[Leaplist] Re: Suggestions for paravirtualization optimized cpu set for Linux

[Bryan J. Smith]

Actually, for paravirtualization, you don't need any hardware VT.  It's quite
high performing.   The VT really only comes into play for full virtualization, and
then you use paravirt drivers to improve performance to paravirt-like speed.
Paravirt Xen works excellent for Linux on Linux.  Fullvirt KVM is really only
something to care about for running Windows on Linux (and Microsoft and Red
Hat have interoperability agreements to certify each other's solutions --
EL on Hyper-V and Windows on KVM).

As far as 8GiB of RAM, any dual-channel DDR2/DDR3 can do 8GiB of RAM
via 2 x 4GiB.  The biggest issue is the 4GiB sticks.  If you don't mind going with
a slower synchronous clock, although that's not always necessary "slower" in
performance (latency timings are more important that synchronous clock speed),
you can do 4 x 2GiB in several models -- 2 DIMMs per channel.  2GiB DDR2 is
very, very cheap.

Alternatively the new Intel platform offers triple channel, so 3 x 2GiB = 6GiB in
DDR3 is an option.  Or even 6 x 2GiB = 12GiB although I've never seen DDR3
with more than one DIMM per channel.  I haven't kept up with registered v.
FBDIMM either -- I think Intel is dropping FBDIMM).  I'm getting closer to pulling
the trigger to upgrade my 14-15 month-old notebook from 2 x 2GiB to 2 x 4GiB
for 8GiB myself, because I'd like to run KVM more myself.

It's an older P45 chipset with the P8400 (2x2.26GHz, 3MiB L2) and a pair of
DDR3 SO-DIMM slots.  I've seen my notebook for as little as $800 refurbished,
right down to the killer GeForce Go 9800GTS 512MiB graphics and nice, full
1920x1200 display (with HDMI out, eSATA port, etc...).




----- Original Message ----
From: Kevin Inscoe <kevin at inscoe.org>
To: This is the Leap Main List <leaplist at leap-cf.org>; Central Florida Geeks <cfgeeks at mail.cfgeeks.org>
Sent: Sun, November 1, 2009 1:56:08 PM
Subject: [Leaplist] Re: Suggestions for paravirtualization optimized cpu set for Linux

Oh another limiting factor I need 8GB of ram which severely limits the mobo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200302+1072710630&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&Subcategory=302&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=

On Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 12:29 PM, Kevin Inscoe <kevin at inscoe.org> wrote:
> I am needing to build a new quad-core workstation that's primary
> function will be to perform as a lab and run several virtualized
> operating systems at the same time. Mostly this will be Xen with some
> experimentation into KVM and some Sun Virtualbox as well. Needs to
> support what KVM and hypervirtualization wants which appears to be
> AMD-V or Intel VT-x. The host will also be my main software
> development workstation (Java and C++) if that matters. This is for a
> personal project so money is a factor but will balance against
> need/best practice. The host OS will be Gentoo Linux latest kernels.
> This will NOT be a game type machine and video is of relative
> unimportance. I have not kept up with chip technology these days but
> basic searching leads me to believe I want for a low end either Phenom
> X4 II (quite affordable) vs. i5-750 (still quite affordable) but seems
> less mature. Or I could go to the high end of my cpu budget with a
> Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650. Suggestions for a Linux only VM and
> development workstation? Also the mobo supporting this chipset will
> have a lot to do with it as well since this will also be a desktop. I
> am trying to conserve my foot print.
>
> Thanks for any pointers.
> --
> Kevin P. Inscoe        Amateur Call Sign: KE3VIN
> Deltona, FL 32738          28.9497N by 81.1952W
> kevin [at] inscoe [dot] org  http://kevininscoe.com
> CSX on the A-Line mp 755
>



-- 
Kevin P. Inscoe        Amateur Call Sign: KE3VIN
Deltona, FL 32738          28.9497N by 81.1952W
kevin [at] inscoe [dot] org  http://kevininscoe.com
CSX on the A-Line mp 755

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