Arnold Grove

Theres so much great info here but Im a little fuzzy yet...sorry for the multi questions

I’m trying to decide the best system for Max, Vray and the adobe suites for Achi 3d and broadcast graphics. Thanks to a lot of great info here, I’ve come to these 2 machines:Dell Precision Workstation 690 (750W - 32bit)
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&oc=MLB1728&s=biz

2x the Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5050 3.00GHz, 2 X 2MB L2, 667 $2,707



Dell Precision Workstation 690 (750w - 64bit)
http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&oc=MLB1723&s=biz

2x the Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5050 3.00GHz, 2 X 2MB L2, 667 $2,599

Why is the 64 cheaper??


Should I get a single Dual Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 5160 3.00GHz, 4MB L2,1333 because its faster? And if so can I add a second one later, hoping to buy it cheaper somewhere else.


I’m just unsure about the component selections and video card selection. Any help would be greatly appreciated

My budget is about 5k (my wife is real happy about that)

thanks!

maey

hi arnold.both are really nice workstation,go for 64bit for future upgradability.if i have that much money,i will get 4 or more core 2 duo/ core duo pc (3ghz) with 2g ram for my network rendering since u are using vray.really cut your rendering time.

manta

hmmm....that's funny, I was wondering how that was going to look when the new chips came out...so they're just trying to confuse you, the 51xx series are the new chips based on the core2 duo...the rest are the old P4 netburst chips, there is a tremendous difference, thats why it costs over $500 more to drop down to 2.66GHZ...

I could be a little off on this, but I would think the 51xx series are twice as fast as the 50xx series...

Here are some benchmarks of the old P4's (same core as the 50xx) versus the core2 duo's (same core as 51xx) you can clearly see they get their a** kicked...

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets...px?i=2795&p=11

To make along story short, the slowest 51xx will obliterate any 50xx...

hope that helps

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moshenko

As manta said, avoid the 50xx series if at all possible. They are power-hungry underperformers and I think Dell is just trying to clean house before the 51xx's really take hold. For a few hundred $$ extra you could get dual 5120's that would utterly destroy the older series (and most dual Opterons as well, from what I've read).

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landrvr1

I was stunned to hear that the AMD Opterons have gotten a serious butt kickin, but it's true. Check out this benchmark test. The entire review is fascinating:

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_cont...eon5160&page=6

Every test shows the new Intels absolutely mopping the floor with the Opterons....

Arnold Grove

Awsome guys thanks so much. Thankyou for the reviews as well. I had no idea about the difference between the 50's and 51's. I was ready to shell out the bucks,,,I would been hosed.

Going for the 64bit, upgrading to the 5120 is only $60..great I can swing that, but its another $409 to add another...what the heck? why so much for an add?

I can do $2,719 for a quad dc 5120 (Eddie Van Halen model) should I live with this and get a better vid card???? I think the most I can afford is the best answer. thanks guys

Arnold Grove

I wish Max and Vray ran on a Mac

moshenko

You should really be asking "Why are the crappy 50xx models so expensive if I can get a 5120 processor for just $409?" The $60 is a price to upgrade from whatever the default configuration is, not the price of a full processor.

They do. See this: http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/18574-...rkstation.html (among others).

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pixelbill

Don't forget that this benchmark is to compare with the old Xeons and "old" AMD core, the Opteron has been around for almost three years now whithout a competitor.
To bench something thats 3 years old is unjustify for AMD Opteron. But the good news is AMD had just release the Socket F , the next-gen Opteron so I think you should wait till the dust settled B4 crowning the 5100 Xeons.
I too is in the market for a workstation, but rather wait till around Xmas maybe the price will dropped in this sector.
Don't get me wrong I'm not an Intel basher, the Woodcrest base Xeon is an excellent chip but the only downside is its only support FB DIMM RAM (abit too expesiveimo).

manta

How come there are'nt any reviews on socket F, I thought you were joking about it being released already, but they are, you can buy them at newegg.com, so what's up with socket F ??

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