quad core vs dual core

[garyellis]

I'm still trying to decide on quad core processor vs. dual core processor..

Q6600 vs E8400 2.4 per core vs 3.0 per core....


Will sage use 4 cores, or is 2 enough.? ..I'd love to have the extra Ghz in the dual core and the FSB is higher in the dual core...


Comments?

Gary Ellis

[rlvogel322]

Personally, I would go with the Q6600 and a slight overclock to get it to 3.0Ghz. I've got an E6600 at 3.6Ghz and it's working it's tail off to do compskip and Autoencode on all the kid's shows. It works, but I wish I had four cores.

[toricred]

I just upgraded from an E4500 to Q6600. The quad core is definitely the way to go if you are using MVPs or compressing the files. The difference is absolutely incredible. I OC'd it to 3.0 before even booting and nothing could be easier. I'm currently running at 3.2 and once I replace my memory I'll be shooting for either 3.4 or 3.6.

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by toricred

I just upgraded from an E4500 to Q6600. The quad core is definitely the way to go if you are using MVPs or compressing the files. The difference is absolutely incredible. I OC'd it to 3.0 before even booting and nothing could be easier. I'm currently running at 3.2 and once I replace my memory I'll be shooting for either 3.4 or 3.6.

I just rebuilt my sage server with a Q6600 myself. Placeshifter and MVP clients now work a lot better too. I did a mild overclock with no additional voltage to 3.0 Ghz. But even without that, a single core does an HD to MVP or to placeshifter transcode at high quality with CPU to spare... Very fast.

It's complete overkill for sage server, though I have to say I like overkill in general... :-)

[rlvogel322]

Originally Posted by mikesm

It's complete overkill for sage server, though I have to say I like overkill in general... :-)

I completely agree. When I upgrade my office PC the Sage server will be getting the Q6700.

[garyellis]

Thanks for the great feedback...

Now for the motherboard assuming a Q6600 processor...

Should I go for the x38 northbridge or is P35 plenty for this processor?
only about $30 to $50 difference in Mobo's between P35 and x38.

Also for memory...looks like 1033 is the right size.... 1600 costs too much.

comments..??

x38 and 1600 both seem like more overkill..but, I do like the upside potential of the x38 board...

Gary Ellis

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by garyellis

Thanks for the great feedback...

Now for the motherboard assuming a Q6600 processor...

Should I go for the x38 northbridge or is P35 plenty for this processor?
only about $30 to $50 difference in Mobo's between P35 and x38.

Also for memory...looks like 1033 is the right size.... 1600 costs too much.

comments..??

x38 and 1600 both seem like more overkill..but, I do like the upside potential of the x38 board...

Gary Ellis

The P35's are fine, as is ordinary PC2-6400 RAM. The multiplier on the Q6600 is 9X, so you really don't need high end RAM to make it go, even when overclocking. Keep the ram at 1:1 and you will be fine to 3.6 Ghz.

What you do want is to make sure you have lots of PCI slots for tuners etc... Also, if it has a realtek GbE chip, I'd get an Intel or Marvell PCI-E GbE controller, just to make sure it can feed lots of HD100's without running out of gas. If you find a P35 board with a marvell GbE chip on board, then you don't need the addon card. 1394 is handy if you want to play with firewire tuners...

[dflachbart]

Originally Posted by garyellis

Now for the motherboard assuming a Q6600 processor...

Should I go for the x38 northbridge or is P35 plenty for this processor?
only about $30 to $50 difference in Mobo's between P35 and x38.

I bought a ABIT IP35 Pro for my Q6600, couldn't be happier. 3 standard PCI slots, dual gigabit LAN, and two 1394a...


Dirk

[hemicuda]

Originally Posted by flachbar

I bought a ABIT IP35 Pro for my Q6600, couldn't be happier. 3 standard PCI slots, dual gigabit LAN, and two 1394a...

Dirk

sounds like OC'd intel quad is what i'll look at as well. i need something in the 3ghz range and extra cores will help transcoding to the MVP.

OT: could a dual gig-e be split between my LAN and a separate switch to handle just HDHRs? that's assuming the local service doesn't force me into STB bondage in the near future.

[garyellis]

OK..I bought the Q6600 and the Abit IP35 Mobo and corsair 2x2GB 800 (PC2 6400) memory...

Now can't wait for it to get here...

Thanks all for the help,

Gary

[davephan]

I agree, the ABit IP-35 Pro mobo is an excellent choice. When I did the mobo researching, the ABit IP-35 Pro had a very small number of negative reviews.

The ABit IP-35 Pro mobo works great with the dual-core E6850, and should also be an excellent choice with the Q6600.

You might want to make sure the Q6600 is a "G0" if you want to over clock it, since "G0" overclocks better.

Newegg won't tell you if they will sell you a "G0". You can specifically order a "G0" from Tank Guys http://www.tankguys.biz/


Dave

[thomaszoo]

Originally Posted by hemicuda

OT: could a dual gig-e be split between my LAN and a separate switch to handle just HDHRs? that's assuming the local service doesn't force me into STB bondage in the near future.

Yes it can. Give the HDHR NIC a static IP address and the HDHR Manager will act as a DHCP server (only for HDHRs).

Wayne

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by davephan

I agree, the ABit IP-35 Pro mobo is an excellent choice. When I did the mobo researching, the ABit IP-35 Pro had a very small number of negative reviews.

The ABit IP-35 Pro mobo works great with the dual-core E6850, and should also be an excellent choice with the Q6600.

You might want to make sure the Q6600 is a "G0" if you want to over clock it, since "G0" overclocks better.

Newegg won't tell you if they will sell you a "G0". You can specifically order a "G0" from Tank Guys http://www.tankguys.biz/


Dave

Microcenter still has their Q6600 for $199 sale going. Everyone I have seen has been a SLACR (G0). The nice thing about buying it at retail is you can tell the rev from the box label, so you can ask them to give you a different one if you don't get a G0. This is the full retail package, not OEM too.

They easily overclock to 3Ghz, most to 3.6Ghz, though this is complete overkill for Sage server.

The IP35 Pro has a realtek GbE, so you might want to get a marvell or intel one if feeding a lot of HD100's HD...

[rwc]

Silly question...does XP support Quad core? Or would I need vista?

[BFisher]

Yes XP supports it. I have one and have been very happy with it.

[rwc]

Does it need to be XP Pro?

[Olias]

Originally Posted by rwc

Does it need to be XP Pro?

Nope.