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Question Regarding NON ESXi Virtualisation and the Sandy Bridge "K" Line ?

aowc02

aowc02

aowc02

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Ello everyone,

So, as i start on my path to learn Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, i feel the need to "upgrade" my existing PC to one of the new Sandybridge K processors

from an infrastructure point of view, ill be turning my existing rig into an AD Server... and my intention is to just get one of the new K processors - which I can then create virtual machines to do my interaction, testing and development with the AD Server.

Would the 2600k offer any significant gains over the 2500k based on the above?
Will the extra 2MB Cache be crucial to the general performance of the machine?

Many thanks :)
 
Not really sure on servers but I believe more threads are an advantage to virtual machines. The 2500K is 4 cores, 4 threads while the 2600K is 4 cores, 8 threads. So with the 2600K you have more threads to share between each virtual machine, allowing them to have better performance.

If you don't plan on overclocking then get the non K version. Only difference between the K and non K version is that with the K versions, they have double the graphics power and can be overclocked.
 
Did you read about the non "K" having
VT-d and the potentially useful TXT
Click to expand...

i6 2600 - http://ark.intel.com/products/52213

Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Intel® vPro Technology Yes
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) Yes
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology Yes
AES New Instructions Yes
Intel® 64 Yes
Idle States Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies Yes
Intel® Fast Memory Access Yes
Intel® Flex Memory Access Yes
Execute Disable Bit Yes
Click to expand...


i6 2600K - http://ark.intel.com/products/52214/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-Processor-(8M-Cache-3_40-GHz)

Advanced Technologies
Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
Intel® vPro Technology No
Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x) Yes
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No
AES New Instructions Yes
Intel® 64 Yes
Idle States Yes
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology Yes
Thermal Monitoring Technologies Yes
Intel® Fast Memory Access Yes
Intel® Flex Memory Access Yes
Execute Disable Bit Yes
Click to expand...


Is any of the stuff above useful for your needs? is what I suppose im trying to say:)
 
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2600k will be your best friend having more cache and threads than the 2500k. Personally I rate it far more than the 2500k when it comes to real computing tasks.

VT-x is a must, VT-d is a nice to have albeit it's not just the CPU that has to support it but the motherboard has to support it too. There's been a lot of anger with mobo manufacturers who have deliberately not supported VT-d even though the chipset could :/ Having said that, the software support for VT-d has also fallen short :/
 
I've been wanting this implemented since 2009 ... Still no dice ...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=xen+vt-d+z68

With VT-x & VT-d the potentials are endless ... My dream is still a dream ...

A single machine running both osx86 and windows 7 at the same time with full hardware acceleration, so you see the hackintosh on one monitor and windows 7 on the remaining monitors - Both OSs run their own dedicated graphics card - Catch my drift ?
 
stulid said:
Did you read about the non "K" having

i6 2600 - http://ark.intel.com/products/52213
i6 2600K - http://ark.intel.com/products/52214/Intel-Core-i7-2600K-Processor-(8M-Cache-3_40-GHz)

Is any of the stuff above useful for your needs? is what I suppose im trying to say:)
Click to expand...

Thanks Stulid :).

But unless im mistaken...

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No

Arnt the two above specificly required for ESXI (i.e. Hardware) Virtualisation?

Will not having the above harm Software Virtualisation? (i.e. Inside windows - VMWare Workstation, etc)

Will i still be able to Virtualise? Just on a Inner OS level instead of hardware?

Ta :)
 
aowc02 said:
Thanks Stulid :).

But unless im mistaken...

Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) No
Intel® Trusted Execution Technology No

Arnt the two above specificly required for ESXI (i.e. Hardware) Virtualisation?

Will not having the above harm Software Virtualisation? (i.e. Inside windows - VMWare Workstation, etc)

Will i still be able to Virtualise? Just on a Inner OS level instead of hardware?

Ta :)
Click to expand...

I have no idea about this sort of thing, if you wanted a games PC I could sort you right out:) but this is something I have no knowledge of.

I just knew theres a difference in the CPU's that may or may not be of importance to you:)
 
aowc02 said:
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/2194/newbuild.jpg :P

Probably just going to double it up as a gaming rig at the same time :P
Click to expand...

A few pointers:)

1600mhz ram is the sweat spot for Sandybridge, all the Sandybridge RAM guides I have seen all say this, Be wary of the tall heatspreaders on the Vengenace RAM as it can get in the way of large aftermarket heatsinks should you add one, the closed loop water coolers such as Corsair H60 etc wont have any issues.

Can you afford a Gen3 Z68chipset motherboard?
 
VMWare you won’t notice much difference between the 2600K and the 2500. Get the 2600K if you have the money and perhaps intend to use it for something else, like gaming or video editing. If not I would get the 2500.

What you do want to make certain of is that you have the RAM (8GB+) for VM's and fast disk access. OS/VMWare on SSD and RAID0 for the VM's to run from, should feel nice and snappy. If your running Server 2008/R2, assign it 2 cores and 1GB RAM.

I still use a Q8400 with 8GB RAM and RAID0 to run VMWare. And in this setup it comfortably runs 5/6 servers (dropped my DC to 512MB after setup) which includes an Exchange server. Also you might want to take a look at http://www.dummycloud.com/ allows you to simulate a WAN within the VM's. Great for learning AD replication, Site and Services etc.

Hope that helps.

AStaley.
 
AStaley said:
VMWare you won’t notice much difference between the 2600K and the 2500. Get the 2600K if you have the money and perhaps intend to use it for something else, like gaming or video editing. If not I would get the 2500.

What you do want to make certain of is that you have the RAM (8GB+) for VM's and fast disk access. OS/VMWare on SSD and RAID0 for the VM's to run from, should feel nice and snappy. If your running Server 2008/R2, assign it 2 cores and 1GB RAM.

I still use a Q8400 with 8GB RAM and RAID0 to run VMWare. And in this setup it comfortably runs 5/6 servers (dropped my DC to 512MB after setup) which includes an Exchange server. Also you might want to take a look at http://www.dummycloud.com/ allows you to simulate a WAN within the VM's. Great for learning AD replication, Site and Services etc.

Hope that helps.

AStaley.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips :D

Took delivery of 16gb Corsair XMS3 today :D

Dummy cloud especially.
 
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stulid said:
Gen3,

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-188-MS&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-054-AK&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=1990

So basically when you install an Ivybridge CPU which has a PCI-E3.0 controller on the cpu, the slots of these boards then comply with this, the next lot of generation cards from ATI etc should be PCI-E3.0 also, but its all backwards compatible anyways.
Click to expand...

Took delivery of the motherboard.

Ordered and paid the MSI GD65 Gen 3... £139, got delivered the B3 :/ not happy :(

Any recomendations for the non Gen 3? :P
 
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