Which processor for multiple virtual machines

L

LoveMonkey

New Member
Good evening,
I'm building my own machine for the first time and I want to make sure I get the correct processor for the job as it seems like one of the most expensive parts. I need to run multiple virtual machines at the same time. The virtual machines will not be doing anything too taxing. I plan on using a Linux based OS, probably Ubuntu, and will have one instance of Chrome open in each with two or three tabs. The mouse will be clicking some buttons in a Flash program. At this point I don't know how many machines I will want to run as I don't know what the hardware is capable of, but I think I might like to, if hardware permits, run twenty or so at some point in the future.
I currently have picked out an i7-5960X Extreme 3.00GHz 8 Core processor with ASRock Fatal1ty X99 motherboard, mostly because I believe more cores is good for multiple VMs and I will have space for up to 128GB RAM. It has been suggested to me that Xeon processors might be more suited to my needs, but I am struggling to find any equivalent priced Xeon processors or any information which might help with the following:
a) What is the equivalent priced Xeon processor to the i7 I have picked out above?
b) Will the equivalent priced Xeon processor do a better job at what I need than an i7?
c) Will the i7 or equivalent priced Xeon processor run as many VMs as I would like or do I need to up my budget?
d) Does the Xeon processor 'require' ECC RAM or is it just capable of using it?
Thank you in advance
 
1) the Xeon would be more expensive for the same resources.
2) depends on the Xeon
3) probably, that's a shitload of resources for your use case. I was half expecting it to be a debate between an i3 or a Pentium lol
4) I don't believe it's a requirement, for what you listed it wouldn't make a difference.
 
Thanks for the response.
Your answer to a) seems to confirm what I had seen and why I had trouble matching the two up. It also implies that the answer to b) would be no as if the same resources on a Xeon are more expensive than a comparable i7 it stands to reason that a Xeon comparable on price would have less resources. I assume the difference in price is due to server related capabilities I won't have any use for.
I'll go with the processor I had picked out and hopefully it will suffice.
Thanks
 
Your virtual machine use sounds very light. AMD FX 8-core will be more than enough and is much cheaper (Intel about 1000 dollars and AMD about 150 dollars or something like that).

Unless you really know you need like 20 machines, I suggest going with cheaper option first.
 
Hi, thanks for the further responses. I had already gone ahead and ordered the Intel processor before I saw your reply. It's arrived now and I'm busy trying to put the machine together.
Thanks
 
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