OK so finally after 6 years of having a P4. I am getting a new Desktop Computer for home.
The dream:
- Is to have a reasonably fast CPU capable of running Virtual Machines (VT-x) which will let the VM's talk more directly to the hardware (VT-d)
- with enough RAM to load big graphic images into the GIMP
- and of course run a 64 bit OS
- plus be able to play Blu-Ray Discs
- To support dual monitors.
- and the case to have a reasonably small form factor
So after much investigation I have put together a system with spec's as shown in the table below, sent my hard earned dollars off to the PC Parts Vendor in this case it's PC Case Gear, and I am now waiting for it to be delivered(think small boy waiting in excitement for his dad to come home from work).
The down side is I have to get all `White and Nerdy' (thank you Weird Al for this reference) and put it together myself. Fortunately I have opposable thumbs and a screwdriver, so I hope I'll be able to do it without too much trouble.
Hopefully after the build "all will be well that ends well" to paraphrase Shakespeare.
Which virtualisation package do you intend to use? I have been looking at xen but have not yet had a chance to install it and give it a go. I would be interested in hearing about your results.
I have used VMWare Server on Linux (because it supported running VM's even though the CPU didn't have VT support ) and more recently VirtualBox. But now I'm free to choose any of the Linux Kernel based options (XEN, KVM) because this new CPU has VT-x. So I don't know what I'm going to choose. Will post results though