Which is better for mutiple video playback? Xeon server CPU vs Desktop Core I7 4770k types?

[Technogear]

Hi,
I want to build a new desktop.
This will be for
1) Regular desktop work,
2) Video editing,
3) Gaming,
4) and more importantly I would like to play several 1080p videos at once.

I have SSds so the hard drive speed isn't a problem and 2 30" LCDs. But my processor can't keep up. Its a Core i3 530 (bought this when I didn't have a lot of cash).

I got some money now to spend, so cash isn't a problem.
So I thought I would get a new Motherboard and CPU and RAM.
I was looking around and I saw the Xeon's have 10 cores (20 threads) and 30MB cashe!!
I can figure out the RAM but I have no clue about the Xeons.

I looked at the following on Intel's website

http://ark.intel.com/products/family/59139

Many people say the regualr desktop i7s (4770k) are best for gaming and Xeons are not good for gaming.
So my questions are;

The Intel Xeon E7 8870 has 10 cores (20 threads), 30 Mb cashe and can be bought for ~$ 1000 - 2000 ( I can find some deals but cash isn't a problem for me).
I was also thinking of the sandy bridge and Haswell Xeons coming out.
Haswell 4770K is about $350.

Since the Xeons have 6-10 cores and 30 MB cashe, will I see a a huge difference between the these 2 processors (or between a Intel Xeon and a Desktop processor)
1) When playing multiple 1080p videos (6-7 vids) at the same time?
2) Video editing?
3) Compression depcompression?
4) Coding and decoding vids?
5) And to a lesser extent gamning? They run at the same speed so and games can't use more than one core so I guess that wouldn't be much of an improvement.

Thanks

 

[Technogear]

Hi,
It me technogear again.
When I said Xeon above I meant the following processor.
6500/7500-series "Beckton" or Nehalem
LGA 1567
Xeon 65xx (DP)
Xeon 75xx (MP)
Beckton or Nehalem-EX (EXpandable server market) is a Nehalem-based processor with up to eight cores and uses buffering inside the chipset to support up to 16 standard DDR3 DIMMS per CPU socket without requiring the use of FB-DIMMS.[23] Unlike all previous Xeon MP processors, Nehalem-EX uses the new LGA 1567 package.

The "X7560" has 8 cores and 16 threads and 24 MB cache.
So which one is good for playing multiple 1080p videos at the same time? X7560 or 4770k?

 

[Technogear]

How about the Socket LGA 2011 E5 Sandy bridge processors listed here?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGA_2011
Will they beat the 4770k at multiple (8+ vids ) HD video playback?

 

[bambiboom]

Technogear,

The value of Xeon CPU's in your intended multiple video playback / editing, and gaming is that it will provide floating point precision, additional PCIe lanes > which equals more more slots, memory bandwidth, and more memory controllers which equals RAM capacity. You didn't mention the editing software you use, but most of the tasks you mention, are GPU dependent rather than CPU dependent and after the point the more cores allows more PCIe slots and systems RAM, there is not going to be great advantages. If there is rendering of animation frames or heavy effects processing then all the available cores / threads can can be used. Games are mostly single threaded and depend on high CPU clock speeds and massive GPU power. Xeons are sometimes said to be less competent at gaming, but the reason is probably that they are often running lower clock speeds with ECC error correcting RAM that has a higher latency due tot the error correction, and mostly, that Xeons are used with Quadro or Firepro workstation cards which are also error correcting memory- that how those get the shadows and color gradients and high anti-aliasing. Workstation cards render each frame fully in high precision whereas gaming cards concentrate on high frame rates.

If you can buy Xeon E7 8870's which can be used in up to 8X CPU configurations for $1,000- $2,000, I would say that's such an astounding bargain I've never seen these sold under $4,500) that it might be worth trying to build a system around those. However, as impressive as they are for certain tasks> those that can use the ten cores, they are 2.4 / 2.8GHz and the clock speed is not optimal, and as your applications won't be utilizing the cores, I would say you're better off with dual Xeons with fewer cores, but at a higher clock speed. For this, you might consider >

_____________________________________________________________________________

BambiBoom PixelCannon Supervideologica II™?™©®©$_ REV 7.6.13

1. (2) Xeon E5-2643 Sandy Bridge-EP 3.3GHz (3.5GHz Turbo Boost) 10MB L3 Cache LGA 2011 130W Quad-Core Server Processor 94Y7465 $2,990 ($1,496 each) 8 cores / 16 threads.

