[SOLVED] Server CPU or Desktop CPU for Small Server?

wes koerber

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I am planning on building a small gaming/web server with a couple of buddies of mine, and we don't have a ton of money to spend. I would say that most we could spend on the CPU is about $250. I was wondering what the most appropriate server would be.

Should I just use a desktop PC such as an AMD 8350/9590 or an Intel i7 4790k? Or would it be better to get an Intel Xeon or AMD Opteron?

Also, this is a SERVER computer. There will be no gaming/editing on this computer, just web hosting and game server hosting.

I have heard that it is not worth buying a high-end server CPU because they are better in multi-socket boards. Is this a true statement?

Thanks for the help!!
 
Solution
Depends on what games you plan to host on it? Some dont require much in resource, some do.

The Xeon E3-12xx cpus are essentially i5/i7 for a little cheaper, so are good options, but if you dont require the performance, a low power i3 may better to save on electricity and reduce heat/noise.

Higher end Xeons would likely be a waste of money and out of your budget anyway.

RobCrezz

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Depends on what games you plan to host on it? Some dont require much in resource, some do.

The Xeon E3-12xx cpus are essentially i5/i7 for a little cheaper, so are good options, but if you dont require the performance, a low power i3 may better to save on electricity and reduce heat/noise.

Higher end Xeons would likely be a waste of money and out of your budget anyway.
 
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Benny Whenny

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If you have the money to spend on a server CPU and motherboard, then you should get server hardware. You will find that the hardware will perform better when it is running 24/7. However for a cheaper system system consumer and desktop chips will suffice, but the chips won't last as long and won't support some server features.
 

RobCrezz

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Wont last as long? Thats just not true. Sounds like you have just read some small amount on server hardware but never used it...
 

Benny Whenny

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By not last as long I mean, that server hardware is rated to and made to run continuously over vast periods of time, with relatively high work loads depending on the use. Whereas consumer hardware is made to run with high workloads but over short amounts of time, relative to the uptime of servers. Therefore general wear and tear will surely affect the consumer equipment more....?
 

RobCrezz

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When it comes to CPUs, they are all made the same way, so no makes no difference. Small site servers can even come with Pentiums/i3s just like you get in desktops and will run 24/7.
 

Benny Whenny

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Yes I agree with that. Small servers can run with any CPU and it will be just fine for a small server. However, I was indicating that server CPUs are the best of the best or the "pick of the crop" so to speak. They are especially tested to ensure that such CPUs are the best they can be, as usually they cost thousands of pounds for the best ones.
 

RobCrezz

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You pay thousands for the top end ones for the cores and features. The E3 xeons cost the same or less than i5/i7s... Ive never found any reason to believe one will last much longer than another. That said, I havent had a CPU fail in about 10 years and even then it was rare.
 
 


RobCrezz,

The Intel LGA1366 5600-series CPU's are fantastic value as you say because the clock speeds are within a couple hundred MHz of current designs and are now highly depreciated. The X5680 I bought for $250- more like $200 now, cost about $1,600 in 2011.

The usefulness / value of these CPU's is not lost on Supermicro either and they make a "Superworkstation" that uses a pair of LGA1366:

SuperWorkstation SYS-5046A-XB

http://www.supermicro.com.tw/products/system/tower/5046/SYS-5046A-X.cfm

I've been using two system for the last six or sever years, one for 3D modeling and graphics, and a dual CPU rendering system (formerly a Precision T5400,now the T5500) but recently I've decided it's more effiecient to have a single system and I'm strongly thinking of a Superworkstation with a pair of X5690's. A T7500 could do quite well and those support 192GB of RAM, but the Superworkstation motherboard is more capable and of course new. Very tempting.

The LGA1366 was designed at about the time Moore's Law of calculation density /price sequence broke down and this makes LGA1366 Xeons much closer in performance to Xeon E5 than Core2 was to LGA1366.

Cheers,

BambiBoom