New workstations specs

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nkpza

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hi all,

So I'm upgrading and I built my last machine in 1999 (Abit BP6 - dual celeron - still going strong).

Requirements are:
- I don't upgrade so it should last at least 5 years.
- Not for gaming. (onboard sound + video will do)
- Already have a Samsung 2494 LCD + mouse+keyboard.
- Will be running 4 virtual machines on the box. (Oracle 10g db on RHEL, Linux (RHEL), Windows 2003 server1, Windows 2003 server2) all running simultaneously.
- Main OS will be Linux in full 64bit if possible
- Will need minimum of 8gig RAM )(DDR3-1333 I think)
- 5x500Gb HDD or 5x320Gb HDD. I'd like to isolate the VM to a single HDD + a separate HDD for the OS

My proposed setup is

CPU - Intel Core i7 - 2.6Ghz CPU (920) - Boxed
MB - Intel Extreme Series 'Smackover' Intel X58
DVD Writer - 22x Samsung

R4900.98 for the above +

RAM - OCZ PC3-10666 DDR3 1333 2x2048MB Reaper Heat-pipe HS (2x)

R 1084x2 = R2168 at digitaladdiction or R1400 at pcint (not sure of the brand)

HDD - 500GB-7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA II (Seagate) (5x) R541x5 = R2705 at PC int

Case - not sure.R300?
PSU - would like a 680W - R800 (not sure)

Total R10 K to R11K.

Can I do better? Should I rather go for a Xeon?

Opinions please!
 
Hiya...

Won't a Xeon be cheaper at this stage in time? (ie before the i5 launch?)

We have HP xw6400 and 6600 WS at work - pretty beefy machines - all with Xeons! Just don't go for SAS drives - in our case the "improvements" are negligable!
 
Does that motherboard even have onboard graphics?

I dont think you get X58 motherboards with onboard graphics, so you would need a graphics card
 
Ya but you can get a cheapie. The system looks pretty good for the money.
 
on the i7 got for at least 3x 2gb ram (max 6gb). It's got 3 memory channels, use it.
It's a shame one can't get 4gb chips yet.
[edit, ah, your going for 4x 2gb...good :D ]

forget about the 500gb hdd's, rather go 1Tb. (and preferably Samsung) I had some bad luck with the seagates, and currently those samsungs are faster and use less power and are cooler.
Also look at a Massive PSU, 1Kva +. (just to be on the safe side)

1tb Samsung - R844
http://www.kalahari.net/electronics/Samsung-HD103UJ-1TB-3-5-HDD/4585/34399903.aspx

Edit:
PS, what are you using the system for? What OS?
 
gifs said:
Does that motherboard even have onboard graphics?

I dont think you get X58 motherboards with onboard graphics, so you would need a graphics card
Click to expand...


Thanks. I didn't see that. I'll have to get a graphics card.
 
chris2.0 said:
Hiya...

Won't a Xeon be cheaper at this stage in time? (ie before the i5 launch?)

We have HP xw6400 and 6600 WS at work - pretty beefy machines - all with Xeons! Just don't go for SAS drives - in our case the "improvements" are negligable!
Click to expand...

All the Xeon's I've priced with comparable speed tend to be more expensive. Not by much but still more expensive.

Also, seems like the i7 is the next big platform from Intel.

Thanx
 
spiderz said:
on the i7 got for at least 3x 2gb ram (max 6gb). It's got 3 memory channels, use it.
It's a shame one can't get 4gb chips yet.
[edit, ah, your going for 4x 2gb...good :D ]

forget about the 500gb hdd's, rather go 1Tb. (and preferably Samsung) I had some bad luck with the seagates, and currently those samsungs are faster and use less power and are cooler.
Also look at a Massive PSU, 1Kva +. (just to be on the safe side)

1tb Samsung - R844
http://www.kalahari.net/electronics/Samsung-HD103UJ-1TB-3-5-HDD/4585/34399903.aspx

Edit:
PS, what are you using the system for? What OS?
Click to expand...

I'd prefer separate HDD's as performance is better cos I can isolate a VM to a dedicated HDD. I don't really need the space and the price is about R300 more per HDD.

OS is preferably Linux in 64bit but I'm still researching how easy that is with the various driver support.

System will be used to simulate complete env's for clients.

thx
 
nkpza said:
I'd prefer separate HDD's as performance is better cos I can isolate a VM to a dedicated HDD. I don't really need the space and the price is about R300 more per HDD.

OS is preferably Linux in 64bit but I'm still researching how easy that is with the various driver support.

System will be used to simulate complete env's for clients.

thx
Click to expand...

You may get better performance from a RAID setup, when compared to hosting each VM on its own disk.
 
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