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Pentium D or Xeon

C

cnick79

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Messages
1,836
I will be building a file server/programming box on Linux and I was wondering if I should go with the Pent. D or Xeon. I'm not sure if one is better than the other for my situation. It will mostly be used to store files and shared with 3 people max and I will probably do some programming on it. I will also be installing Linux. The P-D is good because it's dual core but the Xeon has Hyper Threading. I think eventually I would run dual Xeons but for now it will be only 1.

So which one should I get and why? I also plan on using my old 2x512mb pc3200 RAM.
 
There's little doubt that the Pentium D platform would be cheaper overall. However, with the Xeon, you have the option to add more physical processors than you could with the Pentium D. Also, the Xeon platform brings enterprise-level technologies to the table, like SCSI, PCI-X, etc. However, this comes at a cost. The Xeon platform has special power and memory requirements that the Pentium D doesn't. As the Xeon is a server and workstation processor, there is a price premium that you may not be accustomed to.

I would suggest that you ask yourself and your organization what kind of computer is really needed. I think that if you gave a little more information about the nature of your work and the requirements of this computer, we could give you better advice.

Finally, and this is just a side note, your RAM probably won't work with either platform. All dual-core Intel chipsets (maybe not NVIDIA's chipsets) support only DDR2 memory, and most if not all Xeon chipsets require registered RAM, not unbuffered RAM like you probably have.
 
Finally, and this is just a side note, your RAM probably won't work with either platform. All dual-core Intel chipsets (maybe not NVIDIA's chipsets) support only DDR2 memory, and most if not all Xeon chipsets require registered RAM, not unbuffered RAM like you probably have.
Click to expand...
unless he goes with an 875 based xeon board.
 
I thought I would be able to use non-registered ram. I was hoping it was backwards compatible. How would http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131064 be? This file share server is for my home. I want to use it to store all of my videos, mp3's, bins/iso's, etc. I will also do some programming on it but it will mostly just sit around and wait for me to play music. I like to do everything overkill that's why I was thinking about a Xeon.
 
cnick79 said:
I thought I would be able to use non-registered ram. I was hoping it was backwards compatible. How would http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131064 be? This file share server is for my home. I want to use it to store all of my videos, mp3's, bins/iso's, etc. I will also do some programming on it but it will mostly just sit around and wait for me to play music. I like to do everything overkill that's why I was thinking about a Xeon.
Click to expand...
honestly, for a file server, you dont need anything more htan a pII and some fast hard disks

if if you must overkill, go for it:p
 
lithium726 said:
honestly, for a file server, you dont need anything more htan a pII and some fast hard disks

if if you must overkill, go for it:p
Click to expand...


That's why I come here! I'm going to sell my Sun Ultra 450 Enterprise and use the cash for a Pent-D 2.8ghz and a cheap mobo (probably the one posted below) that supports SATA RAID and buy two Maxtor 250GB w/16mb cache and RAID 1 them to house my files and use a cheap HD for the OS. I should then be able to use my current DDR400 RAM in it.
 
xonik said:
Yes, but does it support dual core? I was under the impression that only the Intel 955X, 945P, 945G, E7230, and NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI chipsets supported the Pentium D.
Click to expand...
and youre right, although the xpress might as well, i havent heard anything about that.

ATI would be stupid not to include dual core support though, so my guess is it does
 
My guess is that the Xpress200 doesn't. Dual core support for Intel processors is not trivial, as it requires a new crossbar and reworking of the FSB.
 
Thanks for spoiling my plans. Either way I would have needed new RAM no matter what processor I went with. I guess it's good I checked with the [H] guys first. Can anyone recommend a mobo and some DDR2 to go with the Pent. D? The mobo needs to have SATA RAID and gigabit lan. I can't see myself using anything else.


I was thinking about http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247005
 
lithium726 said:
honestly, for a file server, you dont need anything more htan a pII and some fast hard disks

if if you must overkill, go for it:p
Click to expand...

haha exactly my thoughts. For most general-usage low-client servers even a pentium 1 or 2 with a decent amount of ram is completely fine. But what fun is that? My personal fileserver/distcc server is a tyan tiger 100 w/ dual PIII 800's. Is it overkill? Yes, for the most part. Is it needed? Of course not. But is it cool? Oh yeah...

And in all honesty, the extra power DOES come in handy for my distributed compiling stuff...I run gentoo on all my linux boxes (everything but my main box) and having dual 800mhz PIII's really helps a bunch.
 
Eva_Unit_0 said:
I run gentoo on all my linux boxes (everything but my main box) and having dual 800mhz PIII's really helps a bunch.
Click to expand...

I'm still undecided on what linux version I will run on this.

I have my parts all mapped out:

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80830
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=85002-30
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=247005

Undecided on what two HD's to get. Either Maxtor diamond max or maxline 3's 200-250gb.
 
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