how much power do I need?

[TheStupid]

I am building one server using 2x E5410 CPU on a Asus DSBF-DE mobo with Segate 7200RPM HD, Gigabyte HD 3870 512MB video card.

how much power would I need? Is 600 watts enough or i need 750?

 

[dagger]

600w should be enough for dual quad and a 3870. Although it's better to get 750w instead. Since it's a server, stability matters, besides, you may be adding more hdd in the future.

 

[aevm]

Crazy question here, why does a server need a HD 3870? If it's really a server and nobody plays games on it then a HD 3450 would do instead. It's cheaper and consumes less.

 

[englandr753]

Its obviously intended to do more than act as a stand alone server...
Unless the builder is a gamer and every system they build has gamer specs. Ive seen those peeps before.

 

[TheStupid]

I am going to play games on that. I choose the HD3870 because it's cheap and can support dual-monitor in Linux.

 

[dagger]

I am going to play games on that. I choose the HD3870 because it's cheap and can support dual-monitor in Linux.

Get a g92 8800gts, it cost $120 ar and perform far better.
http://fxvideocards.com/ZOTAC-GeForce-8800-GTS-G92-512MB-ZT-88SES2P-FSP-256-bit-GDDR3-PCI-Express-2.0-x16-HDCP-Ready-SLI-ZOTAC-Video-Card-p-16280.html

 

[englandr753]

Agreed. I tried the 3870 and to me even compared to the 9600GT I got better performance on the 9600GT. I think I got a faulty 3870 though so its probably not a good comparrison.

 

[TheStupid]

newegg sells it for $213. Don't like MIR.

I am not really a gamer. mainly i am going to play with Linux and vmware (XP)

OK, switched to this Foxconn 9600GT-512 GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814186037

 

[englandr753]

Thats a good deal. For the same price its probably a better choice that dagger suggested. You wont be disapointed either way...

 

[aevm]

Huh? Dagger suggested a G92 8800GTS. That's better than the 9600GT, it has twice the stream processors.

 

[TheStupid]

i know. cannot afford the 8800GTS.

My power should be fine though?

 

[englandr753]

I said daggers suggestion is probably a better choice. I didnt say the 9600GT was better but as I also said, he wont be disapointed with either card.

 

[aevm]

My bad, I misunderstood. Yeah, either way, those are good cards. Amazing what you can get for $120 these days

 

[randomizer]

Huh? Dagger suggested a G92 8800GTS. That's better than the 9600GT, it has twice the stream processors.

And yet it is only ~20% faster in most cases. The 9600GT is an amazing card, and it uses no more power than a standard 60W light globe.

 

[englandr753]

Your right, Im amazed totally. Im thinking more and more every day I should put my two 8800GTX ANS3 cards on ebay and go to lower powered video cards. The heat coming out of the back of my case is unbearable in the summer!

 

[WR2]

I am not really a gamer. mainly i am going to play with Linux and vmware (XP)

You've picked a VERY expensive way to play around with Linux and VMware. $1000 worth of CPUs, $300 motherboard and $300-$400? of FBDIMM RAM.
An inexpensive dual core or quad core CPU would do just as well as the server setup if all you plan to do is learn how to run VMware and gain experience running LINUX systems. In fact an ideal way to learn about host AND guest vmware would be to have two PCs networked in your project. You could easily cut the cost by half (and more) and still "play with Linux and vmware"

 

[randomizer]

My 9600GT (a gainward because they ran out of xpertvision) runs under 60C for the most part, and the fan never goes over ~40%. It is cool and silent.

 

[TheStupid]

the CPU would be about $270 (i'll only install 1 of them for now) and memory is $90.

The standing total right now is $1100. I do need a faster computer. my current one is 4.5 years old.

You've picked a VERY expensive way to play around with Linux and VMware. $1000 worth of CPUs, $300 motherboard and $300-$400? of FBDIMM RAM.
An inexpensive dual core or quad core CPU would do just as well as the server setup if all you plan to do is learn how to run VMware and gain experience running LINUX systems. In fact an ideal way to learn about host AND guest vmware would be to have two PCs networked in your project. You could easily cut the cost by half (and more) and still "play with Linux and vmware"

 

[dagger]

And yet it is only ~20% faster in most cases. The 9600GT is an amazing card, and it uses no more power than a standard 60W light globe.

It's a lot more than just 20%, in all cases. See benchmarks.
http://www.guru3d.com/category/vga_2/

G92 8800gts is a high level card of the g90s generation, while g92 9600gt is a medium level card of the same g90s generation. It performs about the same as the high level card of the previous g80s generation (g80 8800gts), and a lot better than the medium level card of the g80s generation (8600gts). Which is still rather impressive, all things considering. Doesn't get it into the same league as g92 cards though (g92 8800gts, g92 9800gtx).

 

[randomizer]

I must have been thinking of the 8800GT then, where it is rather close considering the SP count difference.