Xeon X5650 VS E5620 VS i7 980X

Hello!
I've been searching the web in order to make a decision about which is going to be my next systems to work with CAD
programs like 3Ds Max 2011 and AutoCAD 2011.

I asked my local dealer to provide me an offer, and this is what he came up with:

2 Processors - Intel® Xeon® Processor E5620

Case + PSU - Intel® Workstation Chassis SC5650WS

Motherboard - Intel® Workstation Board S5520SC - Shady Cove

2 Coolers - Intel BXSTS100A Thermal Solution Processor Cooler

6 Memory sticks - Kingston 2GB 1333MHZ DDR3 ECC REG W/PARITY C L9 DIMM

HDD - Western Digital 1TB 7200RPM 64MB Black

All of these for 3361$
Seems not bad config to me.

Then, I found out the i7 980X can kick the sheep of him.
Then, I heard of the Xeon X5650 for 1000$ each.

I wander than, which config will suite me the best for CAD purposes?
Will it be:
i7 980X system.
DUAL Xeon E5620 system. (mentioned above)
SINGLE Xeon X5650 system. (in option for a future upgrade)

What do you think?
(exept for the price, in my country hardware is very expensive)

P.S
I already have a Quadro 4000 so I don't need another GPU.

i7-980x system is my choice..

" That's because Nehalem (Core i7) features Hyper-threading, which converts one core into two threads - 1 physical, and 1 logical.
Hyper-threading simply takes the unused portion of the core, and spin off a logical core off it. Therefore OS actually detects the CPU as 8 "cores".
So in essence, it was an 8 thread machine vs. an 8 thread machine.
As for comparing between Core i7 and Core 2s, it really depends on the programs you are going to run.
If you're going to run games, chances are you won't see a big improvement.
However if you run CPU-intensive applications such as AutoCAD, or rendering programs, you'll see a significant improvement.
Now, if you're really considering multi-socket computers, then you should really take a look at Gainestown - Core i7's server part. "

Also now if you'll need more than 16GB of RAM then maybe Xeon is that way to go
and this thread supports the Xeon's case:
http://www.overclock.net/general-p [...] xeons.html

FYI
as for the rest of the hardware, I'd take a lower latency RAM, CL7 or CL8 for better performance.
and then think about adding SSD, just my opinion.
Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB and not the WD 1TB for better HDD as well.

it was actually a copy and paste that's why the quotations.
I do see your point.
Thanks..

http://bit.ly/fCnrvs ?
Seems that the dual 5600 series out benchmarks i7s to me. I'm gonna go on a limb but.... 12c/24t > 6c/12t ?

EDIT: Also the rig at my office which is essentially the same as the one I'm suggesting has no performance issues due to two CPUs communicating to each other. That's a load of crap. @24Gb of ram that unit never goes over 48% memory even with heavy calculations.