Advice for system build

[rchurch]

New system Config:

Tyan S2895 mobo
2x 200 series AMD Opteron Processors 1.8 ghz
1 Maxtor 250gb hd
2x Zalmon 7000a heatsinks
2 gigs total memory
Dvd burner
ATI x800gto2

Ok, now for the questions:

1. What is the comparable speed of Intel chips to the AMD 1.8 ghz Opteron?
2. Should I wait for quad core chip instead of using 2x dual core chips?
3. Should I wait for Windows Vista or load up Windows XP pro?
4. How long will system be up to par in terms of speed and changes in chip technology?

I would use the system to do CAD and rendering in 3d Max so I'm looking for speed and stability. However the three questions I posed are holding me back with the build because of the changes in chip technology especially with AMD's new upgrades due to come out in the 2nd-3rd quarter of this year. Any advice would help.

Thanks

 

[zogby]

LOOKS LIKE A KILLER SYSTEM , If you need it now dont wait .

 

[MadModMike]

New system Config:

Tyan S2895 mobo
2x 200 series AMD Opteron Processors 1.8 ghz
1 Maxtor 250gb hd
2x Zalmon 7000a heatsinks
2 gigs total memory
Dvd burner
ATI x800gto2

Ok, now for the questions:

1. What is the comparable speed of Intel chips to the AMD 1.8 ghz Opteron?
2. Should I wait for quad core chip instead of using 2x dual core chips?
3. Should I wait for Windows Vista or load up Windows XP pro?
4. How long will system be up to par in terms of speed and changes in chip technology?

I would use the system to do CAD and rendering in 3d Max so I'm looking for speed and stability. However the three questions I posed are holding me back with the build because of the changes in chip technology especially with AMD's new upgrades due to come out in the 2nd-3rd quarter of this year. Any advice would help.

Thanks

1: The comparable speed is about a 3.2Ghz Pentium 4 (Xeon about 3.4GHz)
2: You shouldn't wait for Quad Core or you'll be waiting quite a long time, get those 2 Dual-Core 1.8GHz if you plan to, those are powerful enough.
3: Load up Windows XP Pro 64-bit Edition, the Opteron 64 CPU excels to new heights in x64 (I've ran it on multiple Opteron servers) and it will be faster and more powerful, not to mention your Memory bandwidth will go up 15% in x64 (Really help with CAD).
4: That system will be good for at least 4 years, given the fact it's 4 cores and any new software that gets written for multi-cores, those CPU's will do just fine.

Make sure when you get your memory, since that's the K8WE board if I recall correctly, is get 4 512MB sticks for your 2GB and put 2 in each 4-DIMM sets per CPU, that way each CPU has Dual-Channel 1GB of Memory.

~~Mad Mod Mike, pimpin' the world 1 rig at a time