Buying Blade, what CPU?

[biokovo_1]

We will take a three BL460c G6 blades for thin clients, each with 2xQuad Core Xeon.
I am in dillema what CPU is the best choice. Although is 55xx serie probably much better then 550x serie, it is more expensive. Is it better to take two 550x serie or one 55xx serie?
Thanks

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

it depends what type of OS and application do you like to run on the machine, if you need extreme CPU power them you should use X55xx cpu models, at the end you need to also know the final memmory configuration, because if you buy the fstats cpu and you will use not optimized memory config, you will degrading the CPU power.

Here is the supported list of CPU for your server :

Intel® Xeon® Processor X5570 (2.93 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 95W, DDR3-1333, HT, Turbo 2/2/3/3)
Intel® Xeon® Processor X5560 (2.80 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 95W, DDR3-1333, HT, Turbo 2/2/3/3)
Intel® Xeon® Processor X5550 (2.66 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 95W, DDR3-1333, HT, Turbo 2/2/3/3)
Intel® Xeon® Processor E5540 (2.53 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 80W, DDR3-1066, HT, Turbo 1/1/2/2)
Intel® Xeon® Processor L5530 (2.40 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 60W, DDR3-1066, HT, Turbo 1/1/2/2)
Intel® Xeon® Processor E5530 (2.40 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 80W, DDR3-1066, HT, Turbo 1/1/2/2)
Intel® Xeon® Processor E5520 (2.26 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 80W, DDR3-1066, HT, Turbo 1/1/2/2)
Intel® Xeon® Processor E5506 (2.13 GHz, 4MB L3 Cache, 80W, DDR3-800)
Intel® Xeon® Processor E5504 (2.00 GHz, 4MB L3 Cache, 80W, DDR3-800)
Intel® Xeon® Processor L5520 (2.26 GHz, 8MB L3 Cache, 60W, DDR3-1066, HT, Turbo 1/1/2/2)
Intel® Xeon® Processor L5506 (2.13 GHz, 4MB L3 Cache, 60W, DDR3-800)


mikap

[biokovo_1]

Thanks.
It will be for virtualization purposu, so it will be cpu intensive.
I know list of supported cpu, and what cpu is better (usually more expencive is more better:)), but I dont't know is it better buy double 550x or single 55xx for the same money?
And what did you mean about "memory config", type of memory or memory quantity?

[Michal Kapalka (mikap) · Accepted solution]

hi,

if you are using viertualisation, them its mostly memmory based, i would recommend to buy a E or X series of CPU, in your case you could call to HP if its possible to borrow for testing purpose one of the blade server for you.

If you like use Vmware there is a 60 days trial version for testing.

mikap

[WFHC-WI]

hi kovo,

You have to check out this blog article about processor comparisons specifically for virtualization. VERY useful!

http://www.communities.hp.com/online/blogs/eyeonblades/archive/2010/03/05/the-xeon-e5520-popular-for-vmware.aspx

good luck, points are appreciated if the answers help!