PC for VM

[s3ds]

Been a while since I built a PC

Due to some software I use being taken over and closed I need to make the software future proof ( It requires activation on install )
I will be using VertualBox with either Ubuntu or Win8 ( Ubuntu to start with )

Guest XP is installed on a VHD drive activated and running in VertualBox
now I will need a new mobo / chip / ram / GPU to run the client.

The software only uses one core so I was thinking the fastest quad I could find ( 2 cores to the VM )
With it being 32bit XP 8gb ram should be ok ( Host = 4.5 / Guest = 3.5 )

I was thinking ( for a test PC )
Samsung 256GB 830 Series SSD Kit
http://www.ebuyer.com/318423-samsung...-mz-7pc256n-eu
AMD FX-4 4170 Black Edition 4 Core 4.2GHz Socket AM3+ 8MB L3
http://www.ebuyer.com/354122-amd-fx-...-fd4170frgubox
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 Socket AM3+
http://www.ebuyer.com/349910-gigabyt...rd-ga-970a-ds3
Crucial 8GB DDR3 1866Mhz Ballistix Tactical Memory
http://www.ebuyer.com/312042-crucial...d1869dt1tx0ceu
GPU ??? maybe a MSI HD 6670 2GB DDR3
http://www.ebuyer.com/390777-msi-hd-...6670-md2gd3-v2


Any other ideas/sugestions

Paul

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

What is your budget and do you need IOMMU??

Edit!!

It seems the Gigabyte motherboard supports IOMMU:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1311711/c...#post_18300778

Also,the Piledriver based FX CPUs will be released in the next week or so. This should mean better single thread performance.

Another alternative is the AMD A10-5800K which is probably around the same performance as an FX4170. OTH,it lacks L3 cache so I am uncertain how much VM peformance is affected though.

[s3ds]

After googling I dont think Vertualbox makes good use of IOMMU (at this time) but thank you for that.
Budget is not too much of an issue at the min but i dont want to spend much more than 400-500
(ATM case / PSU / OS Host / HD / optical not required)
The only reason I picked that chip was the speed 4.2
Would the FX's be better than the AM3+ ?

Paul

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Intel has the edge in single thread performance,but AMD tends to have the full range of virtualisation options in their CPUs at a lower price point. This makes them more desirable than say a Core i3 IMHO. However,the non-K Core i5 CPUs OTH,are the best of both worlds but you are looking at between £130 to £140 for the cheapest ones.

The Piledriver based FX CPUs will be the replacement for the current Bulldozer based FX CPUs. There is an IPC increase as well as improvements to power consumption AFAIK. They use both the same sockets. Remember,if you do intend to run many VMs at the same time,AMD sells six and eight threads very cheaply:

http://www.scan.co.uk/shop/computer-...socket-am3plus

The A10-5800K is an FM2 CPU. It has an IGP around HD6670 GDDR3 level already and performance is around FX4170 level. However,it lacks L3 cache so I don't know whether in your case,there will be lost performance for VM work.

[s3ds]

I may end up with a Quadro 600 as thats what the CAD software preferes ( but im unsure if it would make any difference in a VM )
It will only be used for 1 VM and only for 32bit xp

[SUMMONER]

Law permits the circumvention of digital rights management, if you would otherwise not be able to use the purchased software for it's original purpose.

So if the maker goes bust or simply ceases to provide activation services for the app, you should be able to legally apply a software crack to by-pass the activation process.

Wikipedia link

[s3ds]

Law permits the circumvention of digital rights management, if you would otherwise not be able to use the purchased software for it's original purpose.

So if the maker goes bust or simply ceases to provide activation services for the app, you should be able to legally apply a software crack to by-pass the activation process.

Wikipedia link

The software is for work it uses a dongle as well as an install password.
I paid 12k for the software in 1997 and 1.8k in maintainace every year since.
I am looking to VM to avoid having to reinstall on a new PC thats all.
I will want the PC to pass an audit if needed and a "should be able" from wiki wont get me very far.

[shaithis]

The quadro could be useful if you had IOMMU support for it....I'm fairly sure it would pass-through to the VM(s) in ESX, although not sure about any of the other virtualisation platforms.

As for your choice of CPU, I run a fair few VMs on BD chips and they are awesome for the job...especially considering their price.

[Splash]

What type of dongle is it? You'll want to be sure you can pass it through your hypervisor to the VM

[s3ds]

Safenet Superpro/ultrapro

and ive tested it in vertualbox

[SUMMONER]

The software is for work it uses a dongle as well as an install password.
I paid 12k for the software in 1997 and 1.8k in maintainace every year since.
I am looking to VM to avoid having to reinstall on a new PC thats all.
I will want the PC to pass an audit if needed and a "should be able" from wiki wont get me very far.

Oh, I assumed that you were worried that you would not be able to install/activate the software any more in the future.

A VM can obviously be a very good solution, as it does provide total portability and doesn't confuse the application with modern hardware.
As Splash mentioned, you do need to test the license dongle asap, to make sure it plays ball.

What do you do for work, design gas/oil pipelines?

[s3ds]

design/detail structural steel (Strucad)
It all plays ball as ive tested it ( on an old athlon x2 with 2gb memory ) but its slow
Im at the stage now were I need a better PC to test it properly.
After it installs on a new PC the first time you use it it asks for a password.
They are ending support and will not let us know if we can still get the passwords.
On a VM I can change the host and it will not ask for this password.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I saw this:

http://www.tekla.com/uk/solutions/Do...wap-offer.html

Supposedly you can swap your licenses to a new software,or is the newer software really not what you are looking for??

Regarding the hardware,I would probably wait for the FX4300 series to be launched at the end of the month.

[s3ds]

I can and I have in the past had a tekla licence ( cost me over 13k ) and hold a checker licence ( due to them taking over CSC's 3D+ ) (never installed but they did threaten me with court for not paying them maintainace after the swap ! )
I work for myself and dont have any other income It would take me approx 6 months before I would be confident with the software (less if i was willing to loose clients i have worked for).
I just can not go 6 months without wages. Its ruined my buisness of 15 years.
I know this because I have trained to use it. It too different to what im used to.
In 10 months since they took over I still have not had a call to offer me a swap.
If I can get another 5 years with strucad the industry may have picked up and I can get a job with another company.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I would probably be looking at a FX4350 or a lower end Core i5.

[s3ds]

FX4350 is a AM3+
TBH I usualy prefer Intel for CAD PC's but was blindly looking at the core speeds
What i5 would you recomend ( this is only a test PC once up and running it may not get used till my normal one breaks )