Intel Xeon 5405 and 32-bit OS & Apps...?

[Milleman]

Hi!

I'm planning to put together a server for streaming video and storing files, throughout my house. I'm currently considering to use an Intel Server motherboard together with the Intel Xeon 5405 Quad core CPU.

Is this CPU a good choice for running a 32-bit version of Windows 2003 and also running 32 bit applications...?
I read in the following article (from 2003) http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/duel-titans,620-2.html that:

"Intel's 64 bit processor Itanium and its "IA64" architecture, which is merely able to slowly emulate the myriads of 32 bit software titles we all use today."

Is this still the case for the todays 5400-series Xeon "Harpertown"?

Or should I go for an equivalent AMD Opteron instead?
("Opteron CPUs are all 64 bit CPUs that can also carry out conventional 32 bit x86 code natively.")

Anyone...?

 

[chunkymonster]

You don't need a quad core Xeon or Opteron, let alone 2K3 Server, to stream media and to store files; overkill! You should look into building/buying a NAS.

Check out FreeNAS or Openfiler for a cost effective network device that requires minimal hardware but still robust enough to meet your needs.

 

[jimmysmitty]

You are mixing two different processor types. Xeon 5400 is Core 2 based, Itanium is a different CPU.

The Xeon you listed has x86-64 so it can run both 32bit and 64bit easily.

Itanium is pure 64bit. Its IA64 and only emulates the 32bit.

So yes the CPU you have selected will be great for a home server and will run 32bit great.

 

[Milleman]

Thank you for that delighted answer, Jimmysmitty!

And to Chunkymonster:
I know it's overkill right at the moment. But I will use this server for experimenting with all sorts of streams. Even streams out to the internet. So... No! Doesn't feel like overkill!

 

[zenmaster]

Yes, It's still overkill.
Take the advice of folks who know hardware.
That is why you came here :>

 

[chunkymonster]

And to Chunkymonster:
I know it's overkill right at the moment. But I will use this server for experimenting with all sorts of streams. Even streams out to the internet. So... No! Doesn't feel like overkill!

That's cool, it's your dime, feel free to spend your money how ever you want, but performing a 2GB file transfer over a 100Mbps connection averages 3% cpu usage on WinXP. So, since this server will be acting as just that, a server, and not actually playing the media, you will bottleneck at the NIC and your internet connection lonnggg before you even make a single core Skt775 Celeron break a sweat let alone a quad core Xeon.

The truth is, for the scenario you describe, the proc is the least of concerns, RAM and GigE would more of a priority in my opinion; especially the RAM if you actually do use 2K3 server and GigE if you plan on streaming HD content.

Do not discount FreeNAS and Openfiler.

Whatever...good luck!

 

[zenmaster]

That's cool, it's your dime, feel free to spend your money how ever you want, but performing a 2GB file transfer over a 100Mbps connection averages 3% cpu usage on WinXP. So, since this server will be acting as just that, a server, and not actually playing the media, you will bottleneck at the NIC and your internet connection lonnggg before you even make a single core Skt775 Celeron break a sweat let alone a quad core Xeon.

The truth is, for the scenario you describe, the proc is the least of concerns, RAM and GigE would more of a priority in my opinion; especially the RAM if you actually do use 2K3 server and GigE if you plan on streaming HD content.

Do not discount FreeNAS and Openfiler.

Whatever...good luck!

I might add that I have a Q6600 that is simultaneously running Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Windows 2003 Server acting as a Domain Controller-DHCP-DNS Server, another Windows 2003 Server running SQL 2003 & a Web App. ALL of these AT THE SAME TIME!

So, no, you don't need a XEON to play around with that stuff.

 

[Milleman]

Some would say that it's overkill to buy a car with more than 50 horsepowers. But people are still buying cars with several hundreds of horsepowers...

Anyway. I didn't wanna start a debate weather my server is overkill or not. Just wanted to know if the the CPU is capable of running 32-bit as well. The choice is made because I want to experiment with this server by running different applications and even OS'es. Maybe I'll use Linux and VMWare as well later on, just to be able to have multiple OSes running at the same time. The server got the capacity for that, I'll guess.