SuSe has support for 64 bit processors. We use that on about 200 64bit boxes. 

Stable as ever!

Brock

On 8/12/05, Mike Miller <mbmiller at taxa.epi.umn.edu> wrote:
> I want to put together a 64-bit Linux server system using AMD chips (I'm
> assuming that would give maximum bang for the buck).  I guess I could run
> Fedora Core 4 x64 version with multiple CPUs.  What do you all think?  Is
> FC4 a good choice?  Is there another Linux distro that can use the 64-bit
> system?
> 
> For information about CPUs, someone directed me here:
> 
> > Here is a very good site to look at for AMD Opteron chips. It has a list
> > of all current AMD Opteron chips, single- and dual-core, 130nm and 90nm
> > processes, 1-way, 2-way, and 8-way CPUs.
> >
> > http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_8796_9240,00.html
> 
> It is an excellent site.  Also, they have links to useful performance
> benchmarks.  I guess what I'm seeing is basically what I'd expect -- the
> dual cores are faster than single cores, but not twice as fast.  The dual
> cores cost more than twice as much as the single cores.  But the 4-socket
> mobo costs a lot more than the 2-socket mobo, so there is some trade off
> as you go up the price ladder by adding more CPUs to your machine.
> 
> Here are some numbers for 8xx processors (up to eight per mobo):
> 
> Processor   Speed   core      price (pricewatch.com)
> ---------  ------   ------    -----
> Model 852  2.6GHz   single    $1350
> Model 850  2.4GHz   single    $1100
> Model 848  2.2GHz   single    $ 847
> Model 875  2.2GHz   dual      $2350
> Model 846  2.0GHz   single    $ 623
> Model 870  2.0GHz   dual      $2155
> Model 844  1.8GHz   single    $ 690
> Model 865  1.8GHz   dual      $1520
> 
> The 846 at only $615 + S/H is a steal.
> 
> Here are some numbers for 2xx processors (up to two per mobo):
> 
> Processor   Speed   core      price (pricewatch.com)
> ---------  ------   ------    -----
> Model 248  2.2GHz   single    $ 349
> Model 275  2.2GHz   dual      $ 856
> Model 246  2.0GHz   single    $ 225
> Model 270  2.0GHz   dual      $ 856
> Model 244  1.8GHz   single    $ 194
> Model 265  1.8GHz   dual      $ 855
> 
> 
> A Tyan S4882 Thunder K8QS Pro Motherboard with four Opteron 846
> single-core CPUs would cost about $3642 (4 x $623 + $1150).  But a Tyan
> S2881G2NR Dual Socket 940 Opteron Motherboard with two Opteron 275
> dual-core CPUs would probably be about 90% as fast (60-70% faster per cpu
> for the dual cores and 10% more for the faster clock rate), but it would
> cost only $2162 (2 x $856 + $450).
> 
> Interesting.  I'll have to check to see how much money I can afford to
> blow on this.
> 
> For 8-socket boards, it looks like Tyan Thunder K8QW (S4881) is out, but
> you seem to need to put two of them together to get 8 sockets, so I think
> we're talking about $3800 or so just for the mobo for 8-sockets.
> 
> Hmmm... the more I think about it, the better the two dual-cores at 2.2
> GHz for about $2200 is looking.  After that you start to pay a lot more to
> get a little improvement.
> 
> Any tips on this stuff would be greatly appreciated.  Are any of you
> running a 64-bit Linux OS on a multi-processor Opteron machine?
> 
> Thanks in advance for any ideas you can share.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Mike
> 
> --
> Michael B. Miller, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor
> Division of Epidemiology and Community Health
> and Institute of Human Genetics
> University of Minnesota
> http://taxa.epi.umn.edu/~mbmiller/
> 
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