What all this about the intel xeon processor?

[littlebig70]

:shock:

I am about to assemble a new system for my studio. I have heard about the intel xeon and the itanium processors. Would it be a good idea to use one of these processors, or are the usual p4 or athlon more suitable for music aplications? I am going to be using cubase sx and fruityloops software.

[Stephen Carroll]

My understanding is that these processors are intended for workstations and servers, rather than for desktop PCs.

Try looking on Google for more information. :!:

[m@g]

If you plan to build a dual CPU system you might consider it.I think theres a few who has built with Xeon CPUs. I might be wrong but I believe it's a feature called hyperthreading that makes them more suitable for Dual/Multi processing.

m@g

[der_gary]

...You'll want this...

...The cost may be prohibitive compared to an Athlon MP system, but if you are seriously going to go with Xeon (pro: "Z-on") don't waste the money with just one...Dual Xeons ( with Win2K, or XP-Pro) kick ass so far beyond comparisons, that it's pointless...

...It is worth giving some thought to an Athlon MP (multi-proc) Machine as well, as these have been quite popular, and apparently reliable, when properly configured...There will be more "armchair-warriors" to Q.A. with...but simply put, the processor itself is "dumb", it crunches 1010101010101...The faster we need lots of that action, determines the one we pick to do it...The "compatible" software...(some don't/can't take advantage of Dual procs)...is similarly "optimized".

g.

[Easto]

The itanium procs are 64bit. They will run legacy (32bit) apps but to fully realize the potential of an Itanium you would need a 64bit compliant OS too.

[der_gary]

...True...XP-64 Bit Edition...but don't go telling everybody...Shhh.. :wink:

http://www.on-site-solutions.com/xp64bit.htm


g.

[rachel]

I've been using a 64 bit OS & system for over 2 years.
Solaris 8 & 9 on UltraSPARC II processors.

There are no large advantages to 64 bit processing unless you are
pushing around huge data sets and you need to access RAM space of greater than 4 GB and disk capacities beyond 16 terabytes.

I keep hearing about Intel's 64 bit effort, but although the
hardware is here, there's no software for it?

I predict the new IBM Power4/PowerPC 970 CPU's (which are already off the dies) will appear in IBM and Macintosh systems while Microsoft and Intel are still sorting out how to get their Itaniums out to market
with a 64 bit ready OS.

There is the potential for 64 bit computing to assist in audio processing
but there's going to be a big lag between the hardware and software
that supports it.


rachel

[dropadrop]

I would imagine that once amd get's the athlon64 processors out, it will speed up the transition of moving to 64bit os's. It's not like the majority of users will hurry up moving to it, but with the possibility being there, alot of people will. (if they just get it out...)