren't worth it these days.

Some other thoughts:

* You might consider getting some of the parts separately, e.g. the LG 
Electronics GSA-4163 or similar for about $50 including shipping will do 
the same as the drives you list *and* DVD-RAM, which is useful for 
workstationy things.

* I'd suggest 2gig of RAM if you're really aiming at heavy multi-tasking 
big apps.

* If you aren't after graphics performance you could save yourself some 
more and get a lower card, e.g. an nVidia 6200 (non-Turbocache).

* Consider looking at nVidia Pro-based motherboards, they'll give you 
more I/O and have less of the useless bells 'n whistles like RAID or SLI 
that you won't want anyway.

* The nVidia boards are better supported with drivers than ATIs.

* I got a Radeon x700 Pro 128mb card a few months ago for $110-ish.

* The nForce 4 chipset includes gig-E so why are you paying extra for it?

* Read up on some of the recent HD threads here, the executive summary 
is that WD Raptors are the best to get, then Seagate drives, then WD 
"JD" drives, with just about everything else in fourth place.

* The Dell is over-priced compared to the others for what you get.  
Unless you're doing heavy CAD, CAM, etc the Quadro video card won't be 
worth it.

* Did you look at HP or Sun systems, they do some good Biathlon 64 / 
Deuteron systems these days.

* Any reason you didn't consider building it yourself?

Bryan, know of any up-to-date benchmarks between Deuteron systems with 
the nForce Pro chipsets and the 64X2s on the nForce 4 Ultra for 
workstation tasks?  I've not seen any myself.

BTW, Ozz, I'm exceedingly jealous :-P

-- 
Damien McKenna, husband, father, geek.
damien at mc-kenna.com - http://www.mc-kenna.com/