Newest Cruncher

[WesM63]

Well i've had this up my sleeves for a while, just couldn't locate the parts. I've been watching all my distributors and about every online distributor thats known to have the parts 24/7 for the last week.

Finally got lucky at about 7:30pm today. Someone had them in stock, 21 to be exact. I couldn't stop myself from hitting the buy button, even at about $30 more than I wanted to spend.

Sorry, I completely forgot to say what it is I bought, heh.

Intel D5400XS aka Skulltrail.

The final Setup:
Intel D5400XS
2x Intel Xeon e5430's
2x Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme
8gb (4x2gb) Kingston DDR2-800 FB-DIMM's
2x MSI OC 8800GTX's in SLI
2x Zalman VF1000's and 2x Zalman RHS-888
2x 150gb Raptors
LG Super Multi Blue (BD Burner, HD-DVD Reader, DVD burner etc) Ordered
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750w Quad
Coolermaster Stacker 830 Evo

Mind you, this isn't just a pure cruncher, it will be my main system as well. Hence the skulltrail and video card(s). I've noted the stuff I need help on so please feel free to post comments etc.

[123bob]

Looks like it will be one wicked machine coming your way...

I can't help much on the vid card decision. I'm still very happy just running one 8800GTX in my main rig. I'm not much of a critical gamer, I guess....

You'll have to give us build pics and let us know how she is performing for you. I too was drooling over the skulltrails. I decided to go down the path of the X3350 (at least for now ) to cure the itch while I wait for Nehalem.

My best to you and yours,
Bob

EDIT: I'd be curious to know what that machine costs you, total.

[[XC] serlv]

me drools. gonna be nice!

[[XC] Luckygriff]

How much that board cost if you dont mind me asking that thing is just so temping 8 cores of goodness. Have fun dont be to mean to it

[WesM63]

How much that board cost if you dont mind me asking that thing is just so temping 8 cores of goodness. Have fun dont be to mean to it

$658 with tax and shipping.

[Martijn]

$658 with tax and shipping.

That is a lot of money.

[WesM63]

That is a lot of money.

Yes. Much, Much more than I ever expected to pay. I'm hoping this system will last me at least 2yrs.

The video cards are where i'm unsure. The 9800GX2's don't do quite as well as the 8800GTX's in SLI due to the smaller bus width. Bugs me actually. I know if I go with 8800GTX's in SLI they might not last that long. But, I hate to go with the 9800GX2's and actually be stepping down. Maybe i'll just keep my single GTX for now and hope someone comes out with something faster in the near future and i'll be able to pick it/them up then.

[Martijn]

Well, you can get a second GTX now, and maybe a third later?

[[XC] junglemaster]

Awesome stuff mate jealous!!...LOL Can't wait to see it all put together!!!

[cre8chaos]

Well, you can get a second GTX now, and maybe a third later?

have they (Intel) ever figured out a 3rd or 4th in SLi yet on the skulltrail? Last I read it was dual slot only that was working so far. Kind of the cart before the horse kind of deal.

[Martijn]

have they (Intel) ever figured out a 3rd or 4th in SLi yet on the skulltrail? Last I read it was dual slot only that was working so far. Kind of the cart before the horse kind of deal.

Yes, Quad SLI works. I believe Charles (Fugger) had a thread about it somewhere.

[cre8chaos]

Yes, Quad SLI works. I believe Charles (Fugger) had a thread about it somewhere.

But that was with 2 9800GX2's in single SLi still. Only 2 slots working in SLi I mean.

[Movieman]

Very happy for you Wes!

[Martijn]

But that was with 2 9800GX2's in single SLi still. Only 2 slots working in SLi I mean.

True, but I see no reason why the board wouldn't work with 4 cards?

[cre8chaos]

Because Intel can't make it work so far.

[G.Foyle]

Because Nvidia can't make it work - each GPU must have a SLI bridge connection to every other, and this would require 3 connectors per card (9800GX2 is an exception). But Tri-SLI might work on Skulltrail.

[Martijn]

Because Intel can't make it work so far.

Hmm, I haven't heard much about those issues. I guess because there's no one who could afford buying 4 graphics cards after the board LOL

[[XC] hipno650]

TRI SLI on Skulltrail=NO GO. It will only do 2 cards but you can put in 2x9800gx2's i would recommend the 9800gx2 because you can go quad latter on and it will cream your single 8800gtx. a friend of mine is looking to build a fast video edit machine. i was originally planing to use a single Q9450 but i might look at skull trail for him . i have some questions for you guys though. Will 32bit windows XP see the 8 CPU cores? and will sony Vegas use more than 4 CPU cores?

[Martijn]

TRI SLI on Skulltrail=NO GO. It will only do 2 cards but you can put in 2x9800gx2's i would recommend the 9800gx2 because you can go quad latter on and it will cream your single 8800gtx. a friend of mine is looking to build a fast video edit machine. i was originally planing to use a single Q9450 but i might look at skull trail for him . i have some questions for you guys though. Will 32bit windows XP see the 8 CPU cores? and will sony Vegas use more than 4 CPU cores?

On the first, I believe yes, since XP supports 2 CPUs, no matter how many cores. You'll need XP Pro though. On the second, I have no idea. Many SMT-capable software supports all the way up to 8 cores, but I do not know for sure.

[ownage]

I need a new cpu somewhere in 2009, and probably will go dualsocket. Yesterday I looked for a dualsocket 771 system just for the fun and came up with:
-2x e5420 = 502 euro
-Asus DSGC-DW = 278 euro
-2x 2gb kingston pc5300 ECC 4modules total = 70 euro.
total = 850 euro.

Not bad i think, but how much better would FB-dimms be instead of ECC for such a system?

Wes, when you have you're rig running, can you check the power consumption?
Good luck with the house!

[G.Foyle]

Vegas scales to two cores since version 6 AFAIK, but I cant check now if it scales to four. Though if it does, it will probably also scale to 8.

[[XC] hipno650]

Vegas scales to two cores since version 6 AFAIK, but I cant check now if it scales to four. Though if it does, it will probably also scale to 8.

i know Vegas will scale to 4 cores but as i said 8 im not sure about. however i have no doubt that it will with a future version or a new patch. and yes he will be using XP PRO so that should be ok.

anyone with Clovers running XP 32bit? or has anyone tried running XP 32bit on the clovers? if so do you get all 8 cores?

im not what he will go for. the Skull Trail is much more expensive even though i am only recommending he get the 2xE5420's but overclocked of course on a pair of TRUE's but the cost is close to double due to the need for a PSU with dual 8pin CPU connectors and FBDIMMS and to to mention that expensive board. but if im lucky he will go for it and then it can see some WCG time as I test the Overclocks

[SiGfever]

Congratulations Wes!

Since you are so far ahead of me I don't need to order the Flame Retardant Underwear. But if you slow down, back up and run me down again I will be hitting the order button (I wonder if you order them like regular drawers)? .

[Jaco]

Dave is the man to talk to about the 800Mhz FB Dimms.
Best is 4 sticks for best performance/lowest latency (don't know the technical explanation - I believe 8 dimms adds some latency compared to 4 dimms)
Anyway , i would take 4 * 2 GB 800Mhz FB-dimms. 16GB ram would be overkill imo

[Blauhung]

very nice and please do post pics!!

I'm still saving for a new computer, and the $1,400 that i'm gona have to spend on a new clutch and assorted other crap that's going downhill on my car isn't gona help