Need help spec'ing a desktop to support virtualization

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JeffTP

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Freelance writing job requires I run virtualized machines locally.
I haven't built a PC in years; can I ask for help?

According to their specs, the CPU can be x86 64bit VT-x or AMD-V enabled processor.
Min. RAM is 4 GB, but recommended nearer 64GB.
Network: 1 Gigabit network adaptor

Years ago, I would be just giddy to do all the research. But nowadays I can't spare the time.
I'm comfortable with putting it together. The VM tech will just load from USB.
As bad as it might sound, I just need someone to throw out a list of parts and say: Buy These.

For the better home life, better to be a "smallish" form factor. (Yeah, I'm married.)

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

 
Solution
M
On the budget end of things, you can use an AM3+ board from Asus like the M5A99X EVO or M5A97 R2.0, as these support up to 32GB of ECC DDR3 UDIMMs, making them ideal for inexpensive productivity computers. The platform and CPU's support AMD-V and even have an IOMMU (which may prove to come in useful as VM software advances in the coming years).. Install an 8 core AMD FX chip for ~$150 and you will have plenty of execution resources to handle running VM's within VM's within VM's.

I often do the "VM within a VM" thing to develop workflows or configuration procedures that will eventually be applied to real hardware. The "many-tiny-core" AMD architecture works fine for this and seems to keep things responsive throughout.

Here's how to...
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mdocod

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Do you require the ability to make non-CPU hardware resources directly accessible within VMs (controllers? Bridges? GPUs etc?). This is sometimes described as "mediated hardware pass-through" and requires a platform with an IOMMU.
 
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JeffTP

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@popatim: just one VM, but will be a resource-hungry one. Not much load over time since it's just for staging and experimentation (not production). Thanks for replying!

@mdocod: No direct hardware accessibility needed. Just networked VM (that will, in turn, stage several 'VMs' within). Thanks for replying!

 
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mdocod

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On the budget end of things, you can use an AM3+ board from Asus like the M5A99X EVO or M5A97 R2.0, as these support up to 32GB of ECC DDR3 UDIMMs, making them ideal for inexpensive productivity computers. The platform and CPU's support AMD-V and even have an IOMMU (which may prove to come in useful as VM software advances in the coming years).. Install an 8 core AMD FX chip for ~$150 and you will have plenty of execution resources to handle running VM's within VM's within VM's.

I often do the "VM within a VM" thing to develop workflows or configuration procedures that will eventually be applied to real hardware. The "many-tiny-core" AMD architecture works fine for this and seems to keep things responsive throughout.

Here's how to do a nice AM3+ workstation:

CPU: AMD FX-8320E 3.2GHz 8-Core Processor ($139.99 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Silverstone AR01 81.4 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($34.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: Asus M5A97 R2.0 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($88.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Memory: 2 X M391B1G73QH0-YK0 ($170 @ Superbiiz)
Storage: Crucial M550 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($90.98 @ Newegg)
Storage: Western Digital Se 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($89.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon R7 240 2GB Video Card ($71.98 @ Newegg)
Case: Lian-Li PC-9NB ATX Mid Tower Case ($77.00 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 360W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply ($57.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Total: $821.90
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2015-01-07 17:32 EST-0500

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The next step above that would be a C226 chipset build with an E3 V3 Xeon, which would provide about 30% more compute performance than the build above, and support the same 32GB of ECC UDIMM's. That platform would add ~$200-300 to the build cost.

The next step above that would be a C612 chipset build with an E5 V3 Xeon and DDR4 ECC RDIMM's. There are options on that platform to scale to far more compute performance and memory (512-1024GB of ECC registered memory, and up to 18 haswell cores per socket, maximum 2 sockets per board). This price to implement this platform starts at ~$200-300 higher than the C226 chipset build, but of course could be scaled up to much higher cost with more cores and RAM.
 
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JeffTP

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Wow - cannot thank you enough.

Very cool of you, complete with 'shopping list' and all. Much appreciated mdocod!!





 
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