Which CPU do you recommend for virtualization?

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Imanolbarba

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Jan 20, 2015
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Hello,

I've been deciding myself in which CPU should I get for my new server.

I intend to build a dedicated virtualization platform, uniquely and exclusively for that. I won't even stuff a graphics card into the machine.

I intend to use Linux + Xen as HVM hypervisor.

Now, I'm trying to decide between the AMD FX 9590 and the i7 4770k, and I think that since the AMD seems to perform better on multicore applications, it will perform better than the i7 when running several VM's

Power consumption is not a concern.
Price is somewhat a concern, even though if the Intel is much better I don't mind paying more (I'm already spending $800 on HDD's for a RAID setup...)
No overclocking will be made EVER.
Nothing else besides Xen will run on that machine, so all the CPU's are available for the VM's
Most intensive tasks in the VM's will be compiling stuff and heavy Disk access on a software RAID.

I've read A LOT of reviews and benchmarks, each seem to be made by their own fanboys.

I've been a long Intel user, but it seems the AMD suits my purpose better here.

Do you think I should go for the AMD or the i7?
 
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cmi86
I have heard good things about the 8 core AMD chips when running VM's on linux. This is one of the rare scenarios where an FX will actually beat out it's intel competition more often than not. My opinion however is skip the 9590 as it is just an over priced factory overclock of the lower priced 83XX CPU's and it requires very high end cooling which adds to the cost. AMD recently released some lower TDP 83XX CPU's carrying the 'E" designation. These are 95w CPU's instead of 125w (or in the 9590's case 220w) I would recommend the 8320E and the $25 212 Evo CPU cooler. This combo comes in $50 less than just the 9590 alone (never mind the $100 cooler you will need for the 9590). Overclock it to 4.5Ghz and call it a day. You will be saving a...
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cmi86

cmi86

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I have heard good things about the 8 core AMD chips when running VM's on linux. This is one of the rare scenarios where an FX will actually beat out it's intel competition more often than not. My opinion however is skip the 9590 as it is just an over priced factory overclock of the lower priced 83XX CPU's and it requires very high end cooling which adds to the cost. AMD recently released some lower TDP 83XX CPU's carrying the 'E" designation. These are 95w CPU's instead of 125w (or in the 9590's case 220w) I would recommend the 8320E and the $25 212 Evo CPU cooler. This combo comes in $50 less than just the 9590 alone (never mind the $100 cooler you will need for the 9590). Overclock it to 4.5Ghz and call it a day. You will be saving a considerable amount of money and power.

Sorry I missed the part about you not wanting to OC in the original post. I assume that applies to the 9590 seeing as it is already 4.7Ghz. Would you consider overclocking a lower speed chip to comparable speed of the 9590 to save money and power ? Overclocking the FX's really is so easy a caveman could do it, sorry to push I just hate seeing people blowing huge wads of cash on these over priced, over watted factory overclocked chips and the loony cooling needed just to run them.
 
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Imanolbarba

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Jan 20, 2015
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Really? I was planning on buying a Noctua NH-D14, I thought It would be enough for that monster...

When you say high-end cooling, you refer to liquid refrigeration?

Also, I'm a bit afraid of overclocking, do you think it would affect stability noticeably to overclock the 8320E to 4.5GHz?

Thank you very much for your time :)
 
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cmi86

cmi86

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The Noctua really is a great cooler, legendary really. It should suffice for cooling the 9590 however I do believe AMD themselves recommend a 240 Liquid cooler for the 9590. No, overclocking the 8320E will not reduce stability so long as it is done properly. FX's were made to be overclocked, that is why the multipliers are unlocked. It is really as easy as disabling a few settings, changing the multiplier and adding a little voltage and there you have it for a lot less money than buying a factory OC chip like the 9590.
 
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Imanolbarba

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Jan 20, 2015
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They seem to implement some optimization to memory utilization on virtualized programs along with some new fancy instructions for multicore processing.

I doubt the new instructions will do me any good as it's unlikely they will be used at all in the hypervisor I'll be running (or any, for that matter).

As for the memory management it's okay, but current Intel Broadwell CPU's seem to have less cores, albeit more efficient ones per se, which conflicts with my requirements, in which single-core performance is not part of them.

So I don't think improved memory management would pay the extra price, or performance overhead (if any) for one of these CPU's + Mobo (which I esteem to be very pricey indeed)

Intel have been directing themselves in optimizing their processor cores, rather than ramping up cores and clock speeds, which is good for some things, but not for the raw, multicore processing power I'll be demanding to my system
 
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