Will Vegas use duel (single core) 3GHz Xeon CPU's?

will-3 wrote on 6/14/2010, 7:53 PM

I've come upon posession of an IBM Xseries 236 Server.
Model 8841E1U

- It has two 3GHz Xeon Irwindale processors in it. The Irndale Xeon are single core processors.
- So the software must be smart enough to use two physically different processors.

This unit is in perfect condition, extreamly well built, and has 5 hot swap hard drive bay's. (Spec's at end of this posting)

My question is this. If I install Windows 7 Pro 64-bit on it... and put Vegas 9 on it with several GB of ram (it will take up to 16GB in 8 slots)... will Vegas 9 take advantage of the duel processors?

I would still have to spend some money to get this thing setup like I want but the first question is will Vegas 9 use both processors so it works like a single dual core 3GHz 64-bit machine?

Thanks for any help.

Specs for the machine:

Product MPN
MPN: 8841E1U

Key Features

Form Factor: Tower
Processor: Xeon 3 GHz
Processors Qty.: 1
Controller Type: SCSI Ultra320 (Dual Channel) x 1
Installed Memory: 2 GB (DDR2 SDRAM)
Platform: PC

Processor
Processor Manufacturer: Intel
Processor Type: Xeon
Processor Speed: 3 GHz
Installed Qty: 1
Max Supported Qty: 2
Processor Upgradability: Upgradable

Memory
Installed RAM: 2 GB
RAM Technology: DDR2 SDRAM
Maximum RAM: 16 GB
Number of Memory Slots: 8 x 240 Pin DIMMs
Supported RAM speeds: 400 MHz

Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity: 73.4 GB
Maximum Storage Capacity: 1300 GB
Hard Drive Interface: SCSI Ultra320

Networking
Networking Type: 10/100/1000 Network Adapters x 2
Data Link Protocol: Ethernet · Fast Ethernet · Gigabit Ethernet

Technical Features
Hot Swap Components: Power Supply · Hard Disk Drives · PCI-X Adapters
Security Features: Power-On Password · Administrator Password · Selectable Boot · Unattended Start-up · Lockable Front Door
Integrated Input/Output Ports: USB 2.0 x 3 · Serial Port x 2 · RJ45 Lan Port x 2 · PS/2 Mouse x 1 · PS/2 Keyboard x 1 · Parallel Port (ECP/EPP/SPP) x 1 · Floppy Port x 1
Motherboard
Installed L2 Cache Memory: 2 MB
Chipset: Intel E7525
Video Output Interface: PCI

CD / DVD
CD / DVD Type: CD-ROM
Read Speed: 48x (CD)

Other Drives
Floppy Type: 3.5" 1.44 MB floppy

Audio / Video
Max. Video Resolution: 2048 x 1536
Installed Video Memory: 8 MB

Other Features
Expansion Bays: 3 x 5.25" Half-Height (External Access) · 1 x 3.5" Third-Height (External Access) · 6 x 1" Hot-swap Ultra320/160 SCSI
Power Supply: Hot Plug · Redundant
Power Supply Output: 670 Watt
Power Configurations: Wake On LAN Header
Expansion Slots: PCI x 1 · PCI Express x8 x 2 · PCI-X 64 Bit (133 MHz) Full Height, Full Length x 1 · PCI-X 64 Bit (100 MHz) Full Height, Full Length x 2
: Hyper Thread Technology Ready
Fans: 6 x Fans

More Information
Details: The IBM eserver xSeries 236 delivers a self-contained solution with superior power and availability needed by small businesses and those with branch or remote locations. The x236 supports the latest Intel processors to help provide customers with the computing power they need to match their business needs and growth. Inside its 5U tower design based on the new IBM Extended Design Architecture initiative, the x236 offers impressive scalability. Coupled with improved integration of availability and manageability features, the x236 provides the ultimate balance of high-performance, high availability and vast internal storage.

Comments

ritsmer wrote on 6/14/2010, 11:29 PM

I have a 2 x Xeon Quads - and Vegas uses all 8 physical cores - and up to 100 percent - so guess it will use both Xeons on your machine too.

will-3 wrote on 6/15/2010, 4:32 AM

I see your running a Mac... right?

This is a PC. I don't know if that will make a difference.

Wonder if anyone else here has...
1 - run Vegas on a dual processor PC...
2 - or on any PC running a single or dual Xeon processors?
3 - or has heard of any issues pro or con about doing so.

ritsmer wrote on 6/15/2010, 5:46 AM

But a Mac Pro *IS* an Intel PC :-)
If not so Vegas could not run on it.

The Mac Pro is so Intel PC Genuine that you can install Windows 7 on it - directly without any Bootcamp, Parallels etc.

Your dual processor machine will work and Vegas will use both processors - however it will "only" be a dual-core machine and the single-core Xeons were not significantly faster than "normal" processors at that time - so expect no miracles as to speed.

Also check the alternative: a new "small" quad-core machine.

kkolbo wrote on 6/15/2010, 9:05 AM

This is just my opinion and i am not an expert in this are, but I think that you will find trying to use that system a real hassle and costly for what you will get. If that is the model that I think it is, it is very old and it is built like a tank. It was built to be used as a server.

Here are my thoughts. The two Xeons will perform slower than a cheap Core 2 Duo because the processors are on separate dies. The hard drives are SCSI which will be expensive to get the kind of storage that you need. (For example, a 300gb drive will run $300-$400) You are also going to have to add the connectivity to it like Firewire and USB ports.

While that tank will run forever, it is best as a server and probably not quite right for what you need. I encourage others to comment, I have been wrong before.