Who games with Xeons?

J

jyi786

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I am asking because I am interested in what kind of performance you get in games. I just started getting interested in dual Xeon platforms, and this may be the only thing holding me back from upgrading to duallie.

To put things into perspective, would I expect a performance increase, decrease, or no difference at all, going from a P4 2.6 @ 3.25 to dual Xeon Nocona 3.2Ghz, with maybe a slight OC?
 
besides the major decrease in the performance of your wallet after buying a dual xeon setup, the gameplay should be as good as or better than your old proc. I have gamed on a dual 3Ghz/1Gb ram/ 36Gb 10krpm U320 scsi box, with a radeo 9800 pro, and it ran awesome. (counter-strike source, halfe life 2, unreal 2k4)

I can't compare because my gaming rig at home is only an athlonXP 1800@2.2Ghz with 512MB pc-133 sdram
tongue.gif
 
The board I am interested in is the Asus NCCH-DL. The processors I can get for almost free, courtesy my employer. I will be able to port over all my existing hardware to the new config, if I go for it. The only thing I will have to get is a new PSU and water cooling. So cost will almost be minimal.
 
I do. I fold 99.9% and game the other dual 2.2 HT and 1gig of ram with U160 LVD. runs fine I play CSS and SOF2 online mostly.
I love it smooth!!
 
i love my dual rig much more than my a64 3200+ for gaming. If you really like to do a lot multitasking while you game, then you will really enjoy the xeons.

I recently tested my new system using 3dmark05 and scored higher with my 1.6ghz LVs @ 3.2ghz then with my single a64 3200+ @ 2.6ghz.
 
What it seems to me is that the majority of computer users are "blind", or "in the dark", if you will. That multi-processing offers what single processing can't, whether it be speed or functionality, in parallelism. Meaning I'm better going with dual processing. Am I right?
 
nah, higher scores will normally be achieved by using a single proc system. Most games don't take advantage of the second processor, but if you are like me, and like to do encoding and decoding, listen to mp3 and watch movies while you game, then a dual proc system is good.
 
buy the LV xeons. I got a setup at home waiting to be built. $105 for two LV's which should hit 3.0ghz easy. slower than my AMD 3700 @ 2.6ghz for games, but a good multimedia setup.
 
Do you guys have to do any modding for voltage to get the LV Xeons to run at the speeds you get them to run at?
 
ajm786 said:
Do you guys have to do any modding for voltage to get the LV Xeons to run at the speeds you get them to run at?
Click to expand...

sometimes, it depends. the LV's i think are stock at 1.3, and you can do pin mods to get em up for o'cing. im not an expert yet, but theres alot of good info at 2cpu.com
 
all i did on mine was to do the "wire" mod to each of the cpu sockets in order to up the voltage on the procs. Default is 1.3v and this mod upgraded them to 1.55v. There are a couple other mods you can do but require some soldering expertise. I was able to get 3.2ghz (actually 3.3 stable) with doing only the wire mod.
 
ajm786 said:
The board I am interested in is the Asus NCCH-DL. The processors I can get for almost free, courtesy my employer. I will be able to port over all my existing hardware to the new config, if I go for it. The only thing I will have to get is a new PSU and water cooling. So cost will almost be minimal.
Click to expand...
Dude, if you can get them almost for free, I say do it RIGHT AWAY! Dual Xeons for FREE???? Holy crap, I consider that one hell of a deal. Take my advice: Go ahead and do it! :eek: :)
 
I agree with lesman. The 1.6ghz LVs are all but gone. I got mine for $100 on Ebay, but they are going for double that now.
 
If you can get the procs for next to nothing, you may as well... Dual CPUs with HT means the system can deal with 4 threads at once. Gaming will be about 2.11 times faster as soon as MS and Intel back game devs with multithread support (If you recall the front page two days ago, Intel has already claimed that it will support game devs to take advantage of multiproc/core for their games. Not only that but Xbox2 [with XNA for easy Xbox2 to PC conversions and vice versa] is going to have multiple processors as well.... Basically, at this point in time, you'd be stupid not to get duallies for gaming or otherwise.) Either you get duallies now, or are forced to get duallies later (in the form of dual core).

