Any advantages in a Xeon based system?

[shaneperc]

... I have no idea if a Xeon workstation would be beneficial to audio work. I've read the specs on the Intel site, but the only difference I've seen between the Xeon and P4 is that the Xeon lacks the newer (untested) technologies. Is there a different cache structure than the P4? Greater throughput?

Thanks for answering. I know this is probably a question that's been posted here before.

 

[Opus2000]

well, there are newer Xeon processors coming out and indeed the Xeon systems, especially the dual xeon systems, are amazingly fast.

The key issue is whether the application will utilize the hyper threading on them. Remember that with two Xeon CPU's you actually get a total of 4 processors working for you.

some applications won't truly utilize this properly. One Xeon will be fine just as one regular P4 with the HT technology will be fine as well.

Xeon systems are server based platforms but do wonders on the audio DAW world.

Opus

 

[shaneperc]

Thanks for the reply, Opus.
From what I can tell, the practical use of Hyperthreading is still on the horizon, but closing in. Anyway, I'm interested in what differences there are between the Xeon and P4 processors (both are HT capable now), and how that might translate to more power for a DAW. Basically, I've heard that the Xeon workstations are pretty quick when dealing with audio, but I can't find any information about why this is the case. There has to be a difference between the two processors, or maybe it's because most systems built around the Xeon use more reliable components (especially chipsets) than the typical P4 system.
Anyway, as you can tell, I'm putting together a new system. Right now, I'm running VST/32 on a PIII machine. It does fine for sequencing, but the audio is buggy, and as far as mixing algorhythms go, it sounds horrible, so I was looking at possibly Nuendo 2.x (I'll wait for 2.1 or later so they have enough time to get the bugs out), or maybe Samplitude. Either way, I want something that handles live tracking reliably, and doesn't sound like broken glass when you run it through the mixer.
(Back on topic)... Do you know if Nuendo 2 is optimized for Hyperthreading (or dual processors for that matter)?

 

[Opus2000]

Yes, N2 is optimized for Hyper Threading..the issue though is the Dual Xeon HT support...it will not take advantage of the four virtual processors you get with it..

Indeed the difference between the Xeon and the P4 is the way the CPU is made, different materials and also the chipsets that are used with it. Due to server needs and constraints the Xeons were made to handle this.

P4's are the desktop solution.

Opus