Minecraft Server - which is better

[Galac]

I currently have a small minecraft server running 4 worlds, that a handful of players connect to use. I would like to have the best possible server with good render distance and several plugins while not spending a fortune.

So which is better?

Server class 2x Quad Core Xeon E5620 2.4ghz with 12GB ram and a raid 5 array of 10K SAS drives. I have this hardware...but could sell it.

or

Intel G3258 cpu, 16gb ram, 120gb SSD....which I could build for $300


I am thinking the higher clocked G3258, more RAM and the higher IOPS on the SSD would be the better build, even though it only has 2 cores instead of the 8 xeon cores in the server class machine. I also thought it would use less electricity that the server class.


What is the opinion of those with more experience in minecraft servers?

 

[Th3R3ALaSSaSSin4]

If you want to have more players pick the Intel G3258 CPU,if you want less lag pick the 2x Quad Core Xenon.In my opinion,starting with Xenon build would be better because your server will have no lag.Then after a while if your server is popular and you want to expand it by adding the number of maximum players you can upgrade your ram.

 

[Galac]

Thanks Th3R3ALaSSaSSin4. So you recommend the Xenon build even though it has half the single threaded (per cpu) performance of the G3258? How does the Xenon reduce the lag more compared to the faster single threaded power and extra speed of the SSD? Or are both really overkill and my internet upload speed will be the real limit. I do have 4 players in the house on the local lan and would like to bump up the server render distance from my current 12 chuck to 16 chunks (i think that is the max?). The Xenon currently only ever hits about 10% total cpu with the 4 local players...running a Windows 2008 server, Craftbukkit, a dozen or so plugins including multiworld and per world inventory. Runnning a creative build world, resource world(FarmWorld), survival world, and a dungeon world(McDungeon).

 

[Galac]

Thanks Th3R3ALaSSaSSin4. So you recommend the Xenon build even though it has half the single threaded (per cpu) performance of the G3258? How does the Xenon reduce the lag more compared to the faster single threaded power and extra speed of the SSD? Or are both really overkill and my internet upload speed will be the real limit. I do have 4 players in the house on the local lan and would like to bump up the server render distance from my current 12 chuck to 16 chunks (i think that is the max?). The Xenon currently only ever hits about 10% total cpu with the 4 local players...running a Windows 2008 server, Craftbukkit, a dozen or so plugins including multiworld and per world inventory. Runnning a creative build world, resource world(FarmWorld), survival world, and a dungeon world(McDungeon).