Upgrading my system..advice please

[stevesideas]

I currently have a intel quad core 6700 cpu with 4gb ram, and an nvidia 8800gts card.

I want to upgrade, but these are the factors I need to consider:

1. Would I get a much better performance switching to a dual quad core system ?

2. Are xeon proccessors a lot quicker than my current processor, do they come in quad core ?

3. Which motherboard should I get ?

Apart from that, the rest of the system for me is an easier choice.

One other thing I was considering was buying a server module with a high spec inside so I can just render over the network. Any advice as to which specs or system would be worth going for ?

Any ideas or advice about which components or systems to go for would be appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

[RErender]

Clock for clock the the Quad cores and the Xeons are about the same, maybe some slight cache speed increase in the Xeons. The benefit is that you can have 2 quads , 8 cores, in one system giving you an 90% +/- speed increase over your current rig.

[stevesideas]

ok, so if I bought the standard quad cores instead of the xeons and got a dual motherboard that would be the same as dual xeons. Does the cache amount make much difference. Do you know of a good dual intel motherboard ?

Thanks

[RErender]

That's how they get ya...

Only the Xeons support multi cpus

[stevesideas]

I didnt realise that...looks like I have to go that way....now which speed type to get.

[TRGraphics]

As fast as you can afford!

I have three dual quads now and they are 1.86 oc to 2.33. Very fast indeed!

[stevesideas]

I wonder if it would be worth me posting a kind of benchmarking scene so we can test the time difference. Im just interested how much quicker your system would be over mine.

Does anyone know if the Xworks systems are good, and what kind of cost they are ? I was looking at the 20i 64

[bob-cat]

Do a search in the forum for "benchmark" and there is a thread with a whole heap of users benchmarks on heaps of different machines.
I am currently ordering a render node and have gone with a dual Xeon E5420 (2.5Ghz, 12MB L3 - the 5400 series is the new 45nm technology and the 2.8ghz+ have a 1600 FSB) on a Tyan Tempest i5400XT motherboard. Also look at the Supermicro X7DWA-N motherboard which supports the 1600 FSB speed.
Cheers

[Da_elf]

im using one of the x7d series supermicro boards. love it

[stevesideas]

Thats good info. Im based in the UK so not sure if you can get the motherboards or cpus yet. Im thinking 2 2.6ghz xeons would be good...a lot faster than my quad core 6700.

Anyone know of any good places in the UK to get components from...I use scan generally. Plus I couldnt afford to get everything in one payment and they do interest free for 12 months..which is always cool.

Thanks

Steve

[DaForce]

Yeah the dual quad 2.6ghz xeons will be basically twice as fast as your existing Q6700.

My OC'ed Quad is nipping at the heels of some of the lower spec'd dual quad core machines.

[simon123]

scan computers sell most of the parts they even have 3ghz quads instock you can use these with a tyan or supermicroboard.

get some decent ram as well.

[stevesideas]

Okay. Ive taken a look at scan and decided to go for a tower instead of a server rack unit.

So can you tell me what you think of this setup:

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=706993 - Supermicro X7DWA-N

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=718570 - Intel Xeon X5365, Socket 771, 3.0GHz, FSB 1333MHz, 8MB Cache, Retail (2 of these obviously )

Does anyone know if the stock fan is good enough for this cpu and which cooler to get if not ?

I have 4gb of 800mhz memory already. I have a tower, with an ATX power supply, a keyboard, cd player and a gigabit network card.

I think thats all

Any advice is appreciated.

[Blitterswitch]

Just a quick note...

would it not be cheaper and less hassle to just get a new mac pro? They are all dual quads now. Brand new harpertown processors running at 2.8ghz (faster than the old 3.0ghz xeons) starting at £1749 and if you can find someone with an NUS you can get 14-15% off.

Just an idea!

[stevesideas]

Da_elf which motherboard are you using for the dual xeon system ?