what mobo + cpu for building a quadcore system ?

I want to build a quadcore cpu system, not really sure what mobo, cpu
is out there to build one. Currently I have a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual
core chip cpu on an ASUS A8N-SLI mobo. I need more power and memory
(digital art) so I want to build a quadcore system with 8GB or more of
RAM. SLI would be nice but perhaps not needed since the renderings
will almost always be 2D not 3D. Can anybody help me or point me to a
mobo and cpu combo? I generally prefer AMD but would consider Intel
if that is the route I need to go.

beowulf@nowhere.net wrote:
> I want to build a quadcore cpu system, not really sure what mobo, cpu
> is out there to build one. Currently I have a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual
> core chip cpu on an ASUS A8N-SLI mobo. I need more power and memory
> (digital art) so I want to build a quadcore system with 8GB or more of
> RAM. SLI would be nice but perhaps not needed since the renderings
> will almost always be 2D not 3D. Can anybody help me or point me to a
> mobo and cpu combo? I generally prefer AMD but would consider Intel
> if that is the route I need to go.
>

For AMD, you could go the "4x4" route. That is, two dual core processors
on a 12" x 10.5" motherboard (bigger than normal). Either that, or an
AMD server board of some sort with Opterons on it.

ASUS L1N64-SLI WS Dual Socket L (Socket 1207FX)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131146
http://www.asus.com.tw/products4.asp...36&l3=486&l4=0

Athlon 64 FX-70(DI) 1MBX2, rev.F3, 125W, Socket F
Athlon 64 FX-72(DI) 1MBX2, rev.F3, 125W, Socket F
Athlon 64 FX-74(DI) 1MBX2, rev.F3, 125W, Socket F

The FX-74 is $370, a bit of price drop since its introduction.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103866

For comparison, you could get a Core2 Duo LGA775 motherboard,
and put a quad core in it, and 4x2GB of memory.

The QX6700 ($968) and QX6800 ($1345) here are quad core.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ProcFam=2559

The Q6600 ($480) here is quad core also.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/List.aspx?ProcFam=2774

A motherboard for the QX6800, the P5B-Plus VISTA Edition
(motherboard appears identical to P5B-Plus, but P5B-Plus is
not listed as supporting QX6800 for some reason)

http://www.asus.com.tw/999/images/pr...520/1520_l.jpg
http://www.asus.com.tw/products4.asp...11&l3=307&l4=0

So quite a price range, depending on your budget.

For this kind of bleeding edge stuff, try this forum.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...ghlight=qx6800

They have a search engine.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/search.php

Paul

On Jul 9, 4:34 pm, Paul <nos...@needed.com> wrote:
> For AMD, you could go the "4x4" route. That is, two dual core processors
> on a 12" x 10.5" motherboard (bigger than normal). Either that, or an
> AMD server board of some sort with Opterons on it.
....[snipped]

Awesome info Paul, thank you very much!
~Beowulf