I am comparing the:

i5-3570: http://ark.intel.com/products/65702/Intel-Core-i5-3570-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_80-GHz

i5-3470: http://ark.intel.com/products/68316/Intel-Core-i5-3470-Processor-6M-Cache-up-to-3_60-GHz

i7-3770: http://ark.intel.com/products/65719/Intel-Core-i7-3770-Processor-8M-Cache-up-to-3_90-GHz

 

I am leaning toward either the i5-3570 or i7-3770. My main question is does the extra threads of the i7 really make a difference in a VM setting and is the difference worth $70?

 

I'm certainly no expert, but I just went thru this decision process myself.  I ended up buying a Intel Core i5-4440S, which is a 4th gen Haswell chip, so that I could get the HD 4600 iGPU.

 

This chip only has 4 cores, and is not hyperthreaded, so only 4 threads.  I couldn't figure any reason I'd need the extra 4 cores in my anticipated use case.

 

I was going to stick with an Ivy Bridge CPU, since that's what my motherboard already had.  But, I figured that would leave me with a CPU with no matching motherboard, so I was going to need to purchase a new motherboard to use with the Ivy Bridge CPU I was replacing anyway.  So, why not just buy a Haswell CPU and motherboard, and get the latest generation in unRAID, and just put the current stuff into a new machine?

 

Not sure it that situation matches yours or not, but thought I'd at lease explain how I got to where I am, and why.

 

Finally, I went with that specific processor since it's a low wattage chip, and I don't plan to need the extra processing power often, if ever, so why not save some wattage for most/all of my usage?

 

FWIW 

Take a look at the Xeon 12xxv2 chips.  Much better bang for buck on some models vs. the equivalent i series chip in the same socket.

 

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My current motherboard (see signature) does not support Haswell or Xeon. I do not want to spend the extra money on a new motherboard. I will just sell my old processor on eBay to help pay for the new one. I intend on running multiple VM's (Windows, Ubuntu Server, pfSense, Random Test VM).

This motherboard?

http://www.asrock.com/mb/Intel/H77%20Pro4-M/?cat=CPU

 

It supports 1155 socket Xeons, which I was referencing.  I'm running a 1245v2 (not the best bang for buck), and it's quite the zippy processor.  I think the 1220 and 1230 are the best performance/price vs. the i-series.  Make sure you get a v2 (Ivy Bridge).

For example,

 

1230v2 ($230 amazon) 8872 passmark score

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Xeon+E3-1230+V2+%40+3.30GHz

 

i5-3570 ($210 amazon) 7008 passmark score

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i5-3570+%40+3.40GHz

 

i7-3770 ($280 amazon) 9401 passmark score

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=Intel+Core+i7-3770+%40+3.40GHz

 

Look for a 1225 or 1235 if you need integrated video (the fourth digit being 5 denotes integrated video, zero has no video).

The other thing to note is that the i7 and all the Xeons have hyper-threading which gives you double the logical cores to play with, which is very useful if you're running VMs.

Oh now way! Newegg never listed my board with Xeon support and I never checked the ASRock website. interesting...

Since you don't want to go with a Haswell system, I'd go with the i7-3770 => not for the hyperthreaded cores; but for the much better HD4000 graphics and the 34% higher CPU "horsepower".

 

Gary, how did you determine the CPU horsepower increase between them?

Gary, how did you determine the CPU horsepower increase between them?

 

Simply looked at the PassMark CPUMark's for them.

 

The i5-3570 scores 7008

The i7-3770 scores 9401 ==> a 34% increase.   

... all the Xeons have hyper-threading ,,,

 

Not quite true - the lowest version (122x) doesn't include hyper-threading.

... all the Xeons have hyper-threading ,,,

 

Not quite true - the lowest version (122x) doesn't include hyper-threading.

 

You're right, thank you for the correction.

 

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You can also use the Intel ARK site, and filter on slot (1155) and hyperthreading (yes/no). You could also filter on minimum cores/threads as well as VT-d supported, etc.

 

Here, I even did it for you!

http://ark.intel.com/search/advanced?s=t&SocketsSupported=LGA1155&ThreadCountMin=4&HyperThreading=true&VTD=true

 

Do you need onboard video for unraid? Do you have a video card in the MB already, are you hoping to pass it through to a VM?

If you don't get a cpu with video, you'll need to add a video card. Some MBs won't even boot without SOME video, some will (mine won't, darn it, so I put in a cheap PCI video card).

