Are FB-DIMMS required for the Cloverton Xeon ?

[ender78]

I know that the MacPro requires FB-DIMMS in its current form. Howerver, I can't remember if one can run the Cloverton with non FB-DIMMs. I am looking at picking up a MacPro in the new year but the price of memory is putting me off.

[Sun Baked]

The Mac Pro and XServe are using the Intel 5000 Series chipset, which is a workstation/server level chipset -- not a desktop chipset.

It is the workstation chipset requiring the FB-DIMMs, not the CPU.

Likely and future Mac Pro/XServe will keep using workstation/server level chipsets, so wherever Intel goes for memory tech -- these machines will follow.

[SMM]

The Mac Pro and XServe are using the Intel 5000 Series chipset, which is a workstation/server level chipset -- not a desktop chipset.

It is the workstation chipset requiring the FB-DIMMs, not the CPU.

Likely and future Mac Pro/XServe will keep using workstation/server level chipsets, so wherever Intel goes for memory tech -- these machines will follow.

I have not had the time to study the chipset & memory. Is this technology worth the heavy dent it has made in my wallet? I am running my MP underpowered right now (2GB), waiting for the price to go down some more.

[Sun Baked]

I have not had the time to study the chipset & memory. Is this technology worth the heavy dent it has made in my wallet? I am running my MP underpowered right now (2GB), waiting for the price to go down some more.

Right now, yes.

If you need a Mac with a lot of memory 16-32GB it is your only choice.

However, because it is server/workstation memory -- and not a high volume solution -- it'll always be pricey.

Right now your choice is a laptop variant chipset with 3GB, or a workstation.

There is no middle ground premium or low end desktop chipset based Mac. Not really a lot of choice.

[SMM]

Right now, yes.

If you need a Mac with a lot of memory 16-32GB it is your only choice.

However, because it is server/workstation memory -- and not a high volume solution -- it'll always be pricey.

Right now your choice is a laptop variant chipset with 3GB, or a workstation.

There is no middle ground premium or low end desktop chipset based Mac. Not really a lot of choice.

Thanks. Well, it is not like I did not know this going in, and it was not a deal-killer. I am kicking around getting a Clovertown. But, another voice inside me is saying, "Wait until Spring-Summer".

I probably can only justify one additional CPU purchase for a couple years. I already have a 2.66 quad, a G5 quad and a G5 dual. I am hoping the next release of FCS will make better use of this horsepower. Regardless, I am not feeling pressured to make a quick decision. I do not see Clovertown as a revolutionary product, more evolutionary.

Do you have any feel for the timing of a better bus design? If recent news has been released, then I missed it. Below is a link to a story I read almost two years ago. It is on-point of what I am wondering about.

http://www.us.design-reuse.com/exit/?url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/04/12/16/HNintelbus_1.html

[Catfish_Man]

The article is referring to Intel's "CSI" bus (common system interconnect). I haven't looked into it recently, but last I checked it was meeting mostly skepticism due to delays.