i5, i7 vs Xeon for NAS, virtualization, programming, and some possible gaming

[Mobius71]

I'm currently part picking for a build right now. Mostly what I'm debating at the moment is which processor would be better suited overall to my needs. I'm looking at an i5 4590 or i5 4690 (not tons of difference between these two), an i7 4790, or something in the E3 Xeon family.
I'm planning on building a NAS box with either Unraid or some linux distro where I can use Zen or KVM for some virtualization. Ideally, I would be using the virtual machines for a TV server with either Myth or WMC and also have a virtual appliance for SAB, SickRage, and the like. I'm a programmer, so I'd like to also setup a VM solely for that as well so that I can separate all that from the family desktop. I'm not a huge gamer, mostly due to priorities and time restraints, but I'd like to be able to game when time allows, if I should so decide. That being said, I'm not necessarily into overclocking, unless it would help me in some way with the rig I'd like to build. I know I would have no problems with the gaming aspect with either an i5 or i7 or even an E3 Xeon, since some are basically analogs for their i5 and i7 counterparts. My main concern is being able to have the VM's run dependably. Here's what I have so far:

Mobo: Asrock z97 Extreme9 (Chosen for number of sata ports and PCIe)
Ram: 16gb Kingston HyperX Fury (2x8gb) DDR3-1866
PSU: XFX XTR 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply
VM Storage: Crucial MX100 128GB SSD
Data Storage: 2 x Western Digital WD Green 2TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive (Already have)

 

[Rebu]

Do you wanna overclock? Forgot Intel Xeon... they are usually for Workstation Servers.

 

[Bossyfins]

He did say Virtualization.

 

[Mobius71]

Do you wanna overclock? Forgot Intel Xeon... they are usually for Workstation Servers.

Probably won't overclock since it makes virtualization less stable, at least thats what I've been told, unless I can do it safely.

 

[Rebu]

He did say Virtualization.

I think that i7 4790K or one processor of socket 2011-3 as i7 5820 should be enought. Virtualization need a Xeon if you are working in a big proyect...

 

[Bossyfins]

I recommend the xeon just because you can use ECC memory for the NAS. ECC memory will make it more stable

 

[Rebu]

I recommend the xeon just because you can use ECC memory for the NAS. ECC memory will make it more stable

Look his budged... do you think that he needs a Xeon and ECC memory? ECC memory and Xeon CPU are the best choice only for powerfull Workstation!!

 

[Bossyfins]

No? Hell, I think the 1231v3 is a really good CPU regardless of what you do.

Xeon is not just for work stations...

 

[Mobius71]

No? Hell, I think the 1231v3 is a really good CPU regardless of what you do.

Xeon is not just for work stations...

I agree, the Xeon is not only for workstations, which is part of why I'm considering one. Especially if I can get one at the same price point and it's better for my overall needs. I figure if I ever decide to change this machine over to a desktop workstation, i'll have all my bases covered.

I recommend the xeon just because you can use ECC memory for the NAS. ECC memory will make it more stable

The mobo I listed will not support ECC ram, but I could always choose a different mobo. I know ECC is more stable for server builds, but it's not the most important to me as I'm going for more of an all in one appliance so to speak.

 

[Rebu]

No? Hell, I think the 1231v3 is a really good CPU regardless of what you do.

Xeon is not just for work stations...

I agree, the Xeon is not only for workstations, which is part of why I'm considering one. Especially if I can get one at the same price point and it's better for my overall needs. I figure if I ever decide to change this machine over to a desktop workstation, i'll have all my bases covered.

I recommend the xeon just because you can use ECC memory for the NAS. ECC memory will make it more stable

The mobo I listed will not support ECC ram, but I could always choose a different mobo. I know ECC is more stable for server builds, but it's not the most important to me as I'm going for more of an all in one appliance so to speak.

I prefer intel 2011-3 like 5820k...

 

[Bossyfins]

No point in 5820k... He won't even OC.

Go with a 1231 v3. You have benefits of a Xeon, as well as Hyper Threading.

You also have a z97 board already, so no point in 2011-3 cpus

 

[ImDaBaron]

Yeah a Xeon would be good in this case. If you were just starting out I would say the 2011v3.

