> -----Original Message----- > From: Robert Munn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:12 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: getting a new computer > > > I have been an AMD fan for a few years but the Intel Core2 Duos are way > too > sweet to pass up if I buy now.
I usually go Intel but have been annoyed at their lack of dual cpu support since the PIII. This last time out I did an ASUS K8N-DL mobo with dual Opteron 252's (socket 940). It'll take pretty much any socket 940 chip (including the Athlon, but only singly). With dual-core Opteron's like the 880 out you can stick in one dual-core chip and then add another later (if money's tight) for a total of four active cores. True multiple processor system edge out dual-core chips simply because there's less chance of conflict. Each CPU has it's own memory controller, it's own memory, etc. If you multitask a lot running a dually is a dream. Using one-Gig chips you can dedicate two gig of RAM to each physical processor (dual channel) - makes for a screaming fast system. The board actually has 6 RAM slots supporting up to 24 Gig of RAM. There are more drive options than you can shake a stick at (10 different ports on two dedicated controllers both supporting RAID configurations). A total of 10 possible USB ports, two firewire ports, 7 mobo fan connectors and more than serviceable audio (8 channel digital audio). The expansion options are bit light but not disappointing. One PCI-E graphics slot (so no SLI but you said gaming wasn't a priority) and two PCI slots. In short the board is billed as a "server" board but has all of the home user bell-and-whistles you could want (who needs 8 channel audio in a server room anyway?) I run a geForce 770 in mine and it's smooth as butter in games like "Half-Life 2" and "Oblivion". It's also nice because the card has dual DVI connectors (I run dual 18" LCDs). I run my system in an Antec Sonata II mid-tower case. It's a little cramped (two of the SATA connectors can't be used because of the case) but heat's not a problem and it's a heck of a lot easier to manage than my giant old aluminum server case. I did replace the stock CPU coolers with better Zalman ones but that's the only concession to heat I made. The system runs almost non-stop and is extremely stable... except for the very few times when it's not. ;^) Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Introducing the Fusion Authority Quarterly Update. 80 pages of hard-hitting, up-to-date ColdFusion information by your peers, delivered to your door four times a year. http://www.fusionauthority.com/quarterly Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/message.cfm/messageid:221464 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/CF-Community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
