Anyone use this type of processor in your server? How does it compare to Intel P4 or Intel Xeon?

The high end is usually faster than both p4's especially if there's two of them.

AMD MP's are more powerful mhz for mhz then their intel rivals, although they do put out slightly more heat.
AMD MP's really come into their own however in a dual setup. I've dug up some comparisions the Anandtech (a tech review site) did of the AMD MP v Intel Xeon.

http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.html?i=1641&p=1 - AMD MP 2100+ v Intel Xeon 2.4ghz

http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.html?i=1606&p=1 - AMD MP v Intel Xenon

I have a dual AMD MP server running vbulletin - server load never gets over 0.5 even with 200+ users on all at once. I love it, never had any heat or CPU-related problems.

I'm running on an Athlon 1800MP... It's a powerhouse, and it's cheaper than a Xeon system. If it runs hotter, as the rumor perpetuates, unless you're colo'ing or owning the server -- who cares?

From the looks of things, it seems the AMD isn't that much worse than a higher powered Xeon, and most likely is much cheaper...Just make sure you have a nice fan :)

The real key to keeping dual amd's happy is never ever ever put them in a 1u case... its just too restricted on the airflow, 2u+ and your fine, make sure you have at least 60-80cfm worth of fans blowing over the mboard and never ever use the default AMD heatsink/fan combo.. spend 20-30 bucks and get some decent copper core and/or solid copper heatsinks with high powered fans

Originally posted by DanielP
The real key to keeping dual amd's happy is never ever ever put them in a 1u case... its just too restricted on the airflow, 2u+ and your fine, make sure you have at least 60-80cfm worth of fans blowing over the mboard and never ever use the default AMD heatsink/fan combo.. spend 20-30 bucks and get some decent copper core and/or solid copper heatsinks with high powered fans

You can put dual AMDs in a 1u case. You just need to know what you are doing. Hell, people have put 4 in 1u.

http://forums.2cpu.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21979

Restricted airflow my ass. More like dont know anything about rackmount cooling. If they can put 4 inside 1u, you can put two.

Acronym, you know I was going to write a long post to explain AMD's and 1u's to you but its really not worth it, considering your last comment in your post only points to your un-willingness to listen and how closed minded you are about others experiences and ideas, so rather than waste any more of my time digging up numbers for my post and leave you to rant on about how if someone else can do something that it must be right and anybody can do it.

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals.

I'll be 1U Intel* forever, though :)

Originally posted by DanielP
Acronym, you know I was going to write a long post to explain AMD's and 1u's to you

go for it.

Originally posted by DanielP
but its really not worth it, considering your last comment in your post only points to your un-willingness to listen and how closed minded you are about others experiences and ideas

You are nothing less than a hypocrite. You were the one who said:

The real key to keeping dual amd's happy is never ever ever put them in a 1u case... its just too restricted on the airflow

You are the close minded one. You are the one who cant deal with the fact that many people on a daily basis run dual AMDs in 1u of space. You are the one who makes a blanket statement including teh words "never ever ever". You are the close minded one who is unwilling to change.

You are a hypocrite.

Originally posted by DanielP
so rather than waste any more of my time digging up numbers for my post

Please dig up some numbers. Ill do the same.

Please go read the spec sheet (http://www.intel.com/design/xeon/datashts/29864204.pdf) for the Xeon. Note that a P4 Xeon @ 2.4GHz has a typical power usage (thermal design power) of 65 Watts. If you read a bit further in the electrical specs this cpu runs at a maximum of 1.458 Volts at 51 Amps which calculates to a maximum thermal output of 74.4 Watts.

Now please read the spec sheet (http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/white_papers_and_tech_docs/25722.pdf) for the Athlon MP. Note that the the typical is only 54.5 Watts and the maximum is 60 Watts.

Since Xeons do in fact run hotter than AMDs (something most people dont get in and of itself), does that mean you cant have dual Xeons in 1U as well? Please tell these people:

http://www.siliconmechanics.com/sm-1270.php
http://www.dual-xeon-servers.com/
http://www.1hotwebserver.com/specifications.cfm?ServerID=20

And of course SuperMicro doesnt have a clue what they are doing:

http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/SUPERServer/SuperServer6012P-8.htm
http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/SUPERServer/SuperServer6012P-i.htm
http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/SUPERServer/SuperServer6012P-6.htm
http://supermicro.com/PRODUCT/SUPERServer/SuperServer6012L-6.htm

Originally posted by DanielP
leave you to rant on about how if someone else can do something that it must be right

Well if someone can put 4 MPs in one case, than they can certainly put two in. So I guess I am right and you are wrong. Sorry you cant deal with that.

Originally posted by DanielP
and anybody can do it.

I never said that. I said you can put dual AMDs in a 1u case. You just need to know what you are doing. I never said anyone can do that. You need to read more carefully. I said you just need to know what you are doing. Which, apparently, you do not.

WHT really needs to ban people who cant read, offer false information, than when proven wrong, argue hypocritically how close minded the other is and state it isnt worth their time to prove otherwise.

Well when it comes to the Athlon MP, 99% of the time they are used in DUAL configurations, as the only difference between an XP & MP, is that the MP has dual mobos that support it. I however think the Athlon MP would outperform the p4 in a hosting enviorment. However the MP & Xeon, are neck and neck, but I think the xeon provides additional value, because it runs cooler. But then again it costs 2x as much as the MP.

This is all information, from personal expirience, not reading articles.