I want to put together a 64-bit Linux server system using AMD chips (I'm assuming that would give maximum bang for the buck). I guess I could run Fedora Core 4 x64 version with multiple CPUs. What do you all think? Is FC4 a good choice? Is there another Linux distro that can use the 64-bit system? For information about CPUs, someone directed me here: > Here is a very good site to look at for AMD Opteron chips. It has a list > of all current AMD Opteron chips, single- and dual-core, 130nm and 90nm > processes, 1-way, 2-way, and 8-way CPUs. > > http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_8796_9240,00.html It is an excellent site. Also, they have links to useful performance benchmarks. I guess what I'm seeing is basically what I'd expect -- the dual cores are faster than single cores, but not twice as fast. The dual cores cost more than twice as much as the single cores. But the 4-socket mobo costs a lot more than the 2-socket mobo, so there is some trade off as you go up the price ladder by adding more CPUs to your machine. Here are some numbers for 8xx processors (up to eight per mobo): Processor Speed core price (pricewatch.com) --------- ------ ------ ----- Model 852 2.6GHz single $1350 Model 850 2.4GHz single $1100 Model 848 2.2GHz single $ 847 Model 875 2.2GHz dual $2350 Model 846 2.0GHz single $ 623 Model 870 2.0GHz dual $2155 Model 844 1.8GHz single $ 690 Model 865 1.8GHz dual $1520 The 846 at only $615 + S/H is a steal. Here are some numbers for 2xx processors (up to two per mobo): Processor Speed core price (pricewatch.com) --------- ------ ------ ----- Model 248 2.2GHz single $ 349 Model 275 2.2GHz dual $ 856 Model 246 2.0GHz single $ 225 Model 270 2.0GHz dual $ 856 Model 244 1.8GHz single $ 194 Model 265 1.8GHz dual $ 855 A Tyan S4882 Thunder K8QS Pro Motherboard with four Opteron 846 single-core CPUs would cost about $3642 (4 x $623 + $1150). But a Tyan S2881G2NR Dual Socket 940 Opteron Motherboard with two Opteron 275 dual-core CPUs would probably be about 90% as fast (60-70% faster per cpu for the dual cores and 10% more for the faster clock rate), but it would cost only $2162 (2 x $856 + $450). Interesting. I'll have to check to see how much money I can afford to blow on this. For 8-socket boards, it looks like Tyan Thunder K8QW (S4881) is out, but you seem to need to put two of them together to get 8 sockets, so I think we're talking about $3800 or so just for the mobo for 8-sockets. Hmmm... the more I think about it, the better the two dual-cores at 2.2 GHz for about $2200 is looking. After that you start to pay a lot more to get a little improvement. Any tips on this stuff would be greatly appreciated. Are any of you running a 64-bit Linux OS on a multi-processor Opteron machine? Thanks in advance for any ideas you can share. Best, Mike -- Michael B. Miller, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Division of Epidemiology and Community Health and Institute of Human Genetics University of Minnesota http://taxa.epi.umn.edu/~mbmiller/