Thinking of going with Xeon...

[dmarciano]

I'm getting ready to build a new computer and I'm debating right now whether to switch over to Xeon processors. I thought I would get some feedback.

Right now I'm running a Core2 X6800 @ 2.93GHz, 2GB RAM, and a GeForce 7950 GX2. However I started to look at what other processors I could go with and I came across the Xeon E5410. On Newegg that are about $270 and with a Intel 5400 (Skulltrail) I could run two of these (8 physical cores) with up to 16GB RAM.

I do play some games like MS Flight Sim X and FEAR (that's really the only games I play on the computer) and I also program a lot and run BIONC. For those of you that don't know BIONC is a distributed computing project run my Berkeley University. So my processing requirements are pretty high, but I figured that even those these CPUs only run at 2.33GHz with 8 cores it should be pretty fast. I don't OC, so that's not a concern and I do realize that these were designed for servers.

Would I be right in assuming that 8 cores would actually handle a high work load better than a Quad-Core with hyperthreading? Pros & Cons on using the Xeon for my requirements? Thanks in advance.

 

[Grantofhell]

That SkullTrail is arguable. DDR2 RAM, PCI-E 1.1...Just really cheap. Much less perks than I would expect out a "gaming" board. I would suggest going I7 or sticking with S775. Xeon on S771 is more server based. 8 Physical cores is a nice spec on paper but you really don't see the performance boost in the OS. I'd say go for an upper end quad. The Q9550 is a nice one, and if you plan to overclock, grab a Q9560. Same spec as the Q9550 with a higher multiplier.

One of our members uses a S775 Xeon in place of a Core2Duo because of its naturally low server-based voltages. He overclocks it pretty hard. But the Xeon X3220 is about the closest you'll get with Xeon on Quad cores. It wouldn't perform as well as a Q9 series Yorkfield on the right board.

 

[Ronspc]

rep for you^

 

[vampist]

That SkullTrail is arguable. DDR2 RAM, PCI-E 1.1...Just really cheap. Much less perks than I would expect out a "gaming" board. I would suggest going I7 or sticking with S775. Xeon on S771 is more server based. 8 Physical cores is a nice spec on paper but you really don't see the performance boost in the OS. I'd say go for an upper end quad. The Q9550 is a nice one, and if you plan to overclock, grab a Q9560. Same spec as the Q9550 with a higher multiplier.

One of our members uses a S775 Xeon in place of a Core2Duo because of its naturally low server-based voltages. He overclocks it pretty hard. But the Xeon X3220 is about the closest you'll get with Xeon on Quad cores. It wouldn't perform as well as a Q9 series Yorkfield on the right board.

But aren't they dropping the I7 with in a year?

Link

 

[worshipme]

The only Xeons I'd recommend going for unless you are actually building a server are the LGA775 Xeons. They are identical to their C2 equivalents but will lower voltage standards, in other words, better overclocking capabilities.

Xeon E3110 = E8400
Xeon X3220 = Q6600
Xeon X3230 = Q6700
Xeon X3320 = Q9300
Xeon X3330 = Q9400
Xeon X3350 = Q9450
Xeon X3360 = Q9550
Xeon X3370 = Q9650

 

[Ronspc]

The only Xeons I'd recommend going for unless you are actually building a server are the LGA775 Xeons. They are identical to their C2 equivalents but will lower voltage standards, in other words, better overclocking capabilities.

Xeon E3110 = E8400
Xeon X3220 = Q6600
Xeon X3230 = Q6700
Xeon X3320 = Q9300
Xeon X3330 = Q9400
Xeon X3350 = Q9450
Xeon X3360 = Q9550
Xeon X3370 = Q9650

so am i safe to say that you got the dual core equivalent of a Xenon?

 

[worshipme]

so am i safe to say that you got the dual core equivalent of a Xenon?

I have an E3110, which is an E8400, which is part of the C2D line. Is a Xenon in any way related to a C2D?

 

[dmarciano]

I hope that the phasing out of the i7 will drop the price on the remaining ones and I can't wait to see what the price of those LGA1366 6-cores are going to cost...