2x quad core xeons -gaming/ photoshop

well firstly this is an extreme platform, it is basically a server platform which 2 pci express x16 slots. if you are going to use such a platform then make sure you get the 2 of the fastest processors either core2extreme (quads) or the fastest xeon quads. otherwise i can be out stripped buy a single quad at a higher clock.

this would make a great workstation system if you think you need it, i would even bother with x86-32 go straight to x64.

the RAM is not the same as desktop DDR2. it is fully buffered so it is more stable, but more expensive.

really if you go foe this system you really need to go full out and get at least 8gb of RAM (at least 677 preferably 800), get a high end CPU. obvioisly the GPU you have will bottleneck at high resolutions but if gaming is only a secondary requirement then thats fine as photshop isnt an amazingdrag on GPU.

alsoif you dont use SLi or Crossfire then just go with a server board with out the duel x16 slots.

hope this helps

Waste of money.

Photoshop needs lots of fast ram and disk I/O across multiple drives. It is not multithreaded per se but there are filters which run parallel threads across 2 cores.

An e8400 would whup it. That rig would be roughly the same speed as a q6600 at stock (or an X2 6000+).

And unless your RAM is ECC FBDIMMs it wouldn't work.

This thing would absolutely fly in some apps. Unfortunately for you, gaming and photoshop are not among those apps.

I'd go with a single quad - something like a Q9450.

Gawd.. can you imagine how the HS's would fit on that?

Wonder if you could get a single HS... just a giant plate of copper to go over both sockets, with a giant fins and heatpipes..  

Watercool   or mount inside a box or squirrel cage fan.

[/sarcasm]