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Mac Pro Suitable Xeon (Nehalem) Processors Due March 29th

polaris20 said:
I don't recall ever saying Apple is entitled to blind loyalty, as I'm sure not blindly loyal to them. I can switch at any time, as I realize a computer is a tool, not a lifestyle.
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Yes, it is a tool and if possible I would like to avoid replacing all my drill bits (read software) if entirely possible. I would rather my company to make a more modern version of that drill (read computer) or let another company do it for them if they're no longer interested in that market.
 
BenRoethig said:
Yes, it is a tool and if possible I would like to avoid replacing all my drill bits (read software) if entirely possible. I would rather my company to make a more modern version of that drill (read computer) or let another company do it for them if they're no longer interested in that market.
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Unfortunately that's a risk you take when you put all your eggs in one basket for your business. With Linux and Windows, you can buy whatever PC imaginable and never run into this issue.

I realized this risk, and bought into Apple anyway, because I prefer OS X. But it's not impossible to replace all my drill bits on the next replacement cycle.
 
I'm surprised this thread is still going. Well not much to add other than it would be nice if that update came sooner. I still need/want a better video card for OSX than a 8800GT.
 
Consumer/Professional is little more than marketing.

Core i7: Nehalem core with 1 QPI link and ECC memory disabled
Xeon 3500: Nehalem core with 1 QPI link and ECC memory enabled
Xeon 5500: Nehalem core with 2 QPI links (for dual CPUs) and ECC memory enabled

What difference in performance will you see from these chips in a single CPU setting? Absolutely none. They have the same core with the same chipset and can all use standard DDR3 DIMMs.
 
BenRoethig said:
Consumer/Professional is little more than marketing.

Core i7: Nehalem core with 1 QPI link and ECC memory disabled
Xeon 3500: Nehalem core with 1 QPI link and ECC memory enabled
Xeon 5500: Nehalem core with 2 QPI links (for dual CPUs) and ECC memory enabled

What difference in performance will you see from these chips in a single CPU setting? Absolutely none. They have the same core with the same chipset and can all use standard DDR3 DIMMs.
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The problem is that the i7 and Xeon, regardless of how identical they are, will take different motherboards due to the memory and socket count, which is why they probably don't want an i7-based MP......more stuff to stock.
 
polaris20 said:
The problem is that the i7 and Xeon, regardless of how identical they are, will take different motherboards due to the memory and socket count, which is why they probably don't want an i7-based MP......more stuff to stock.
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Same x58 motherboard (in both single and dual socket versions), same 1366-pin socket, same DDR3 (not FB-DIMM) memory (3500 and 5500-series Xeons support both ECC and desktop standard off the shelf non-ECC memory). There is no special socket, no dedicated chipset, and no special FB-DIMM memory. With this cycle at least, its very close to the situation we had with the G4/5s.
 
BenRoethig said:
Same x58 motherboard (in both single and dual socket versions), same 1366-pin socket, same DDR3 (not FB-DIMM) memory (3500 and 5500-series Xeons support both ECC and desktop standard off the shelf non-ECC memory). There is no special socket, no dedicated chipset, and no special memory. With this cycle at least, its very close to the situation we had with the G4/5s.
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Exactly. :)

Even i7 boards can run W3500 series parts. The ECC functionality is Enabled/Disabled via firmware, if included. (Asus 6P6T WS Revolution comes to mind). It will run either (i7 or W35xx), and enables the ECC functionality if the W3500 series part is detected. If it isn't, it will still run it, but not with ECC function (assuming ECC DDR3 is installed).

Rather simple this time. ;) Choose SP or DP according to need, then from the specific features available on either type. It's sort of nice to be able to use the same mainboard as a desktop or workstation (ECC), SP system. Easier on board makers too, I would think. Fewer models to produce (tooling wise, at least).
 
