Getting back into a dually....Need opinions

jtlee75

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Joined

Mar 19, 2002

Location

South Carolina

• Feb 28, 2006

• #1

Mobo-K8N-DRE

Ram-PQI Odered 2 but I am gonna add 2 more in a couple weeks

Case-cheap case

I am using 2 opty 240's for now and will change over to dual core opterons as the need arises. Also have an ATI X700pro if I need it. Gonna be a dedicted game server.

On a real tight budget for this as I am unemployed at the moment. This sound like a decent setup to get back into smp?

 

infinitevalence

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Nov 14, 2002

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Nashville

• Feb 28, 2006

• #2

depends on if you want a server or a workstation. Thats a server board, i like the Tyan K8W-E as a workstation board. If your going Asus then try the K8N-DL because it has a real GFX slot. MSI also makes a board i have not tried but looks interesting http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K8N_Master2-FAR&class=mb

 

OP

jtlee75

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Joined

Mar 19, 2002

Location

South Carolina

• Feb 28, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #3

the K8N-DRE has a pci express x16.. Isn't that a real graphics slot. And I got it for $130.

 

infinitevalence

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Nov 14, 2002

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Nashville

• Feb 28, 2006

• #4

must have missed that

 

Vengance_01

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Oct 2, 2001

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Corona, CA

• Mar 5, 2006

• #5

Are you planning to go Quad cores, Dual dual cores? If not just get a cheap Opteron 165, and a cheap NF4 board.

 

OP

jtlee75

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Joined

Mar 19, 2002

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South Carolina

• Mar 5, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #6

dual dual cores is the way for a future upgrade. I already had the 2-240's that I am starting out with. Got the mobo for $160 with full warrenty so I can't really complain. The lack of expansion slots may come to be an issue later but I don't really think so. Got the ram, cpu's, case, and stuff already. Mobo should be here mon.-Tues. so I can test everything.

 

B

blossa

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Mar 10, 2006

• Mar 10, 2006

• #7

I have the K8N-DRE and is using Linux (Gentoo). There is no problems getting the board up'n'running. The only 'issue' I have is the overclocking options. I am close to a n00b about overclocking, but I can't find much in BIOS to overclock with... It would be nice to atleast be able to change the FSB...
Also, the only tool I have found for overclocking nForce4-chips in Linux does not seem to support my old Opterons (2x242 step.CG(?)).

 

Last edited: Mar 10, 2006

OP

jtlee75

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Joined

Mar 19, 2002

Location

South Carolina

• Mar 10, 2006

• Thread Starter
• #8

well. Finished getting the last few items today. About to start the build now. Going to run Gentoo on it for now and try to learn a little about linux. I may be visiting the other os section SOON. lol

 

infinitevalence

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Nov 14, 2002

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• Mar 10, 2006

• #9

Just keep the guide book open, it is they best install documentation for any linux distro i have ever read.

 

B

blossa

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Mar 10, 2006

• Mar 11, 2006

• #10

When installing Gentoo I had some problems getting SATA to work. The reason for that was that I thought I should use a nvidia SATA-driver in the kernel. I then installed all of them (about 10-15) and Gentoo got started. I have not looked into wich of the drivers that I should really use...