Thanks for the replies...I have a 2009 Mac Pro 2.26GHz 8 core machine and want to sell it before it loses any more value. I primarily record with Pro Tools and have decided to start using Hackintoshs instead of losing my a@@ every 3 - 4 years when the Mac becomes obsolete. I found a thread on such a build using only a quad 1155 intel processor. Since I don't see any hope of a dual quad socket mother board, unless someone knows of one...Does anyone know how much of a difference I am losing and/or gaining by building around an Intel Core i7-3770k Quad Core?
thanks
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The socket 1155 chips, even the xeon versions, to the best of my knowledge lack the QuickPathInterconnects (high speed links) necessary to do a multiple processor system. I don't think there is any inherent limitation to the tech for them, Intel just doesnt make any that have it and basically seem like they would rather sell you much more expensive gear if you are looking for a multiple CPU systems.
If you go with a x79/2011 build like Mk500's in the golden builds section, don't go with a 3820. The 6 cores on the 3930k are half the reason to go with a 2011 chip and a max of 64gb ram is the other. Disadvantages would be yet more money ($300-$450 MB, $500-$600 3930k) and no sleep/powersaving modes, but the machines do run very nicely and have power to burn.
If you really have your heart set on a dual processor system, keep in mind that this ups the price drastically. You need Xeon chips and the ones that support dual CPUs are not cheap, nor are the motherboards for them. Plus unless you need even more massive amounts of ram than 64gb, two quad core xeons only get you two more cores than a 3930k and dual hexa or octa cores are even more expensive.
I believe there have been some successful builds using the EVGA SR-X (dual socket 2011), but until a Mac Pro is released using one of the workstation/server chipsets, it's probably going to require substantially more work and have much higher risk of problems.
The one thing the IB systems have vs the SB-E, is the built in GPU are exceptionally efficient at transcoding certain kinds of video under windows, but I don't believe that OSX actually takes advantage of them for this. So it's kind of a moot point for a hackintosh.
The SB-E don't really support PCIe 3.0, unlike the IB chips. Which does help make up for some of the difference in PCIe lanes between them (40 vs 16) and the IB chips, since 3.0 doubles the bandwidth vs the PCIe 2.0. In other words an x8 PCIe 3.0 has the same bandwidth as a x16 2.0 slot. In any case the x79/2011 are basically better if you will be using multiple cards.
