Currently I have Dual Xeon 5140 processors with 8 GB and Nvidia FX3450/4000. I do primarily nonlinear analysis on this computer which takes anywhere from 6 to 20 hours depending on the part/geometry.
I am looking into buying new system. Just wanted recommendation between i7-970 vs. Xeon X5677. Considering I have same ram and video card, which processor is better for Cosmos. I do not run any other programs on this computer.
Please provide some feedback.
Thank you,
-KK
Thank you for the response.
How about i7-960 or i7-980X vs. i7-970. Which one is best suitable for SW/Cosmos?
-KK
I have seen benchmarks that say the 970 is actually faster than the 980x in some instances (http://cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html). I do not know how those are really calculated, though. I believe those are self-reported data, so people could be overclocking to skew results. Typical reviews show the 980x to be faster, but only barely, and it is $100 more. Here is a more rigourus benchmark, with a similar application (smaller number is better): http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/Image-Rendering-3DS-Max-2010,2420.html
The 960 is only 4 cores. I'm not sure how much Simulation will really use those last two cores, but there is a potential. I would consider it a fairly safe investment to spend the extra few hundred dollars on either the 970 or the 980x. Here is as comparison of those two chips with all the benchmarks tom's hardware has run: http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/compare,2420.html?prod[4474]=on&prod[4471]=onhttp://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-cpu-charts-2010/compare,2420.html?prod[4474]=on&prod[4471]=on&prod[4470]=on
Do NOT get a single X5677 chip. That chip is designed for dual processor motherboards. If you want to buy TWO of them, and a dual socket motherboard, that will work (and will be very expensive).
Consider either the Core i7 970 (outstanding choice), or a Xeon W3670 or W3680. The W2670 is basically the same chip as the Core i7 970.
A single Core i7 970 will run $800. The Xeon W3670 will be about the same, although buying the ECC RAM that goes along with it will be a bit more expensive. Each of these as 6 cores, and is faster than a single X5677.
Two X5677 chips will cost over $3000, and each chip only has 4 cores (so 8 cores total). Each core is relatively the same speed as the i7 970.
Those are the facts. My opinion is to stick with a single Core i7 970.
*Edit:
Also, I have a 3450, and it is an AGP card. If yours is also an AGP card, you may need a new video card because almost all new motherboards are PCIe only. Consider an ATI FirePro v4800.