[glebe digital]

I've just spec'd a self-build dual-dual Opteron 275 for 1400quid, that's 2100 Euros..........does that sound like a good deal regardless of Conroes, Woodcrests and Clovertowns on the horizon?
Need some capital investment before the tax year closes.......this looks like a good additional 'render-box' to me but I'd welcome any advice as to what I should be doing.

[kizo]

we have a 2xdual opt 275, Tyan MB, 6gb RAM (ECC), and few days ago we bought a core 2(E6400) , gigabyte DS4 MB, PQIturbo ddr2 2gb kit.
we overclocked the core 2 from the original 2.13GHz to 3.20 without changing voltage values and than run our test scene. a big surprise for us...
the test scene on the 2x275 run in 4.40 min and on the core 2 4.44 min
when switched to XP 64-bit (running c4d x64) they rendered the same scene in exactly the same time 3.24 min
the core 2 cost was arround 900 euro(including the new zalman 9500 on its way)
...so now we are looking to sell the 2x275 and buy ourselfs 2 more core 2

considering taht the DS4 MB supports the new quad proc. also, i think is the right way to go

hope this helps

[glebe digital]

Thanks kizo, the conroe's certainly impressive but I'm not sure I want to have a radically OC'd renderbox that will be constantly running the cpu at 100%............sounds like asking for trouble?
Maybe waiting for the quad-core is better for me?

[rivoli]

Thanks kizo, the conroe's certainly impressive but I'm not sure I want to have a radically OC'd renderbox that will be constantly running the cpu at 100%............sounds like asking for trouble?

I would avoid that as well.
2100 euro sounds a bit pricey for a dual opteron 275 renderbox though, those cpus are about $550 each on newegg.

you might want to have a look at a couple of xeon 51xx as well, I guess you can even upgrade to a couple of cloverton later with the right board.

[glebe digital]

Thanks rivoli, food for thought.
Ican get that system price down to 1.6k euros if I downgrade the number of drives and opt for a cheaper gpu......I wouldn't really need a 7900GT anyway.........choices, choices.

[Mihai]

kizos suggestions sounds very good. He overclocked and didn't even have to change the voltage, I think there's very little risk envolved. Plus it's not like you expect to keep that processor for 5 years. Maybe not even 2.

[rivoli]

I wouldn't really need a 7900GT anyway

if it's just a render-node, and you don't plan to build a workstation, you don't even need a graphic card. well, nothing more than the cheapest one.

[glebe digital]

Thanks for the input Mihai, Rivoli.
Yes this is the problem right now, with the goal-posts changing so fast it's a difficult time to make the right move.
You could say it's always been this way, but to be honest, I don't remember a time in a more extreme state of flux!

My first computer; how things have changes since 1982.