SMP Build

Joined
Oct 6, 2005
Messages
3
I’m planning to build a new SMP machine for my college mostly based on my major.
My budget is around 1,700 dollars.


1. I’m looking for a motherboard with dual opteron sockets with 16x and 4x PCI-e interconnection. I will accept under 400 dollars. I would probably sacrifice 4x PCI-e for 1x PCI-e on ASUS S8N-DL. Do that motherboard will fit on ATX or ETX case? I noticed that users claimed its works in both way.

2. I’m looking for four ports SATA controller w/ onboard ram or upgradeable ram that capable to fast cache the read/write first before its excesses memory and uses HHDs? (200-350 dollars?) I have looked throughly and found a 8 ports offering that feature.

3. I will buy a lowest and cheapest grade opterons for now and will upgrade mid-range or highest grade dual core in two years later. I found a good deal on newegg for around 350 dollars on Opteron 252. I plan to sell Opteron 252 on eBay and buy dual core in two years later as they get cheap in the future.

4. GeForce 7800 GTX. Probably EVA or XFX for their good quality. (around 500 dollars I believe)

5. X-fi Sound Card with X-ram? I read the review that X-ram helps sound higher samples quality better but I checked and verified there’s no real claims to back this up. If anyone have a URL for the official review. I would like to read it. thanks

5. My shopping list wont include SATA HHDs, RAM, DVD/CD Burners due I have a leftover in my old system
 
1) i might be wrong, but i think you're going to have a tough time finding a good motherboard for under $400. under $500 is better.

2) there was a review on gamepc just the other day comparing the areca and 3ware SATA raid cards. they may be just out of your price range. other than those 2 which are fully hardware raid cards the broadcom cards are the best performers but are software raid cards. still a damn fine option for a good price though.

other than that though, go check out the 2cpu.com forums. you will get a lot of very helpful answers and reading over there.
 
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