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OneMacGuy · Sep 8, 2003, 04:20 PM

I just happened across some benchmarking results on a well respected web site call Toms Hardware Guide that tested P4's, Xeons and AMD's Opteron processors in different tasks. The interesting on was the test of the SETI client:

http://www20.tomshardware.com/cpu/20...ext_client_304

The Dual Opteron 1.8 Ghz system was almost twice as fast as the dual Xeon 3.06 Ghz box! Very impressive stats. I have heard much about these but have never seen any benchmarking that I felt I could trust that seemed relevant to anything I have ever done.

OK, Scott, when is your farm gonna start growing Opeterons? You can pick up the Opteron 244 (1.8 Ghz each) for a mere $675 each. ASUS makes a mobo (SK8N) that will handle the Opteron single CPU for a little over $200. So for around $900 and the memory and other parts already in your farm machines, you too can have one!

mikkyo · Sep 8, 2003, 05:09 PM

Or you could have 3-4 Bartons :-)

SciFrog · Sep 9, 2003, 12:42 AM

Anybody to compare this with a G5 1.8?

Scotttheking · Sep 9, 2003, 01:57 AM

Originally posted by OneMacGuy:
I just happened across some benchmarking results on a well respected web site call Toms Hardware Guide that tested P4's, Xeons and AMD's Opteron processors in different tasks. The interesting on was the test of the SETI client:

http://www20.tomshardware.com/cpu/20...ext_client_304

The Dual Opteron 1.8 Ghz system was almost twice as fast as the dual Xeon 3.06 Ghz box! Very impressive stats. I have heard much about these but have never seen any benchmarking that I felt I could trust that seemed relevant to anything I have ever done.

OK, Scott, when is your farm gonna start growing Opeterons? You can pick up the Opteron 244 (1.8 Ghz each) for a mere $675 each. ASUS makes a mobo (SK8N) that will handle the Opteron single CPU for a little over $200. So for around $900 and the memory and other parts already in your farm machines, you too can have one!

Well, I wouldn't exactly call Tom's hardware well respected, but that's beside the point.

As for me getting more farm machines, well, I can have an opteron system next week if you can send me the low sum of $50K

Otherwise, I'll have to direct you to the stereotype of the poor college student.

OneMacGuy · Sep 9, 2003, 07:41 AM

Originally posted by Scotttheking:
Well, I wouldn't exactly call Tom's hardware well respected, but that's beside the point.

As for me getting more farm machines, well, I can have an opteron system next week if you can send me the low sum of $50K
Otherwise, I'll have to direct you to the stereotype of the poor college student.

Yes, I am well aware of the stereotype of the poor college student, I am the "stereotype of the poor dad" of TWO college students that I am sponsoring, feeding, supporting, etc....

As for the $50K, it's in the mail, right along with the check for the new Motorcycle that my son wants and the new car that my daughter needs! Let me know how you like the new farm!!!

jbcool · Sep 9, 2003, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by OneMacGuy:
Yes, I am well aware of the stereotype of the poor college student, I am the "stereotype of the poor dad" of TWO college students that I am sponsoring, feeding, supporting, etc....

As for the $50K, it's in the mail, right along with the check for the new Motorcycle that my son wants and the new car that my daughter needs! Let me know how you like the new farm!!!

Sounds to me like you need a shopping job to go along with that direct job with two students in college.

OneMacGuy · Sep 10, 2003, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by jbcool:
Sounds to me like you need a shopping job to go along with that direct job with two students in college.

Been there, done that. Too much moving, too many "permies" resenting you being there, too short jobs, and oh, did I mention too much moving? Now, the money, that was most excellent! Made more 15 years ago shopping that I do now!

jbcool · Sep 10, 2003, 10:29 PM

Originally posted by OneMacGuy:
Been there, done that. Too much moving, too many "permies" resenting you being there, too short jobs, and oh, did I mention too much moving? Now, the money, that was most excellent! Made more 15 years ago shopping that I do now!

Understand that moving thing. Start packing this weekend, feel sorry for the person that has to finish my last job. Never have had a problem with the "permies" yet, been lucky and got along with all of them so far.

Scotttheking · 02:37 AM

I wouldn't mind this and 2 opteron 246 chips. Add in 6 1GB PC2700 ECC sticks, and it's not a bad database server. I'd much prefer a board with 8 slots, but oh well. Oddly, the workstation version has 8 slots, but it doesn't have the onboard video.

For single procs, I'd go with this.

OneMacGuy, for that system you listed, you can take $200 off and use an opteron 144 instead of a 244.
BTW, I don't need $50K for comps. $10K buys plenty of stuff. $40K goes in some form of investment, and the interest pays for electricity.

Opteron naming system: first # = the number of procs it can run in.
1 = single system, 2 = dual, 4 = quad, etc.
The second 4 is the amount of cache. 4*256K = 1MB L2 cache
The third is the clock speed. 0 = 1.4GHz, 2 = 1.6Ghz, 4 = 1.8GHz, 6 = 2GHz.

Edit: I guess I could actually answer OneMacGuy's question

I'm hoping to add a dual opteron server next summer to handle the teamstats database. However, a new (used) car comes first. And whatever incidentals come up.
As for farm stuff, it's possible that I'll add an athlon 64 system next summer, if benchmarks show it as worth it. I do want to get a P4 system with SMT to do some benchmarking with, too. However, I think my farm is about as big as it will be getting anytime soon.

Yeesh. I was bored, so I speced out what I'd like to see in a dual opteron server. dual opteron 246s, 6GB PC2100 ram (crucial doesn't have 1GB PC2700 sticks for opterons), 4 drive serial ata raid 10 with WD raptors, 2 20GB raid 1 boot drives, and that's really it. $5544!!!