Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron

Dual core Opterons are the most interesting thing to occur to server processors in a long while. Although we covered AMD and Intel’s side of the dual core race extensively, Opteron has some pretty strong selling points with regard to multiple processor and multiple core scalability. Although certainly novel, the cost of these processors has yet to stabilize while the cheapest available dual core processor costs upwards of $1500!


The server market doesn’t have much else going on right now, and aside from a few new Irwindale introductions, there really isn’t much to comment on. nForce4 Pro for AMD servers is quite fantastic, and certainly worth the praise that it received from the reviews around the web. Now that Socket 940 is relatively affordable and more importantly competitive, these dual core behemoths should really make for some interesting benchmarks in the near future.

Finally, below, you can see a glimpse of Xeon pricing for the week. The Irwindale processors are starting to show up more frequently, but only at a few merchants still. The preorder prices have dropped dramatically in the last few weeks, but prices won’t stabilize for another month or so.


Sempron
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  • g33k - Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - link

    johnsonx,

    Thanks for your reply. I can see how this proc would confuse things a bit. Axiom Technologies even lists the proc as a skt754.
  • johnsonx - Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - link

    BTW, for anyone who doubts the rare P4 I mentioned:

    http://www.powerleap.com/Processors.html

    Intel P4 2.8GHz 400MHz 478pin 512K CPU OEM $161.99

    Core: Northwood Operating Frequency: 2.8GHz FSB: 400MHz Cache: L1/12K+8K; L2/512K Voltage: 1.525V Process: 0.13Micron Socket: Socket 478 Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2 Warranty: 30 Day DOA Packaging: OEM(Processor Only)

    Apparently Intel made these for one or more OEM's who wanted to offer 2.8Ghz CPUs on an existing platform validated for 400Mhz FSB only. Powerleap got ahold of some and sell them for upgraders, particularly for use with their socket-423 to 478 adapter (socket-423 boards of course support 400Mhz FSB only).
  • johnsonx - Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - link

    g33k,

    There actually is such a thing as a socket 939 A64 3400+. It is a 2.2Ghz cpu with 512k cache (same as the 3500+), but it is limited to an 800Mhz hypertransport link instead of 1000Mhz HT like all other socket 939 CPU's. The 800Mhz HT limit is the reason the performance rating is 100 points lower, though I doubt it really makes much difference at all.

    These CPU's were in fact sold by NewEgg about 9 months or so ago, but I've not seen them since. Many other vendors had them as well, and there was quite a bit of speculation and confusion about them both then and now. AMD doesn't even list the CPU in their online database now; I'm not at all sure AMD ever 'officially' acknowledged the existence of these CPUs. Sort of like the 2.8Ghz Pentium 4 with a 400Mhz FSB: Intel doesn't admit such a thing exists, but they do, and can be purchased if you know where to get them (though that P4 probably even more rare and obscure than the S939 A64 3400+).
  • g33k - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    KristopherKubicki, I have never seen a skt939 3400+. I have only seen them in skt754. Even the link in the price guide to "Axion Technologies" says it is a 3400+ skt754. Although, it rates the proc at 2.2ghz and 512k cache. These are 3200+ specs. So something not right there.
  • Tujan - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    The spec.for the EM64 for Intel processors..you stated that 'all Prescott have these enabled,in addition to some new Celerons.

    In the ""Processor Obfuscation And You.."" article,stated that the numeration for the 3.2 Prescott begins with 540J for example,but the E64 would start with the following designation of 541J..542J etc.

    Within the stats for Newegg.com (Hi Newegg.com), the processors they show dont include the feature set of the EM64 along with SSE,SSE2,HT etc. Although the 540J might be seen EM64T is not specified.
    As well,the specific numeration (541j,542J etc) isn't detailed for the information fields there. Is this something for the retailer to further detail,and is there some way to be sure that a Prescott processor can utilize the EM64T.? Since if ordering you cannot usually detail that spec even though it may be available.

    Or Not ? [ ]

    Sidenote: 915s support EM64T with XP64bit..?
  • KristopherKubicki - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    g33k: That is no error. One of these really exists!

    Kristopher
  • johnsonx - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    It'd be useful to add the clock speed to the Intel processor designations. Yes, yes, I know, clock speed isn't everything any more, but I sure can't remember what a 535 or 640 is either.

  • vitamalt - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    mmm venice 3000+ great bargain that's my next buy atm which may change since I'm not upgrading until games become unplayable on my current rig.
  • arswihart - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    it should come as no surprise that there are issues with the msi boards, thats always the case with that garbage company
  • g33k - Monday, May 23, 2005 - link

    Minor error on pg4 AMD (939) proc list. It lists S939 3400+ proc?

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