Hello Which cpu is better for a forum or just for hosting the database as second server? The Intel Core i7 2600K 3.40Ghz or the 2x Intel Xeon 5506 2.13GHz ? The passmark shows that the Core i7 is faster: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html Thank you
I'm extremely impressed with the Interl "I Core" processors, but they are still classed as desktop processors. Why not upgrade the 5506 for 5620's or some other quad-core hyperthreaded server cpu and that will solve your problem better.
I agree with Ron, I would try to get a 2 x 5520 or 2 x 5620 instead. Should not be a big price difference and you get server CPU instead of a desktop one.
quite frankly... whether the CPU's are "designed" for servers doesn't really matter. So you could easily go with the core i7 (if that is faster than 2 xeons combined). I would always go with the faster of the two... for obvious reasons of course.
You're entitled to your opinion, but Intel Desktop and Server class processors do have different specifications and tolerances. Server-class CPUs are specifically designed to tolerate the stress and heat-cycles it is likely to enounter running 24/7 for years on end, desktop-class CPUs are designed for different environments. While there may be little difference in the measured performance between the desktop and server CPU, if you're in for the long-term then you use desktop CPU's at your own risk. Will they undoubtedly fail? Probably not, but there is a greater chance as the CPU is doing more than it was built to do. It's like driving over a rutted muddy field at 50mph in a 4x4 and in a tank. Both will do it, but do it day-after-day-after-day and your average 4x4 will fall to pieces. The tank will keep going. Not a good analogy, but I'm too tired to think of a better one.
Ron is absolutely right, but I always look at it this way: I have never, ever had a processor fail on me, nor have I ever seen one fail, that wasn't being overclocked, or subject to ridiculous levels of heat, normally due to cooling systems failing or what have you. If your cooling systems are failing, it's not going to matter if you are running a server-grade processor or not. Your RAM is going to fail, your HDDs are going to fail, etc. long before your processor ever will, generally speaking. Buy the best processor you can get within your budget and call it a day. I wouldn't worry the slightest bit about running an I7 in a server environment, but that's just me.