Right now, (not with HT, but with dual cores) we are at the beginning of widespready multiproc support and 64bit support. In april, WinXP64 will be out, and by april of next year I am willing to bet that most games being released will support multiproc.

I'm sorry I got carried away there because of how excited I am for the next 12months.... But yeah, I recommend you get the duallies regardless... for work they'll be better, and for play they won't be any worse than a single.

peace,
OriginalOCer
 
Dammit.

I tested today at work a PC-DL motherboard, and for the first time ever, OCed some Xeon processors. I looked for ones we had in inventory that were low voltage, but I found only one. It is a Xeon 2.4, SSpec # SL74T. I dropped it in, set it up, and straightaway OCed from 2.4 (18x133) to 2.97 (18x165)!!! :eek: I had NO IDEA Xeons could OC like that!!! Just for the heck of it, I dropped in a Xeon 2.8, a one that was not low voltage, and OCed straightaway to 3.47 (21x165)!!!

Unfortunately, 165FSB is the limit of the Asus PC-DL. I immediately went to my boss and told him to order the Asus NCCH-DL, which would give me more freedom in OCing and exploring the limits of the Xeons at my disposal. Am I on to something here? Why do these Xeons OC so easily?

Now question. Is a single Xeon 2.4 512 533 @ 3.6 (18x200) faster than a P4 2.6C @ 3.26 (13x250)? Or should I just go with a default 3Ghz Nocona Xeon processor?
 
ajm786, the limit for the PC-DL is not 165fsb. I have mine running at 200. It is my understanding that these Xeons OC so well because of the low voltage it takes to run them. Also, they have 512k L2 cache and thus fewer transitors, so they stay relatively very cool by nature.

I highly doubt a single Xeon 2.4 512 will be even close to the performance of the P4 at 3.2x.

I really can't say that now is the best time to invest in dual procs. It is going to be quite some time before we get any substantial support from anyone for dual proc support in gaming. By the time we do have any, dual core processors will be readily available and thus will make dual proc systems obsolete for those people putting together great systems for gaming. I doubt games of the future would be able to take advantage of more than two processors, so that would make 6 of the 8 processors (4 logical and 4 physical) in future xeon dual-core systems dead weight unless you were multitasking.

The reason I put together my system was two fold.

First, frankly I was tired of the lag and stuttering that I got from using my A64 +3200 in games. I play games and download and encode and decode and listen to mp3s and usually watch a movie or two while I play intense sessions of CS. I dont have any of the same hickups or freezing with my dual xeon setup.

Secondly, some time this fall or winter I plan on upgrading to a dual core athlon or intel setup and next gen gaming card and use this dual xeon system as my main file sharing, network printer, proxy server.
 
phas3d said:
Secondly, some time this fall or winter I plan on upgrading to a dual core athlon or intel setup and next gen gaming card and use this dual xeon system as my main file sharing, network printer, proxy server.
Click to expand...
for the love of sweet sweet jesus
don't use a dual xeon for a file server
that would be the HUGEST MASSIVE HUGE waste of horsepower ever

Give me that dualie box and I'll give you a dual PII 450 that will perform more than adequately as a file/print/proxy server.

tongue.gif
 
I built a kickass dual Xeon system 2 years ago...

2 3.06ghz Xeons
Supermicro X5DA8
1gb PC2700ECC
Radeon 9800pro (almost $700 :eek: )
2 15k 18gb SCSI drives

Games ran like a dream, and I was able to overclock both procs to 3.2ghz with my Swiftechs. Sadly I had to part out my dream system to pay rent :(

If you can get the procs for free, for the love of god DO IT!!!1
 
phas3d said:
ajm786, the limit for the PC-DL is not 165fsb. I have mine running at 200.

