[def4d]

MB : Tyan S7002-LE - S7002G2NR-LE => 265 €
2* Intel Xeon E5504 => 480 €
Kingston 3x2Go DDR3 10666 ECC Registered => 132 €
---------------------------------------------------------
Total => 877 €

This a possible upgrade i'll make soon, what do you think about it, it seems to be the best speed/price ratio these days.

And what are the differences beetween the previous xeon and that one (Nehalem), for us Maxwellian?

[def4d]

12-core Opteron processors to arrive in Q1 2010, and 8-core Nehalem-EX still scheduled for a release this year while a 12-core Core (i9?) desktop CPU set to debut in Q2 2010.

http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php? ... 29&catid=2

... what is complicating the story, as always in the computer world

[ivox3]

We're going to need a new Benchwell like site called PowerWell.com just to have a chart that'll tell us how much a render is going to cost in SL/h. lol.. Seriously, these machines are definitely going to ramp up power bills significantly. At some point we're going to have to reach a power cost vs. time threshold -- pending your job price. crazy.

[def4d]

+1 for Benchwell, plus re-activate infos?
I've red an article about the 12 core Nehalem EX, and

[numerobis]

Nehalem EX is for 4-way server systems only (xeon 7xxx)
The 2-way version is Nehalem EP (5500 / 45nm / Gainestown)
The next step for 2-way systems will be the westmere architecture: 32nm - 4cores in Q4 2009 and 6 cores in Q2 2010 (Gulftown - i9) the i9 seems to fit into 2-way boards and single socket boards with x58 chipset!?!

http://www.tecchannel.de/_misc/gallerie ... &resize=no
http://en.expreview.com/2009/07/31/a-sn ... ftown.html


But there is already an upgrade available for 45nm i7/xeon w35xx: D0 stepping has arrived and it rockz
don't know about the xeon55xx but all w35xx are D0
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... 05&page=39

So you can wait for 32nm or buy a D0 now (and overclock it as hell ) and upgrade to 6 cores in 2010.
the first i9 wiil be very pricy i think (~$1500)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Neha ... estmere.22

here is a first ocing test of i9 (Gulftown)
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... p?t=232109

[ivox3]

Hey .. that's a bit of nice homework done.

i9 ... wow.

[def4d]

I did searches before asking here, that's why i had the bi-xeon in mind, but i didn't took account of the near incoming processors!
So yes, half the work is done, thanks Numerobis!

[deadalvs]

would it be a good idea to add an approximate price in $ (price new) for the whole computer at the benchwell site so one can compare what models have what benchmark/price ratio ? that might help a lot of finding the right budget computer.

[ivox3]

The problem is that the prices change nearly weekly so things become meaningless quick..

That said, I would still love to see complete hardware setups, what they paid and where (obviously that wouldn't and couldn't happen on the benchwell site), ..but somewhere, perhaps even just a well compiled thread like the ThomasAn. Gallery Index one or possibly a separate blog ??? hmmm... - it would need a manager though..lol..

It would definitely save people a lot of time researching things ... and I wouldn't mind it if it got to be pretty comprehensive by adding other hardware (external drives, wireless gear etc..). It'd be nice not to have to visit other forums/tech pages/etc and read through page after page when your checking something out to see if its compatible with your OS, adds efficiency to workflow, has durability, bug-free, etc.. So why not let that be here, coming from a known source ? ....and besides, I always trust the recommendations coming from here based on the simple common purpose we have in using the hardware in the first place. ....again, just thoughts.

EDIT: The more I think about it, ..the more I'm positive this would be a great enhancement to the community at large. Coming soon...

[Micha]

MB : Tyan S7002-LE - S7002G2NR-LE => 265 €
2* Intel Xeon E5504 => 480 €
Kingston 3x2Go DDR3 10666 ECC Registered => 132 €
-

How much faster will this system be than a i7 920@3.8GHz?

[ivox3]

Micha, ..are these 45nm Xeons HT'ed ? ...is there such a thing?

[def4d]

@ivox : Those xeon are QuadCore HT=8 cores per core, 45nm, and some arch optimizations + more cache as usual

@Micha : I just don't have any idea where it could be placed in the benchwell

[ivox3]

thanks .... That is going to be a render killer.

[-Adrian]

I'm with ivox on this, prices change too quickly.

If you create a thread, maybe determine a few classes of systems (node/workstation/blade 1P/2P/4P) and their approximate base price (case+psu+?). Then add the sum of mobo+cpu+ram accordingly. The first aspect shouldn't change much over the years.

e.g.

ASUS XYZ-P7, Core i7 920, 4GB DDR3 = $450
1P Workstation base price = $350
Total ~ $800

[def4d]

A dual 5504 is faster than the 920 when OC @ +3,5Ghz, at less on the paper i think.
It's a pretty new core so there are no comparison benches over the net yet