Do I want E5-2670, or E5-2643?

[darkvader0]

So with the readily available influx of used Sandy Bridge E5 Xeon processors I've decided to build my first dual-socket system based off an ASRock EP2C602 motherboard. It seems the standard go-to is the 8-core/16-thread E5-2670 (2.6/3.3GHz) Xeon. I've also come across the E5-2643 4-core/8-thread (3.3/3.5GHz) choice.

I'll be running Solaris 11 (I'm a Solaris fanboy) doing fileserving, webserving (basically nil traffic), MSQL experimenting, ftp, ssh, etc, etc, and using Windows 10 on a virtual machine for most of my browsing and "business" desktop computing (Office, etc). I dabble in C/C++/C#/Perl/Python programming for fun. And I like spinning up Kubuntu and Windows Server virtual machines (even Windows 3.1 and OS/2 Warp) to play around.

Which will benefit me more? The double core count from E5-2670 pair, or GHz benefit of the E5-2643? Which will make for a "snappier" UI experience is what I mean by that I suppose? Any input appreciated. Thanks!

Mark

 

[bambiboom]

So with the readily available influx of used Sandy Bridge E5 Xeon processors I've decided to build my first dual-socket system based off an ASRock EP2C602 motherboard. It seems the standard go-to is the 8-core/16-thread E5-2670 (2.6/3.3GHz) Xeon. I've also come across the E5-2643 4-core/8-thread (3.3/3.5GHz) choice.

I'll be running Solaris 11 (I'm a Solaris fanboy) doing fileserving, webserving (basically nil traffic), MSQL experimenting, ftp, ssh, etc, etc, and using Windows 10 on a virtual machine for most of my browsing and "business" desktop computing (Office, etc). I dabble in C/C++/C#/Perl/Python programming for fun. And I like spinning up Kubuntu and Windows Server virtual machines (even Windows 3.1 and OS/2 Warp) to play around.

Which will benefit me more? The double core count from E5-2670 pair, or GHz benefit of the E5-2643? Which will make for a "snappier" UI experience is what I mean by that I suppose? Any input appreciated. Thanks!

Mark

Mark,

The question here is essentially: single-thread performance or core count?

If the system were to be used for compute intensive 3D applications involving textures, the answer would be single-threaded, but in my view all the uses mentioned indicate core count. The CPU load of VM's depends on how many are simultaneously active, but having more cores allows more simultaneous instances.

So, in short, my vote would be an 8-core. If you'd like to have improved single-thread performance also, there are also the E5-2680, and E5-2690 versions.

The Passmark rating averages shows the progression in performance parameters by the core count to single-thread (essentially =clock speed) performance relationship:

_______ CPU Mark______Single Thread Mark

E5-2643:_ 13492 __________ 1785 (No CPU Mark results on ASRock EP2C602)(14656 on HP z820)
E5-2670:_ 18349 __________ 1601 (CPU Mark up to 20795 on ASRock EP2C602)(Up to 20855 in Lenovo D30)
E5-2680:_ 18279 __________ 1680 (No CPU Mark for ASRock EP2C602)(Up to 21419 in Lenovo D30)
E5-2690:_ 20464 __________ 1857 (CPU Mark up to 21548 on ASRock EP2C602)(Up to 23153 on ASUS Z9PE-D8 WS)

So, the E5-2690 provides both worlds, both a strong compute rate and single-thread performance. However, for your uses, I'd suggest the E5-2680 (2.7 / 3.5GHz) as the best value.

On the subject of specific hardware performance, it appears the Lenovo D30 gets the top results for the E5-2670 and E5-2680, plus, for the E5-2690, the D30 places 3rd. How about:

Lenovo ThinkStation D30/x2 Xeon QC 1.3GHz/12GB/500GB HDD/DVD+RW/NO OS (K209769) > Sold for $274.95 (3 Feb 2017)

Compare to:

ASRock EP2C602 SSI EEB Server Motherboard Dual LGA 2011 Intel C602 Supports DDR3 1866 / 1600 / 1333 / 1066 R/LR ECC and UDIMM > $339.99

And, imagine the difference in the total cost and effort to assemble, wire, configure and test the built system.

I arrange all my workstations this way: the performance is excellent as I can afford better GPU's, more RAM, and faster disks. The HP z620 listed below cost a total of under $1,200 and is currently the highest rated z620 on Passmark. I've had 100% reliability, the systems are designed to be quieter, and the man'f provide a single site with user manuals and BIOS and driver updates.


BambiBoom

CAD / 3D Modeling / Graphic Design:

HP z420 (2015) (Rev 3) > Xeon E5-1660 v2 (6-core @ 3.7 / 4.0GHz) / 32GB DDR3 -1866 ECC RAM / Quadro K4200 (4GB) / Samsung SM951 M.2 256GB AHCI + Intel 730 480GB (9SSDSC2BP480G4R5) + Western Digital Black WD1003FZEX 1TB> M-Audio 192 sound card > 600W PSU> > Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z2300 2.1 speakers > 2X Dell Ultrasharp U2715H (2560 X 1440)
[ Passmark Rating = 5581 > CPU= 14046 / 2D= 838 / 3D= 4694 / Mem= 2777 / Disk= 11559] [6.12.16]

Analysis / Simulation / Rendering:

HP z620 (2012) (Rev 3) 2X Xeon E5-2690 (8-core @ 2.9 / 3.8GHz) / 64GB DDR3-1600 ECC reg) / Quadro K2200 (4GB) + Tesla M2090 (6GB) / HP Z Turbo Drive (256GB) + Samsung 850 Evo 250GB + Seagate Constellation ES.3 (1TB) / Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium PCIe sound card / 800W / Windows 7 Professional 64-bit > Logitech z313 2.1 speakers > HP 2711x (27" 1980 X 1080)
[ Passmark System Rating= 5675 / CPU= 22625 / 2D= 815 / 3D = 3580 / Mem = 2522 / Disk = 12640 ] 9.25.16
[ Cinebench R15: OpenGL= 119.23 fps / CPU = 2209 cb / Single core 130 cb / MP Ratio 16.84x] 10.31.16