Out of all the processor options out there available in the dedicated server hosting market, the choices can seem confusing. Well, no worries – in this post, we are going to go over everything you need to know about Xeon processors, so you can make an informed decision when you deploy your next Xeon Dedicated Server.

Compared to Intel’s consumer grade processors, such as the Core i3 or Core i7, choosing to deploy your dedicated server with a Xeon processor can provide you with a myriad of benefits for your production environment. Xeon processors are designed for server environments and are quite resilient, as they are manufactured with the intent to be run in a 24×7 datacenter environment. Consumer grade processors, such as the Core i7, are those that are designed to run in a traditional desktop computer (such as your home computer). In this post, we will outline some benefits of choosing a Xeon processor for your dedicated server, compared to a consumer grade option such as the Core i7’s.

Design & Manufacturing

The Intel Xeon processors are intentionally designed from the Intel factory to be utilized for datacenter environments. This means they are built to be robust and resilient, and typically has a longer lifecycle than a consumer grade CPU. The Intel Xeon processor will be capable to handle your workloads for many years ahead and typically has a lower failure rate than consumer grade processors.

Multiple CPU’s

Most Intel Xeon processors support the ability to deploy with multiple CPU’s, so if your use case demands more cores, you can deploy your dedicated server with multiple physical CPU’s. For example, you could deploy a Dual Intel Xeon dedicated server, which would get you two physical processors on the server (which results to more physical and hyperthreaded cores).

ECC Memory

ECC stands for Error Correction Code — and while your home computer may not utilize ECC memory, it is critical to have ECC memory in live server environments. ECC memory is able to identify and correct corrupt memory data instantly, this is critical for ensuring high reliability and uptime in a production environment. Some Intel consumer-grade processors may not support ECC memory, but Xeon Processors do.

L3 Cache

L3 Cache memory allows the processor to retrieve information faster, and reduces the average time to access data from the main memory. This is critical for server hosting environments, especially ones that are hosting mission critical environments. In most cases, the L3 Cache is double for Xeon processors, compared to Intel’s consumer grade processors such as the Core i7’s.

Virtualization (VT-X) Support

If you’re looking to run virtualization on your dedicated server then you will need to look for a dedicated server with VT-X support. Going with a Xeon processor set up offers virtualization support with all the virtualization related CPU flag extensions you may need. This means you can run VMWare, Proxmox, KVM, etc on your server without any issues. If you choose to deploy your dedicated server with RackNerd, RackNerd offers additional IPv4 addresses so you can assign those to your virtual machines as well.

Looking for a discounted Xeon Dedicated Server? RackNerd has dedicated servers available in to deploy in over 20 datacenter locations. Take a look at our dedicated server plans here. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, e-mail sales@racknerd.com and we will provide you with a customized quote based around your requirements!