 

[giantbucket]

1231 has no IGPU. he'll need a separate graphics card. server boards have a basic gpu chip onboard, but it's just for showing the desktop for local admin purposes. z97 boards won't have a small graphics chip.

or get a 1245 / 1246

 

[Bossyfins]

YEa, forgot about that. The 1245 will work fine as well. He could also get like a 730 or a 5450 from AMD

 

[Mobius71]

1231 has no IGPU. he'll need a separate graphics card. server boards have a basic gpu chip onboard, but it's just for showing the desktop for local admin purposes. z97 boards won't have a small graphics chip.

or get a 1245 / 1246

I like the 1245 and 1246 for this. I can get a 1275 v3 for the same price as the 1246 or a 4790. Common sense says to get the 1275 over the 1246, but not sure what the performance difference would be if any between the 4790 and the E3-1275.

 

[Mobius71]

YEa, forgot about that. The 1245 will work fine as well. He could also get like a 730 or a 5450 from AMD

This is actually what I was planning to do...get a couple 5450's or another cheaper alternative to passthrough to some of the vms.

 

[Bossyfins]

YEa, might as well get the 1275. It should have an IGPU

 

[giantbucket]

1231 has no IGPU. he'll need a separate graphics card. server boards have a basic gpu chip onboard, but it's just for showing the desktop for local admin purposes. z97 boards won't have a small graphics chip.

or get a 1245 / 1246

I like the 1245 and 1246 for this. I can get a 1275 v3 for the same price as the 1246 or a 4790. Common sense says to get the 1275 over the 1246, but not sure what the performance difference would be if any between the 4790 and the E3-1275.

with the i7-4790 (non-K), you'll lose ECC ram support. other than that, it's essentially the same. if you're not going to use ecc ram and a mobo that supports it, there's probably little real difference.

 

[Mobius71]

1231 has no IGPU. he'll need a separate graphics card. server boards have a basic gpu chip onboard, but it's just for showing the desktop for local admin purposes. z97 boards won't have a small graphics chip.

or get a 1245 / 1246

I like the 1245 and 1246 for this. I can get a 1275 v3 for the same price as the 1246 or a 4790. Common sense says to get the 1275 over the 1246, but not sure what the performance difference would be if any between the 4790 and the E3-1275.

with the i7-4790 (non-K), you'll lose ECC ram support. other than that, it's essentially the same. if you're not going to use ecc ram and a mobo that supports it, there's probably little real difference.

I can't see myself using ECC. The cost of ECC ram would put me way out of budget and the mobo doesn't support it anyway so it's pretty much a non issue. Would the i5 4690 be able to accomplish my setup? It's a little more than half the cost of the E3 and the i7. I'll lose hyperthreading, but just want to cover my options. I'm thinking the cost savings could go toward the gpu cards or another hdd. I'm still leaning toward the E3 or i7 as they provide plenty of compute horsepower for any transcoding of video or code compiling that I will be doing.

 

[Bossyfins]

If you are getting a gpu like a 5450 or750 or something like that, then the 1231v3 would be fine

 

[giantbucket]

i5-4690 non-K is around $225
E3-1230v3/1231v3 are around $255, and they're 4C/8T so more like an i7 but without built-in graphics
cheapest i7 is $310

that's not a terribly big spread. personally i'd lean towards the E3 just to get the hyperthreading, knowing i'd be running a separate GPU anyways

 

[Bossyfins]

Exactly. simple gpu for admin purposes and an e3 with ht is amazing.

 

[Mobius71]

Yeah a Xeon would be good in this case. If you were just starting out I would say the 2011v3.

I could always sell what I have and start over. What would the advantage be of the 2011?

 

[Mobius71]

i5-4690 non-K is around $225
E3-1230v3/1231v3 are around $255, and they're 4C/8T so more like an i7 but without built-in graphics
cheapest i7 is $310

that's not a terribly big spread. personally i'd lean towards the E3 just to get the hyperthreading, knowing i'd be running a separate GPU anyways

I'm assuming the 1275 would work equally well as a desktop processor, correct? Just wondering in case I decide to switch from virtualization. Not sure how the 1275 is better qualified than the i7 if they're basically the same processor? Whats the underlying difference? I've looked at the specs, but still not sure other than the slightly lower clock speed of the E3-1275.

 

[giantbucket]

2011 gives you more direct PCIe lanes, more RAM capacity, and dual CPU capability
E3 gives you ECC ram support (as does G and i3, but you don't get ECC with i5 or i7)
i3/i5/i7 gives you integrated GPU, whereas only some E3 do that (p/n ends in 5 or 6)

the rest is just price differences, and the occasional built-in feature that's more useful in a server than a desktop / workstation environment