Hey guys,

 

Im building my first unraid server and want to know if you think its worth paying the extra money for the i3 3220T?

 

My main concern for the build is that it will be power efficient as I plan to run it 24/7 but at the same time I plan to run some plugins that could be CPU intensive at times.

 

From what I understand from reading the specs is that you sacrifice some grunt for the sake of a big power reduction.

 

Intel Core i3 3220T - $145 http://ark.intel.com/products/65694/Intel-Core-i3-3220T-Processor-3M-Cache-2_80-GHz

Intel Core i3 3220  - $119 http://ark.intel.com/products/65693/Intel-Core-i3-3220-Processor-%283M-Cache-3_30-GHz%29

 

 

...if power efficiency is your fist goal, consider the following:

 

- if the box will idle most of the time, both CPUs will do that at the same - very low - rate...TDP does not count into it.

- but if you're requesting processing power to the max, you will see the T-version run cooler, saving approx 36percent energy, compared to the non-T.

  The non-T offers "only "17percent more clock-speed than that of the T.

  Both versions do not have Turbo mode, which would account for the higher TDP/clock ratio of the non-T, so a "linear" calculation for comparison as above should be OK, I think.

 

The problem will be to decide if your use cases will really push the CPU to its limits.

Are yur tasks really going to max-out for a long time (lets say,  4hrs per day which is 17percent of the day)  and you cannot wait 20% longer for the results -> I'd go for even a bigger CPU  but If you can wait for the tasks to be finished, I'd go for the T-version.

If you do not reach the limit at a sustained rate of more than 4hrs per day, I'd go for the non-T...you will never spend that much energy to return the higher costs for purchasing the T.

I would be really surprised if you max out the processor... Check my specs, I use the system a lot but it very rarely tops 50% cpu use.

Intel Core i3 3220 and  3220T both is amazing for your system. 

I didn't read for 3220 vs 3220T specifically, but... if same as for 2100 vs 2100T then the T model is basically just an underclocked model... both will have same exact power consumption at idle, the difference will be at full load... also note that the T model may have a low profile cooler (less efficient and noisier... at least this was the case on 2100T), I ended getting a G620 for my system, almost same as 2100T, a lot cheaper, and comes with a better (bigger) cooler.

I put my system together in a Node 304 - very tight fit.  I ended up going with the 3220T.  Performs great.  I assume that I could have gotten same results with the 3220, but heat signature and quiet were a primary concern for where I was physically installing the box (on top of the already small/tight case).

Go with the T if you can afford it. Even transcoding 1080p video on the fly the T model will be more than capable. The only reason I have a non T i3-2120 is because it was free out of a dead machine from work.