BenRoethig said:
Same x58 motherboard (in both single and dual socket versions), same 1366-pin socket, same DDR3 (not FB-DIMM) memory (3500 and 5500-series Xeons support both ECC and desktop standard off the shelf non-ECC memory). There is no special socket, no dedicated chipset, and no special FB-DIMM memory. With this cycle at least, its very close to the situation we had with the G4/5s.
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Interesting. That wasn't always the case, with consumer to "pro" lines with Intel.
 
polaris20 said:
Interesting. That wasn't always the case, with consumer to "pro" lines with Intel.
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That has been the case at least since the first desktop C2D.

S3200SH Intel® Server Board Multi-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 3200 and 3000 series, Intel® Core™2 Quad desktop processors, Intel® Core™2 Duo desktop processors DDR2/4/8GB Pedestal Single

X38ML Intel® Server Board Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, Intel® Core™2 Quad processor, Intel® Core™2 Extreme dual-core processor, Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core processor, Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 3200 series DDR2/4/8GB Rack-Optimized Single

Even the QPI/nehalem technology is just a continuation of this "trend". Nothing new here.

Xeon 3000 series = 65nm desktop Core 2 Duo
Xeon 3100 series = 45nm desktop Core 2 Duo
Xeon 3200 series = 65nm desktop Core 2 Quad
Xeon 3300 series = 45nm desktop Core 2 Quad
Same socket, same specs, same price, same price cuts.
Xeon 3500 series = 45nm desktop Core i7
 
mjteix said:
That has been the case at least since the first desktop C2D.

S3200SH Intel® Server Board Multi-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor 3200 and 3000 series, Intel® Core™2 Quad desktop processors, Intel® Core™2 Duo desktop processors DDR2/4/8GB Pedestal Single

X38ML Intel® Server Board Intel® Core™2 Duo processor, Intel® Core™2 Quad processor, Intel® Core™2 Extreme dual-core processor, Intel® Core™2 Extreme quad-core processor, Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® processor 3200 series DDR2/4/8GB Rack-Optimized Single

Even the QPI/nehalem technology is just a continuation of this "trend". Nothing new here.

Xeon 3000 series = 65nm desktop Core 2 Duo
Xeon 3100 series = 45nm desktop Core 2 Duo
Xeon 3200 series = 65nm desktop Core 2 Quad
Xeon 3300 series = 45nm desktop Core 2 Quad
Same socket, same specs, same price, same price cuts.
Xeon 3500 series = 45nm desktop Core i7
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Um, in this case the only Xeon platform that has a different pin count is the EX (4 way). All the others share CPU's meaning the only difference between the i7 965 and the W5580 is the QPI and the ECC support. In theory you could run a W5580 in an i7 mobo (assuming the CPU doesn't require the second QPI to be connected to something).

With Core 2 the sockets were different between the single socket and multi socket configurations.
 
diamond.g said:
Um, in this case the only Xeon platform that has a different pin count is the EX (4 way). All the others share CPU's meaning the only difference between the i7 965 and the W5580 is the QPI and the ECC support. In theory you could run a W5580 in an i7 mobo (assuming the CPU doesn't require the second QPI to be connected to something).

With Core 2 the sockets were different between the single socket and multi socket configurations.
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Exactly. You're referring to the LGA775 socket that is shared between Core 2 and Xeon 3X00 series, among others, and the Xeon 5X00 series that uses LGA771 socket and the 7400 series that uses Socket 604. That's 3 sockets compared to 2 sockets with the current version of Nehalem. When Lynnfield comes out we'll have a new socket but that's a whole other story.
 
diamond.g said:
Um, in this case the only Xeon platform that has a different pin count is the EX (4 way). All the others share CPU's meaning the only difference between the i7 965 and the W5580 is the QPI and the ECC support. In theory you could run a W5580 in an i7 mobo (assuming the CPU doesn't require the second QPI to be connected to something).

With Core 2 the sockets were different between the single socket and multi socket configurations.
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it doesn't. QPI links are "smart" shut down if they're not connected.
 
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