Budget SINGLE processor to match power & cost of dual E5-2670 setup

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jang430

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Mar 16, 2017
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Hi. I like the dual Xeon E5-2670 setup that everyone is doing right now. The only problem I see now is the cost of the processor is already increasing due to it's popularity on ebay. Furthermore, the motherboard isn't exactly cheap. Last drawback is it's huge board, due to dual processor. E-ATX. As the title implies, I am searching for a build that can rival the build everyone is doing right now.

My requirements are:

Micro ATX board
Sub 500 USD for board and processor
Powerful enough to do virtualization
** Optionally, has many ports to connect hard drives (using Unraid for NAS)

Hope to hear your thoughts.

Thanks

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TLN

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Feb 26, 2016
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Hello.

I have mATX board from HP server, ML310E I think. It takes Xeon E3 V1 and V2 processors and DDR3 memory. I was running one in HP microerver with ESXi just fine. 4x DIMM, 32Gb max, have internal mini-SAS (8087) connector for hard drives. CPU's are usually 4 cores/8 threads

Also I have Xeon E5 2618L v3 CPU. I don't have a board but someone messaged me about matx board for it recently. It's 8 Cores/16 Threads and takes DDR4 memory. You can even find board with LSI SAS controller on board for 8 drives.
 

jang430

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Mar 16, 2017
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Hello TLN, thanks for the quick reply. My existing board is using a Xeon E3-1240v2, 4 core, 8 threads. Was thinking of a huge bump, such as the 16 cores, 32 threads. That's powerful enough to consider an upgrade. Anything along those lines?

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Evan

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Jan 6, 2016
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E5-2680 v3 or v4 or better is what your taking about when you say better than a dual E5-2670.
Can get single boards that are small but usually limited to 4 dimm slots so usually that means 128gb ram, what's your requirement ?
 

jang430

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Mar 16, 2017
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Hi Evan, plan to create 1 to 2 VMs with GPU passthrough for gaming. The rest will be basic desktop computing. But then again, is there something to be found within my budget?

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Rand__

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Mar 6, 2014
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Lets break down what data we have:

1. You are looking for a new box for virtualization with ESX?
2. You want to run UnRaid (and a bunch of other VMs? Plex?)
3. You want 1-2 VMs for gaming (which games - CoD or Minecraft?, dedicated graphics card or not? Size, pcie slots)

You have two disparate requirements which makes this difficult - gaming (potentially high clocks) and virtualization with (many/multiple) vms (potentially many cores)

Your prerequisite of mATX leases only single CPU (v3/4) mobos.
ATX would enable you to use Dual v3/v4 CPUs (X10DRL). Not sure whether there was a "X9SRM" or mATX equivalent of 2011v1.
Even larger sizes would enable you to use v1/v2 CPUs which are significantly cheaper, even if the 2670 is not the bargain it was

A great CPU for gaming/CoD is the 2667 or 2687W. If you go dual CPU you can get 2643 with less cores. But those in v3/v4 will not be cheap.

A high Core high Clock CPU for <250 bucks (leaving room for a mobo) is going to be difficult to find which means you need to start compromising in either size (->dual board), utilization (decide on virtualization or gaming) or price.
 

jang430

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Mar 16, 2017
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Hello Rand_
I plan to do virtualzation via Unraid. Though previously, I've only have VMs that don't have discrete graphics, now, since I want to try E-sports, and a few games such as battlefield 4, which require dedicated GPU, I plan to use GPU passthrough, wherein Unraid does this gracefully, so I read. I use Docker, and run a few apps, Nzbget, Sonarr, Couchpotato, Unifi controller, Lazy Librarian, Deluge, Crashplan.

mATX is because I have a previous Fractal Design Node 804 case that only accepts up to that form factor. If really not possible, the case can go. But primary concern is the price, and the power :)

Still hoping someone say I'm right that this is possible [emoji2]

Though if not possible, will have to check bigger boards, and I believe there are more options.

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Rand__

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Not sure I can follow you - you want to use UnRaid as base OS? and then have gaming VMs on top?
 

Rand__

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Yeah but that 10 gamers pc will not be built with your budget:p

So If I see "As the title implies, I am searching for a build that can rival the build everyone is doing right now." this looks like this is more for bragging rights than actual usage?
 

i386

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Mar 18, 2016
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As the title implies, I am searching for a build that can rival the build everyone is doing right now.
The closest I can think of are some single socket sm atx x10 boards that support single cpus up to 22cores and 256gb ram (8dimms).
But the mainboard alone would cost more than $250 (x10sra @ ebay) and a single cpu with 10 cores $650+ (e5 2640v3 @ ebay).
 
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jang430

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Yeah but that 10 gamers pc will not be built with your budget:p

So If I see "As the title implies, I am searching for a build that can rival the build everyone is doing right now." this looks like this is more for bragging rights than actual usage?
Not really bragging rights. Maybe 2 gaming VMs with, with another 2 VM that doesn't need passthrough. Then Docker apps, NAS.

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Rand__

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Then you should be good with 8 cores which would leave you in single CPU domain.
You then need to determine the minimum CPU frequency you need for gaming to choose possible CPUs
 

pyro_

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I think you are going to have to rethink your budget to be able to have the requirements you have set out. To go mATX you will have to go with a E5 V3/V4 cpu and the motherboard alone will eat up a good part of your budget without getting into CPU or RAM that you will need. Now to get the core count you are asking for you are going to have to go with an expensive chip even if you go with an ES version of the chips and finally you will need DDR4 ECC ram for it which will probably run you another 100-200$ depending on how much you want to have in the machine
 

jang430

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RAND_, Pyro, thanks for the advice. Will search for processor with 8 core, 16 threads. So single processor board. My question is, if 2 VMs to play gaming, and e. g. Want 2.6 GHz, where do I search a processor that is capable of 2 VMs for gaming? Do I assume 4 cores each? Something like that? So search for an 8 core with 2.6 GHz? Of course, have to allocate an extra core for Nas and Docker.

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Rand__

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No, thats why I said 8 cores will be ok.
2 Cores are usually ok for gaming with a proper graphics card. So 2x2 + 4 others for the rest (or 2x3 +2 if need be).
8 Cores is the maximum you will get with a good high frequency for regular prices so I'd limit myself to that.
If you really think you need 4 Cores per Gaming CPU then you need to look at 10-14 core CPUs which were High End in earlier days and as such expensive.
 

pyro_

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This might be a good use case to consider one fo the new AMD Ryzen 7 cpus
 

jang430

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Can 4 cores, 8 threads be considered as 8 cores?

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Rand__

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Depends;) I tend to calculate a hyperthreading core as a half core (or not use at all depending on what I am looking at).
But it would fit your price point and should be ok unless you run 2 game vms and heavy NAS/VM utilization at the same time.

It certainly will not rival a dual 2670v1 build but this will most likely not happen given your constraints.

Edit:
O/C you can also try tinkering and try to follow this (ES Xeon Discussion)
 
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