Xeon processor?

[dmingo]

Anyone have any experience with Intel Xeon processors? Good or bad?

[Harold Pei Jr]

I'm running 2 right now. I don't notice any difference from a regular multi-core CPU. Stick with the Duo line and you should be alright.

[CADDmanVA]

Harold's right, you won't see much of a difference in a home box or workstation box. Xeon processors were designed with heavy server applications in mind.

[Harold Pei Jr]

Well, you'll see one difference, a bigger dip in your bank account

[CADDmanVA]

Well, you'll see one difference, a bigger dip in your bank account

True dat!

Maybe it's kind of like the Pentium 4 HT processors. They were (more or less) a technology preview of today's dual core processors...but at an insanely high priced compared to the norm.

[jaberwok]

I have a 2 x Xeon machine (= 4 cores) but the motherboard is RAM-limited (how weird is that?) so it's not used for CAD but it currently runs 4 SETI@home tasks.

[CADDmanVA]

I have a 2 x Xeon machine (= 4 cores) but the motherboard is RAM-limited (how weird is that?) so it's not used for CAD but it currently runs 4 SETI@home tasks.

That is really odd. What is the limit, and is it possible a BIOS flash could fix that problem?

[jaberwok]

That is really odd. What is the limit, and is it possible a BIOS flash could fix that problem?

It's a (relatively) old Intel mobo that's limited to 1Gb.It currently has 512 Mb and increasing it would cost about £340 (the last time I looked) and require throwing away the existing memory - doable but not worth it (for me).

[dmingo]

Thanks to everyone for the input. It is greatly appreciated.

[CADDmanVA]

It's a (relatively) old Intel mobo that's limited to 1Gb.It currently has 512 Mb and increasing it would cost about £340 (the last time I looked) and require throwing away the existing memory - doable but not worth it (for me).

Wow, ouch. Sorry for you. I'm rather surprised the mobo only permits 1 gig though.