 

Looks like your MB does support vt-d (whether it WORKS or not is a different story, and you'll have to test it).

 

So, why do you even want to upgrade? Do you see a lack of performance in your VMs ?

 

My suggestion, since you are determined to get a new(er) cpu, is to get a quad core with hyperthreading, so you have "8 cpus" to spread accross your VMs. That should be plenty for you to give of cpu power/time, even if you wanted to passthrough a nice PCI-E card to run a VM of windows to game on or something.

 

Consider looking on ebay for some of those CPUs as well, might find some deals as opposed to buying a new (older gen) cpu.

 

So, why do you even want to upgrade? Do you see a lack of performance in your VMs ?

 

This was the question in my mind, too.

 

Without knowing what you hope to achieve by upgrading the cpu, or what the shortcomings are with your current cpu, it's difficult to give good advice.

 

What VMs are you (or do you intend) running, and with what applications?

My current CPU does not support vt-d so I cannot pass through any PCI devices. My plan is to make my unRAID server the only computer I use. I currently have 3 computers (unRAID, pfsense box and my win 7 laptop) I hope to make a pfsense VM and get rig of that box and a win 7 or 8 VM and passthrough a spare  amd graphics card and stop using the laptop. I'm not sure if I want to spend extra money on a good intel graphics (HD4000) bc currently we cannot passthrough an iGPU. Although it still might be good to have in case the future lets me pass that through... Performance with the i3 is great other than no vt-d.

Ps it very depressing to hear that my year old server is only newer at this point! Next year I'll get to classify it as a dinosaur ?

Performance with the i3 is great other than no vt-d.

 

 

... in which case I would suggest the Xeon 1235 or, possibly, the i5-3470 you originally proposed.  I can currently find the E3 1235 v2 (LGA1155) listed on Amazon at USD215.05.  This is an OEM version which, I think, comes without heatsink - you could use the heatsink/fan from your existing i3.

You can regularly pick up an i5 3470 for £95 in UK on fleabay. Its what I use and have done for months, fantastic workhorse of a chip.

 

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You can regularly pick up an i5 3470 for £95 in UK on fleabay. Its what I use and have done for months, fantastic workhorse of a chip.

 

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So you think the 4 threads is good enough for VM's then and wouldn't bother with getting a CPU with 8 threads?

It is for me. And has been since august when I bought it.

 

I supply plex to about 6 family members plus my own workload including as a gaming rig. Takes it all in its stride. Sure a Xeon would be faster once in a while but over the long haul you'll have very little complaints with the 3470 I believe.

 

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You can regularly pick up an i5 3470 for £95 in UK on fleabay. Its what I use and have done for months, fantastic workhorse of a chip.

 

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So you think the 4 threads is good enough for VM's then and wouldn't bother with getting a CPU with 8 threads?

 

Are you going to be doing any transcoding? Do you have an app in mind you plan to use that excels at multi threading?

 

I'm right there with you, I want to upgrade my Q9650 (c2quad, now THAT's old, your 1155 socket isn't, just a generation behind) to something faster, but I have yet to figure out WHY other than I really like shiny new hardware. What would work better for me would be to get something that supports more than 8GB of ram, thats really the issue i'd like to get around right now.

 

Right now, i'm really looking at getting a haswell i5-4430 (its a quad core, no HT) even though it has no more cores than my current chip. But it does support vt-d, will be WAY faster than my core2 based setup, and allow me to have a lot more ram down the road. Just gotta get someone to price match the frys price (like staples or BB) http://www.frys.com/product/7680527

 

I made the comment about your setup being older because it allows you the flexibility of shopping ebay. Lots of early adopters will be moving from 1155 to 1150 for the lastest and greatest, so you might be able to find some deals on used 1155 socket i5's and up. Don't get me wrong, sometimes they are as much as new, and all the "K" series probably go for more. But its an option, just make sure to look around.

 

Maybe you can bid on this "broken" dell for parts http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Vostro-Desktop-Computer-Intel-Core-i7-3770-3-40GHZ-8GB-2TB-for-Parts-/121343120743?pt=Desktop_PCs&hash=item1c409d1567 It has an i7-3770!

 

Seriously though, how about this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-Core-i5-3330S-Quad-Core-2-27-GHz-SR0RR-3rd-Gen-Desktop-CPU-CM8063701159804-/141288897093?pt=CPUs&hash=item20e5797a45 for $139 ?

...and all the "K" series probably go for more...

 

They are not normally vt-d capable, if that's important to you.