Helping specing a work horse!

Hi all, im in need of a machine to be used soley for virtualisation, i.e. to be my local test bed.

I wanted something with dual proc and 4gb memory, but i really cant find anything that is small enough to fit into a tiny case (preferaly a shuttle) and be cheap.

Please help, specs or links recommedned.

Thanks all,
Taz

I would think you want dual-core not dual processors. Then you might want to think of building off a barebone case and motherboard.

don't make it TOO small.

OK...not a server tower case, but DO make it a tower of some sort not a SFF. Imagine the heat two days ago......with dual core and needing 100% stability all the time.

Let the PC breathe a tad :)

thanks for the replies guy. Yes I did mean dual core, lol at the time I just couldnt remember the word! :)

So, any suggestions??

Kind regards,
Taz

what kind of budget you looking at?

I do alot of in silico simulations as well and I don't really find the need for 4GB neccesary if you're just doing tandem instructions.. I have 2GB and I still get like 100-150 MB left during single tandem simulation.. Although my page file jumps steep into the 3GB region..

Dual core is definitely a bonus, I dont know what sort of softwares u use.. but having a second core gave me near almost 30-40% reduced processing time, clock for clock.. In fact, I can run 2 simulations in one go (by addressing CPU load to separate cores) and get a real time comparison between the 2 screen to screen which is a bonus I didnt get previously (but they do go considerably slower that way.. in terms of CPU and memory addressing, maybe 4GB will benefit then)..

If you could wait a while, July should see the X2 line-up get a big slash in price.. I don't know if 1MB extra cache is going to mean anything, but a 5000+ will be interesting... Unless you're doing these virtualisations for fun, I don't recommend getting a slower chip and overclocking it.. better off getting a fast chip on standard..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sawyen

I do alot of in silico simulations as well and I don't really find the need for 4GB neccesary if you're just doing tandem instructions.. I have 2GB and I still get like 100-150 MB left during single tandem simulation.. Although my page file jumps steep into the 3GB region..

---

Thanks for the reply, basically I will have multiple "servers" running executing SQL server, BizTalk etc, now these need 512-1GB ram to run comfortably. With 4GB, I can happily run 3 server and the host OS without too much of a hitch.

Its just trying to find a decentish motherboard to allow for the 4gb thats the problem, and a nice attractice yet compact case to put them in.

With kind regards,
Taz

What is the Intel 805 like interms of performance? I under it is dual-core also.

Kind regards,
Taz

I think its OK, but it shines when overclocking, which would be a terible idea in a Shuttle case with a stock cooler. If you really want tiny think about a Yonah (Core Duo) processor. That will go fine in a tiny box, but mobos for it cost about 2X normal mobos.

if you want virtualisation arent the new AM2 chips the only ones that can handle it on a hardware level?

I think some newer intels can too, but are there any VM systems that support either tech? Could be kind of important.

If you are going intel, wait a while as they will be dropping their retail prices significantly (that is if you are building the pc yourself). However that means OEM prices will increase, so if you are buying a pre-built pc, then now would be a good time to buy.