Vmware Usage - I7 3930K OC vs dual Xeon E5 2620

[nhcoohrh]

Hello,

I'm with some doubts regarding performance of this two CPUs.

I run some Desktop machines that host some Virtual Machines that run 3D applications.

I7 2700K 3,5ghz@3,5ghz
32GB DDR3 1600mhz RAM
2xSSD 120GB Agility
GPU - HD 7870 2GB

This example, runs 22-24 VMs.

More details, this VMS consume around 24 Threads and 5-7% CPU consumption. Each VM uses 1 Core only, and inside the VM we see the CPU usage it's 50-70%. Memory not a problem in this case.

Host:

VM:

Now the question it's simple, by my maths and for this specific case.

I7 3930K could run 30-34VMS with his 12 Logic Cores.

Dual Xeon e5 2620 could run 60 Vms with his logic 24 cores? Or this will not scale like this and CPU clock is very important.

If you see the example the VMs doesn't use 100% CPU speed, so 2ghz should be enough?

And if I build dual Xeon e5 2650 instead this could mean 80 Vms?

Ofc this depending on the VMs this will scale on SSD Raid0 disks and RAM.

 

[holden j caufield]

doesn't a dual xeon board also have more memory slots and vt-d on the xeon (so you can pass through a dedicated raid or whatever for native performance)? I've almost never maxed my cpus regardless of how many vms I've run. I look at boards that hold the most memory, then a good raid card for disk i/o. Even a lousy 1045t with just 6 cores I rarely if ever test the limits of the cpu. The ram and the disk io I do reach their limits

 

[ShintaiDK]

3930K also supports VT-D. But VT-D is very rarely used, plus software support is also limited.

A dual Xeon E5 2620 would run less VMs. Since its only 2Ghz(2.5Ghz turbo) vs the 3.2Ghz (3.8Ghz turbo) 3930K.

In terms of the Windows taskmgr. Its a terrible tool to see CPU load.

And remember, the hyperthreaded cores will perform less than real cores. So its normal to see something like you do. or maybe even 80%, even tho the CPUs execution units is running 100%.

 

[nhcoohrh]

Since I use raid 0 SSD disk and Ram usage it's not a problem. I reach first the CPU limit in my PCs.

Does more speed means more threads running? Or this means threads running faster?

I have different CPUS, AMD FX8120, I7 2700K, I 860, I7 3770, I7 3620M, all with speeds between 3Ghz-3,7Ghz they all reach 100% load at 20-24 Vms mark.

So I'm not really sure giving clock means more vCPUs or threads running.

Nevertheless I lost my head and bought now 2x Intel Xeon e5 2660 8cores 2.3Ghz(3Ghz Turbo). Guess this beat the OC i7 3930K.

Of course I just bought because they are used ones and price was equal to one i73930K

 

[holden j caufield]

I think that's a good deal. You have double the cores now. I prefer that in vmware vs speed.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Dual E5 2660 will be the fastest for sure.

Each VM uses the CPU power it does. So it does scale on the host system as well with speed. Meaning you can run more guests as frequency goes up.