I'd like to build a rig which will mainly be used for encoding video, photoshop and programming (at least 2 screens attached). I'd also like to use it as a gamecomputer tough only when I host LAN-partys where someone doesn't have to bring his own computer.
ok now 3rd edit... hdd's i already know that i'm gonna take 2 74gig raptors in raid 0 config.
The general idea was to set up a system with 2 dual-core cpu's (opteron? is it at all possible?) I have no preferences what so ever of brand... (no brand fanboy, but power/speed/oc-able fanboy)
Noise doesn't matter, acutally i like it when my rig sounds like a jet turbine. $$$ is also no issue (i'd like to keep it under 5000$, whithout monitor, and other accessories.)
Firstly, good luck finding a Tyan server class board (2 CPU sockets) that has CPU / RAM overclocking features.
You've got 2 processors, each using 100 watts or so of power, you'll be needing an EPS12V PSU, with EPS12V 24 pin (not ATX 24 pin), and most likely a seperate 8 pin connector for dedicated CPU power. Overclocking the CPUs is unwise to say the least, you don't have the headroom you do like on 'typical' desktop machines with 480w PSUs and only 1 populated processor socket.
You might be looking at the more gimiky Asus, MSI, Abit, etc Dual Socket Opteron boards, (personally 'suggesting' the Abit one if you do though, you're less likely to have 'issues' if they do offer such a hybrid board - model 'SU-2S' rings a bell) assuming they keep their overclocking features in their server class boards. - One would suspect they don't, as overclocking 128x4 (vs 64x8) PC3200 Reg ECC DDR-SDRAM is a
very lame idea anyway. (Server boards for Opteron 200 series or Intel Xeons are mostly going to
require Registered DIMMs, they are key'd differently to normal 'UnBuffered' DIMMs too, just as a reminder to
'not even try it', ECC or not, they are key'd diff.)
Recommend 128x4 vs 64x8 (Corsair can't make good server RAM btw, for this very reason), as you get ChipKill(tm) ECC, vs the plain ECC. Depends on requirements but if you are looking a 'server class' gear I'd also personally recommend doing this. 100's of idiots will tell you 128x4 is 'inferior low quality gear' because they are either: Clueless, Heard someone else say it and don't ask questions, just 'pushing their stock'... or all of the above
- Please ignore such idiots for your own sake.
You
might be able to find one board that optionally uses ECC, but UnBuffered (normal) DIMMs, but they would be extremely rare.
For Video Editing and Programming nothing would beat the Opteron 200 series (Ideally 2 x dual-cores = 4 cores total, x64, aggregated memory controller, very similar to servers)... you'll be able to code for both Win32/x86 and Win64/x64 platforms, while ensuring your applications are well threaded (for splitting workload over 4 processors).
Video Encoding Wise, Microsoft have a 4-way version of Windows Media Encoder (X64 Edition) for outputting with HD (High-Def) content, and shrinking videos down while keeping quality very high:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx
and
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/versions.aspx
I don't understand the "I'd also like to use it as a gamecomputer tough only when I host LAN-partys where someone doesn't have to bring his own computer." comment, it will only be one computer and only one person will be able to game on it at a LAN. Although
it would be able to host at least 3 dedicated game servers on the same machine, while it is being played on.... it will not however permit two people to play as clients on the one machine, even with SLI and/or two monitors, etc, etc - It just doesn't work that way if that is what you're dreaming of.
Or in laymens terms: You don't buy a $5,000 PC, potentially with 2 high end video cards to 'share' the video rendering between 2 people. For dedicated servers (CPU affinity recommended) and gaming (as an admin or otherwise), yeah sure they rock..... but if people want a PC they pay for their own or use a 2nd 'spare' PC (to encourage them to use their own rig).
The downside is gaming performance would not be as high with a quad-core Opteron as say a single socket Athlon 64 FX, or Athlon 64 X2, or Intel Pentium D / EE-XE for a similar price.
If gaming install a dedicated sound card aswell, I'm using an anboard Analog Devices AD1981B and (because most games are not running over 2-4 isolated threads) when there are many sounds it can slow down.... Getting a Creative X-Fi (XtremeMusic) Sound Card to counter this 'mistake' of mine though. (Expected it to happen, and it did....).
If you are going to use Adobe Premiere Pro recall that it can offload / accelerate work load using nVidia GeForce 7800 series cards, and some ATI cards aswell from memory, in addition to using the dual/quad-core power, for serious performance in video editing work.... most dual-socket Opteron boards use the nForce Pro 2200 + 2050 btw (
http://www.nvidia.com/page/nforce_pro.html ) chipset, aswell as perhaps an AMD-8000 series (more drivers still....), and AMD PCI-X, etc tunnel chipsets.
If planning on installing 4 GB RAM, or using NUMA to aggregate memory performance (12.8 GB/sec peak most likely), the following will / may apply:
In Windows XP Pro (Win32/x86) only expect to be able to address 2.75 GB, with NUMA enabled or disabled, even with PAE-36 bit addressing, as Windows XP Pro has the 4 GB limit, and doesn't really use PAE to its full advantage (2003 Server can though). As 1.25 GB of the memory address range will be used for all the PCI devices I/O, etc in the system. (This is one way processors communicate to the PCI bus/es).
With NUMA enabled the two nodes might also be different sizes, and this can cause some minor issues.
Squeezing the Win32 Kernel into 1 GB (or so) address space (not usable by applications) also can limit PTE's and affect video encoding applications.
The above is totally normal for any system with 4 GB RAM installed btw, just most 'desktop' PCs will be able to address 3.50 GB of the 4 GB (check system properties on any machine with 4 GB installed). You may be able to get more usable 32 bit address space by disabling devices not used in the BIOS and shifting (a single) video card to the 'other' (yes other) PCIe x16 slot in some server mainboards. The address space is not just used for memory and this is a very common misconception.
However, in Windows XP x64 Edition, or 2003 Server (x64), you won't have the above issues.
Typical desktop / workstation machines with only 2 GB installed will notice none of the above problems. With 3 GB installed in Win32/x86 it is possible they may notice the low PTE issue during some workloads.
I don't think Linux segregates the address space into two slices (Application / Kernel) though, so it would not be affected... there are a few minor technical issues to be aware of too, but they are well documented and recent 2.6.x Kernels are very prepared for it. (Linux has been available for such platforms longer, and handles them better.... Microsoft relied on the 'Server' editions of Windows for PAE-36 addressing, which is also used for the NX/XD bit, but the artificial limit still exists in the non-server versions of their Win32/x86 OS..... thus WinXP x64 Ed is the cheapest option if you only need 'so much' backwards compatibility... for most games x64 works fine).
Extended Notes:
I am running such a rig myself (see signature) and may be able to assist. My contact details are on my website (see signature).
Anything you did't know about PC's before building such a beat, you'll likely learn quickly, or while trying 'this and that' (you're a Linux guy after all) on whichever 'Multi-Rig' you end up leaning towards.
I've commented mostly on AMD + nVidia here, but I am no FanBoy, remember Intel, +others, aswell as ATI, nVidia +others.
You may be better off building 2 x $2,500 machines, or a $3350 rig, and a $1650 rig for example, if you are into LAN gaming, etc
I am also not sure if Linux can 'cluster' machines for video editing, and if said 'clusters' can accelerate encoding using video cards in said 'clusters nodes'.
nVidia under Linux is easier... esp if into native Linux Unreal, Quake, etc,... as is my understanding anyway, if you're experienced then ATI under Linux may be 'a walk in the park' aswell for you.
I've crammed what I can into a A4 'Tabris Super Sized' special double post special edition. 
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