Need Help With New Build

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Hi to all

I’d lkie to ask for sme help witha new build. I’d like to build a XEON based system but I not up to speed with Intel boards and the like.
I’d like to stay away from SCSI for now cause I have enough invested in SATA drives.
Basically I like advice on the mobo cause I’m pretty out of date with the current chipsets.
If it helps, I mostly run Maya, Photoshop, Inventor, 3DMax, and do video edit.

Any thoughts to get me started???

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Anytime I read about a Xeon workstation, I also trip over motherboards by Supermicro. They are often used by media professionals (editors) and DC creators. I once asked a broadcast dealer and he said that it has enough resources so that installed hardware won’t interfere or cause conflicts. Supermicro uses Intel chipsets and I think there is no alternative to a Xeon system.

I would compare chipsets used in certified workstations with the ones that are available on the motherboard you’re going to buy.

Keep in mind the old Xeons take a lot of power because they are based on the old Netburst technology. I would recommend to go for the new Woodcrest which is even faster than the fastest opterons but taking less power…

On consumer level Intel’s 965 and 975 are dominating. The latter is the “older” one.

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Cool, makes good sense, your advice on chipsets research,. Think I’ll start with BOX and Alienware and take a look under the hood, and I’d have to guess Supermicro is your board of choice here, right?

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QUOTE(Jose R Garcia @ 09/05/06, 07:07 AM) [snapback]246884[/snapback]
Cool, makes good sense, your advice on chipsets research,. Think I’ll start with BOX and Alienware and take a look under the hood, and I’d have to guess Supermicro is your board of choice here, right?

if you want the most reliable mb, go with genuine Intel mb. There is only 1 workstation Woodcrest Xeon mb, S5000XVN. just started shipping last week.

Supermicro mb is good and gives you 1 more PCI-X slot. but warranty and reliability is not as good as Intel. There are still some bugs that needs to be worked out.

I wouldn’t consider any other brand (for Intel chipset mb).

if budge is an issue, you also want to consider 965 and 975 MB. get Intel D965LT or D975XBX2 mb, they are great mb. reliable and fast. they cost a lot less (not just the CPU, also because it uses cheaper memory). If you buy the 975XBX2 mb (shipping in 1 month), it also supports the new Kentsfield quad-core CPU. Few studios are already testing these puppies.

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Thanks Bell

Am google - ing right now!!

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This is the board currently being used by Boxx for the 8300s which is a dual duo-core Xeon:

http://www.tyan.com/PRODUCTS/html/tempesti5000xt.html

Tyan boards are suppose to be really good. Keep in mind Boxx’s success is based on the fact they sell top quality products and have excellent tech supports. Asus is also another brand I keep hearing about. Bellwilliams always gives great advice so it would be interesting to hear his opinion on these particular brands.

'cel

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Thanks 'cel

Had seen that board recently, appreciate your input. It’s definately one I would consider.
I do like Tyan. Built the one I have presenty, a Tiger 2985 Dual Opterons 2.0 ghz, 2gig ram. Very stable !!

I’m really sad that all this new hardware is PCIx in one flavor or another though.. Market GREED, making you buy PCIx video on top of the expense of CPU and RAM to suit a new build.
I just bought a Quadro FX 3000 and none of the mobos I like allow for 8x video, sucks