I highly doubt a single Xeon 2.4 512 will be even close to the performance of the P4 at 3.2x.
Click to expand...

With the original BIOS, it says the max is 165. How were you able to clock to 200? With the latest BIOS, I assume?

And I meant a Xeon 2.4 512 533 @ 3.6 (18x200). Is that faster than a P4 2.6C @ 3.26 (13x250)?
 
for the love of sweet sweet jesus
don't use a dual xeon for a file server
that would be the HUGEST MASSIVE HUGE waste of horsepower ever

Give me that dualie box and I'll give you a dual PII 450 that will perform more than adequately as a file/print/proxy server.
Click to expand...

Draconis, I also will use the server as my main development and testing server for mysql, php and coldfusion. I have another dual setup at home and we have a dual P3 setup here at work, and just don't cut the mustard very well. I think my dual 3.2ghz Xeons will handle the everything just fine. I also do some 3D development from time to time (used to work as a 3D animator) and thus will use the Xeon system as my renderer. Also, it will be nice to do all my encoding and decoding of music and movies on the Xeon setup and use my new system just for gaming and simple stuff.

So, don't worry about me...and like the Budweiser guy sorta said in that commerical..."You're not getting my Xeon rig!!!"
 
I picked up a set of those LV Xeons when the thread was first posted in [H]ot deals section last fall. Finally got the system up and running this weekend. LOL! Hven't done the u-wire mod yet (tomorrow) as I wanted to make sure everything was running nice and well before jumping in feet first. PC-DL Deluxe, 9800 Pro AIW, 2gigs Corsair PC3200, Antec TruePower 550W EPS12V, a pair of 120gig WDSE hdds, and a sony dvd burner.

Looking forward to hopefully hitting 3.0 with the procs.
 
On the PC-DL it is a matter of jumper placement to get different ranges available in the bios.
 
Well, I have a PC-DL dual Xeon machine myself. I really am not impressed with it in any way. Then again, my 2 development machines are dual Opteron, so I think my perspective might be a bit skewed.

Anyway, if you can get the CPUs for cheap, I would say go for it. You won't lose anything by going to the dual Xeon setup and I guarantee you that you'll love it.

If you were buying the system outright, I would say to dump the Xeon idea and go for Opterons, but in your case, I would absolutely recommend getting the Xeons.
 
Wolf31o2 said:
Well, I have a PC-DL dual Xeon machine myself. I really am not impressed with it in any way. Then again, my 2 development machines are dual Opteron, so I think my perspective might be a bit skewed.

Anyway, if you can get the CPUs for cheap, I would say go for it. You won't lose anything by going to the dual Xeon setup and I guarantee you that you'll love it.

If you were buying the system outright, I would say to dump the Xeon idea and go for Opterons, but in your case, I would absolutely recommend getting the Xeons.
Click to expand...

I just bought a dual LV Xeon setup...not for massive horsepower, Opterons would have fit that bill better, but for cheap price/performance. My main gaming rig is a AMD 64-3700. The Xeons will run a multimedia editing setup, and fold when idle.
 
After gaming for about a month on my Dual Xeon system, I've sort of changed my perspective a bit. Sure it's a great performance increase from MP2600+s, but I really think if you are into gaming you should look at AMD64 systems. It performs like a champ, especially when you consider the price, and windows/photoshop/premier all love the 4 logical processors. But if your main goal is to game, i'd look elsewhere. Build an LV xeon setup for cheap, and get an AMD64 shuttle, and have the best of both worlds. Oi I can't stand lugging this beast to LAN parties
 
4 x F@H clients running @ 100mb+ each mem usage....

Burning CD/DVD's in background

WoW or HL2/CS open, ALT-TAB btw this and apps

Numerous other webpages, progs open.

All still silky smooth...........I love this system.

PC-DL
2.4 LV's @ 3.4Ghz
1GB Corsair PC400 - yeah I know, need to swap this for 2GB PC3200
74GB raptor
2 x 160GB maxtor
1 x 300GB maxtor
 
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