getting a new computer

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Munn [mailto:cfmunstergmail.com]
> 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


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