hi im after a recommendation for replacing my current AMD Sempron 145 Processor, basically the current processor is fine for basic unraid usage and does even cope with a couple of unraid plugins, however i would like to do more in the future and thus require a more powerful processor to cope with the load, here is what i foresee me wanting to do:-

 

1. run up to 3 kvm vm's concurrently - nothing too taxing, probably running linux mint/windows 7 with a few apps installed

2. run plex media server and transcode to approx 2 to 3 devices concurrently - the processor would have to be able to deal with transcoding 1080p movies to android tablets/mobiles.

3. support for PCI passthrough to kvm vm's (IOMMU)  - this would allow me to potentially run xbmc in a vm by passing through graphics card

 

as well as the above im looking for the most cost effective and power efficient AMD processor available, i realise Intel has the lead here but i dont want to go down the road of replacing my mobo, so for now i want to stick to AMD only, oh and the socket has to be AM3+.

 

i have done reading up and have found a 6 core amd processor that looks ok, but is there a better fit perhaps, link to processor:-

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AMD-FX6300-Edition-4-1GHz-Socket/dp/B009O7YORK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389954835&sr=8-1&keywords=amd+fx+6300#productDetails

 

thanks!.

 

Check what kind of CPU's your board is supporting.

This will narrow down your possibilities.

 

yes i did check that before posting a link to the FX6300 processor in my last post, sorry should of included this, this is from the manufacturers website for my model of mobo:-

 

AMD AM3+ FX™/Phenom™ II/Athlon™ II/Sempron™ 100 Series Processors

Supports CPU up to 125 W

 

This motherboard supports AMD® AM3+ multi-core processors with unique L3 cache and delivers better overclocking capabilities with less power consumption. It features dual-channel DDR3 memory support and accelerates data transfer rate up to 5200MT/s via HyperTransport™ 3.0 based system bus. This motherboard also supports AMD® CPUs in the new 32nm manufacturing process.

 

so unless im reading this wrong the FX6300 should be supported, its a 32nm processor with spcket AM3+ and is less than 125W in power usage, so would work ok, do you agree?, million dollar question is, is this the best processor for the job though?. 

 

 

A 6300 should do 3 simultaneous transcoding streams so long as nothing else is happening.  That means you VM's better be idle.

I base my assertion on the 6300's 6381 passmark rating and a 1500-2000/transcode-stream requirement.  That said an 8320 is just not that much more money (GBP108 vs GBP83) and runs an 8117 passmark. FWIW.

 

You said you wanted to run VM's with PCI pass-through?  Have you checked that your current MB supports IOMMU?  I don't see your MB's model listed.

You said you wanted to run VM's with PCI pass-through?  Have you checked that your current MB supports IOMMU?  I don't see your MB's model listed.

 

ive had a quick google around and i can't yet see a definitive answer to this question, the mobo is the Asus M5A78L-M LX V2, its a cheap board so not confident on whether it can do iommu.

a few minutes searching and all I found was one reference in an Amazon review, on the v1 board, that someone is using it with ESXi but no mention of passthrough.  His mention of a specific bios (1303) hints at iommu (that is usually the only reason for a specific bios) and using officially supported ram but that is all he says.

 

If you have the patience nothing says you can't try it to see.  Worst case you have to go buy another motherboard.  All your other components will xfer so you aren't buying into anything wasteful. 

 

But if I had to guess, the fact that you aren't seeing any real mention is in fact your clue that it probably doesn't support iommu.

 

Disclosure: I'm anything but a VM / iommu expert.  But I've been scouring the intra-webs for weeks now trying to learn everything I can about the hardware side of things and basic logic has told me if there is no mention of a board on the various virtualization forums, then there is no support.  And if there is some mention, then it is still a crap shoot because a lot of times the board in question is an older model and the newer model has lost support.  It seems that often the non-UEFI version worked and the upgraded UEFI didn't or was hit/miss.

a few minutes searching and all I found was one reference in an Amazon review, on the v1 board, that someone is using it with ESXi but no mention of passthrough.  His mention of a specific bios (1303) hints at iommu (that is usually the only reason for a specific bios) and using officially supported ram but that is all he says.

 

If you have the patience nothing says you can't try it to see.  Worst case you have to go buy another motherboard.  All your other components will xfer so you aren't buying into anything wasteful. 

 

But if I had to guess, the fact that you aren't seeing any real mention is in fact your clue that it probably doesn't support iommu.

 

Disclosure: I'm anything but a VM / iommu expert.  But I've been scouring the intra-webs for weeks now trying to learn everything I can about the hardware side of things and basic logic has told me if there is no mention of a board on the various virtualization forums, then there is no support.  And if there is some mention, then it is still a crap shoot because a lot of times the board in question is an older model and the newer model has lost support.  It seems that often the non-UEFI version worked and the upgraded UEFI didn't or was hit/miss.

 

hmm sounds like a mine field!, ok as you say nothing really lost if it doesn't work, and to be honest pass-through is a nice to have, from what i understand this is only required if im trying to pass through graphics card or sata ports etc, for basic vm support i only need amd-v, which nearly every cpu and mobo now support (infact my current cpu supports amd-v), so worst case scenario is i cant run xbmc or unraid in a vm, i can live with that.

right.  and you're already planning to run plex you can then just use thin clients for viewing like a roku at your TV.  other benefit, no need to worry if the server is quiet, located near TV (or running a long hdmi cable), or uses a SO-approved case.  Honestly if you're already going plex, I personally wouldn't worry about running XBMC on the server. 

 

But I like simple non-interdependent solutions.  That is why I refuse to get "triple-play" packages.  My internet, TV, and telephone are all provided by a different provider over different physical means (fiber, satellite, cellular) and all have battery/generator backup; it would take a lot to completely isolate me and then I'd have bigger problems to worry about.  And I'm not even a survivalist ;-)