Need multicore processor for dedicated server

[Surutcra]

I built a dedicated server for my website using an e8400 earlier this month running video streaming which eats a constant 60% CPU leaving the remaining 40% to the webserver. This is without a doubt cpu limiting the server causing slow downs on every other page. As I'm moving towards creating more databases for other sites on the server I'm going to need more cpu to be able to accomplish this. I am already thread bound on the core 2 duo with just one site and one video stream so 4-6 core is looking wonderful for my 3-4 site server. (sites which utilize cpu intensive applications)

My budget is anywhere from $150-$250 (just for the cpu) with the motherboard being no more then $120 (much less is welcome). I've been looking at the Phenom II x6 models and the i5 quad core models but don't know from which I'd be seeing the best overall performance per watt (stable overclocking is definitely an option). I'm launching some new sites within the next coming months and will definately need the cpu then but the sooner the better.

With sandy bridge looming around the corner this makes the decision even more difficult, how likely is it that Sandy Bridge will offer a much better option at my price point? I'm planning on using this server 24/7 for at least 2 to 3 years probably longer so everything from efficiency performance to stability counts.

Any help on the matter would be much appreciated, thanks you guys.

 

[BoT]

i think the 1090T would be your best option
on the intel side i would go no less then the i7 860/870
better yet if you would have a microcenter in reach you could pick up the i7 950 for $199.-
my choice would be a westmere. the E5620 goes for just under $400.- on the egg
thou with this processor you could build out to a dual socket board which you could also do with a AMD Opteron 6128 Magny-Cours with 8 cores, goes for around $275.-

 

[HAL9000]

I'd go for an ebay Xeon, you can get older models, clovertown etc quite cheap.

 

[Markfw]

with that budget, I think the 1090T and amd board is your only option. I would have said get a 950 and motherboard, but that $300 and $200 respectively.

 

[Sp12]

An AMD mobo lets you get integrated as well, which is another nice cost-saver.

 

[Concillian]

i5 750 + mild overclock will likely win performance per watt, but 1090 will likely win overall performance.

If power usage is more important, choose i5. If max multithread performance is more important, choose 1090T.

 

[Phynaz]

You're streaming prerecorded video or live video?

If the former, then something is very wrong with your server. If the later I would still be concerned, most (all?) streaming hardware that I am aware of handles the video in hardware and is not a cpu burden - except for the low end home stuff.

 

[tyl998]

I'm not sure you can get a mobo that cheap for a high end CPU...

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

From newEgg :
1) Phenom II X4 940 BE + mobo for ~$130-140
2) Phenom II X3 740 BE + mobo for ~$113

 

[aigomorla]

I'd go for an ebay Xeon, you can get older models, clovertown etc quite cheap.

+1

a old clovertown system would also be king in my book.

4 + 4 cores + Registered Ram, on a stable enterprise package, like supermicro, tyan, or the original intel enterprise series boards.

You should be set.

And they should be cheap now being upgraded by gainestown systems from companies, so you could probably grab a refurbished U2 or a U4 rack system for CHEAP!

And it will probably have more computation power then the ph x6 systems, because the clover has 2 more physical cores.

You're streaming prerecorded video or live video?

If the former, then something is very wrong with your server. If the later I would still be concerned, most (all?) streaming hardware that I am aware of handles the video in hardware and is not a cpu burden - except for the low end home stuff.

I maybe wrong...

But if he was running WHS, doesnt that decode everything server side and then stream to client?
So all processing is done via server side?

And if it was a very large format 1080p .mkv file, and it had to downscale it, wouldn't it eat tons of cpu?

 

[Surutcra]

You're streaming prerecorded video or live video?

If the former, then something is very wrong with your server. If the later I would still be concerned, most (all?) streaming hardware that I am aware of handles the video in hardware and is not a cpu burden - except for the low end home stuff.

I'm streaming video to Justin.tv using webcammax and Flash Media Encoder 2.5 @~1300kbps 640x480

Nevermind the cpu cost of streaming/encoding video, its an unavoidable performance cost. I should mention that Flash Media Encoder is multithreaded and will spread itself out onto at least 4 cores (likely 6 and maybe 8) so thats not going to be a major concern once I get my new processor. Also I forgot to mention I'm running the e8400 at 3.1ghz due to a cheap backup motherboard I'm using. So the performance upgrade is not going to only be more cores in the end.

+1

a old clovertown system would also be king in my book.

4 + 4 cores + Registered Ram, on a stable enterprise package, like supermicro, tyan, or the original intel enterprise series boards.

You should be set.

And they should be cheap now being upgraded by gainestown systems from companies, so you could probably grab a refurbished U2 or a U4 rack system for CHEAP!

And it will probably have more computation power then the ph x6 systems, because the clover has 2 more physical cores.

Wow I never considered actually buying a rack system I really don't know anything about them, never paid any attention to servers until the last few months really.