http://ark.intel.com/products/64587/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E5-2643-10M-Cache-3_30-GHz-8_00-GTs-Intel-QPI?q=Xeon%20E5-2643

2. (2) Noctua NH-U12S 120x120x25 ( NF-F12 PWM) SSO2-Bearing ( Self-stabilizing oil-pressure bearing ) CPU Cooler > $140 ($70 each)

3. SUPERMICRO MBD-X9DAi-O Extended ATX Server Motherboard Dual LGA 2011 DDR3 > $490

a. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
b. http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/xeon/c60...
c. 16GB ECC registered 1600 compatible memory > http://www.supermicro.com/support/resources/memory/disp...
i. A 16GB Samsung module from the compatible list > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... ($180 each X4= $770 for 64GB, 8X= $1,440 for 128GB)

4. 128GB (8 X 16GB) DDR3- 1600 ECC RAM $1,440 ($180 each)

5. (2) PNY VCQ6000-PB Quadro 6000 6GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Workstation Video Card $7,316 ($3,658.ea) The Quadro 6000 was designed, to be the best video editing GPU ever- fantastic performance in AVID, Pro Tools Vid, Premiere, etc.

6. SAMSUNG 840 Pro Series MZ-7PD512BW 2.5" 512GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) > $520

7. (3) Western Digital WD Black WD4001FAEX 4TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive > $870 ($290 each) (RAID 5) (Active files, backup, system image)

8. RME HDSPe RayDAT Multi-channel PCIe Interface with ADAT, S/PDIF, S/MUX, AES/EBU, and MIDI I/O > $949

9. SeaSonic X-1250 1250W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS GOLD Certified Full Modular Active PFC Power Supply > $254.99

10. LIAN LI PC-D8000 Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case $331.99

11. (2) LG Black 16X BD-R 2X BD-RE 16X DVD+R 5X DVD-RAM 12X BD-ROM 4MB Cache SATA 14X Blu-ray BDXL Internal Rewriter BH16NS40 $240 ($120 each)

12. NZXT Sentry-2 5.25" Touch Screen Fan Controller > $28.

13. Microsoft Windows 8 Ultimate 64-bit (Full Version) - OEM $190

_______________________________

TOTAL = $15,810

_______________________________

Just for Reference >

Suggested monitors>

(3) ASUS PQ321Q Black 31.5" 8ms (GTG) HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor 4K 350 cd/m2 Built-in Speakers $10,500 ($3,500 each)

Suggested sound monitoring system >

I would budget for an 8 channel preamp/ mixer, amplification, speakers, and cables, > $12,000

TOTAL System > $38,300

______________________________________________
______________________________________________


That ought to do the job! Besides studio video editing, this system also would be very good at the most demanding high calculation density requirements > Mathematical, astrophysical, 2D and 3D dynamic CAD modeling and animation, molecular biology, static and dynamic structural, vector analysis, animation, particle, fluid, mechanical, and thermal simulation, rendering, graphic design.

Another approach that's much less costly is to buy a used workstation >

> Dell Precision T7500 with 2X Xeon X5680 3.33 / 3.6 GHz 6-core / 12 Thread CPU's. That gives you a total of 12 cores / 24 threads for effects / rendering. these are more often seen with 1 X5680 at about $1,400 -1,800 and it costs about another $1,000 to add a second x5680, which requires a CPU / memory / fan riser. Bring that up to 32GB RAM (DDR 3 ECC 1333) and add either a (used) Quadro FX 5800 (4GB) or Quadro 6000 (6GB) (video editing, rendering, effects). Both these cards were deigned for video editing. An FX 5800 now (7.13) is about $400 and a 6000 is about $1,400. This system would be also be very good for graphics, design, 2D and 3D CAD,

If this is higher performance than necessary, of course, it's possible to work out something more appropriate. If you list the programs you use and typical file size, degree of video effects processing, and etc. that would help focus the priorities.


Cheers,

BambiBoom

[ Dell Precision T5400 > 2X Xeon X5460 quad core @3.16GHz > 16 GB ECC > Quadro FX 4800 (1.5GB) > WD RE4 / Segt Brcda 500GB > Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit > AutoCad, Revit, Solidworks 2010, Sketchup Pro, Corel Technical Designer, Adobe CS4 MC, WordP Office, MS Office ]