When choosing a web hosting company, you want to make sure that they use the best possible hardware available to process your website’s traffic as efficiently as possible. One indicator of a site’s efficiency is the server processor brand and model that they use. Knowing what kind of processor is used by your web host will allow you to decide whether you want to upgrade your server’s hardware when it becomes necessary.
AMD
AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) was originally founded in the 1970s as the Advanced Micro Devices company. Back then, they manufactured the first-generation of microprocessors (called x86 processors) that were capable of floating point operations (i.e. performing complex mathematical computations). Since then, they’ve continued to progress and develop in the world of server processors, and today they are a major force to be reckoned with in the industry. For example, the AMD Opteron processor is a twelve core twelve thread beast that could easily power a small office or home server. In comparison, most manufacturers’ twelve core twelve thread CPUs are only suited for high-performance computing (HPC) use.
Intel
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Intel Corporation. They too have had a long and storied history in the world of microprocessors, and even today they’re one of the leading companies in the industry. If you’ve ever shopped for a computer or laptop in the past few years, you’ll undoubtedly have seen the Intel logo or heard of their processors. Depending on your budget, you may have opted for an Intel processor over an AMD one simply due to the name recognition alone.
Broadwell
Broadwell is a brand name that you may have heard of if you work in high-performance computing (HPC). In this case, the processor is an eighteen core thirty-two thread beast that was specifically tuned and designed for HPC use (hence the double-digit thread count). Because of its unique architecture and capabilities, the Broadwell processor is ideal for rendering large volumes of 3D data, such as science-fiction-themed video games or visualizations used in engineering and manufacturing. Due to its high efficiency and specialized design, the Broadwell processor is also great for running real-time applications and virtual machines (VMs).
Haswell
Haswell is another Intel processor brand that you may know and love. It was released in 2013 and is the direct successor to the wildly popular and efficient Broadwell processor. Like its predecessor, the Haswell processor is also incredibly efficient, boasting low power consumption rates that make it suitable for use in small-form-factor (SFF) computing devices, which typically weigh less than six pounds.
Athlon
Athlon is an Intel processor brand that you may have heard of if you’ve ever shopped for a computer or laptop. Like the other brands mentioned so far, the Athlon processor is a highly efficient, specialized piece of hardware that was designed for use in high-performance computing (HPC). However, due to its unique combination of efficiency, reliability, and cost-savings, the average person may also enjoy using an Athlon-powered machine.
Ryzen
The last processor on our list is the Ryzen 7. This is another unique brand from the Intel family that, when coupled with high-quality motherboard silicon, allows for some amazing performance and efficiency in a small, form-factor computer. If price and efficiency are your top priorities, then the Ryzen 7 processor could be your perfect match. Just make sure that you buy an official brand version of the processor, or else you could have some compatibility issues when it comes to software and drivers.
Memory Market Segmentation
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a server processor is what kind of memory you’ll need. There are three basic types of memory that you’ll see: DDR (Double Data Rate), DDR3, and DDR4. These are the basic building blocks of your computer’s memory and will determine how fast your system can perform certain tasks. Since our target audience is interested in high performance, let’s dive into what each type of memory is and how they perform compared to one another.
DDR
DDR stands for “Double Data Rate,” which means that the chip is capable of running at both the XXXXXX and the XXXXXX speeds that your device supports. For example, DDR3 runs at XXXXXX and DDR4 at XXXXXX. So if your computer supports DDR3-1066, then it will also run at DDR3-1066 and DDR4-2133 speeds. As you may surmise, DDR speeds determine how quickly your hardware can process data. This, in turn, affects everything from rendering video to running software.
DDR3
DDR3 stands for “Double Data Rate Version 3” and is the original version of DDR. The major difference between DDR3 and its predecessors is that it doesn’t use as much power. This makes it ideal for portable and mobile use where power consumption is key. DDR3 may run at less than half the speed of DDR, which, as we mentioned above, is a significant speed downgrade. The trade-off is that DDR3 is much more cost-effective than DDR. If you’re looking for maximum reliability, then you may want to opt for DDR3. However, if you need the highest speed, then you may want to opt for DDR4 instead.
DDR4
DDR4 stands for “Double Data Rate Version 4” and is the newest iteration of the DDR family. Just like its predecessor, it too is a massive improvement over previous versions. Not only does it run much faster, but it is also much more power-efficient. Because of this, it is a good fit for use in smaller, form-factor devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, where heat generation is vital. Like DDR3, DDR4 may run at less than half the speed of DDR but, depending on the variant, it is capable of reaching speeds as high as XXXXXX. When choosing a DDR4-based system, you should therefore ensure that your motherboard is compatible and that your available memory slots are compatible with the speed that you’ve chosen. As a general rule, the faster the better, especially if you’re planning on using the system for gaming. With a high-performance processor and graphics card, you may find that your hardware runs smoothly at much higher speeds than those that are supported by your RAM modules.
Choose A Server With At Least Two Channels
If you’re looking for the best possible performance and efficiency from your web hosting company, then you may want to opt for a dedicated server with at least two memory channels. A memory channel is a spot on the motherboard where RAM modules are installed, which, as the name suggests, provides a dedicated memory space for the server. Having two memory channels allows for much faster data transfer rates and, depending on how many RAM modules you have, it may even allow for higher performance. For instance, if you have four RAM modules and you choose to use DDR4-2133 memory, then you’ll be able to run at least four virtual machines simultaneously, with the overall performance of your system greatly enhancing. Just remember that this will require a 64-bit operating system, such as Microsoft Windows 8.1 or Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Long Term Support). If you’re running a 32-bit operating system, then you may only be able to use up to three virtual machines simultaneously (due to RAM capacity restrictions).
Avoid The PECI (Pin-Enabled Chip-Install) Option
Another important thing to consider when choosing a web hosting company is whether or not they offer the PECI (Pin-Enabled Chip-Install) option. The PECI option provides the convenience of an overclocked processor by taking advantage of unused pins on the package (e.g. Intel’s Pentium G4400T Processor). While this may be convenient for those who want to quickly get up and running, it is not recommended for those who plan on using their machine for long periods of time. What this means is that you may run into problems with hardware conflicts if you decide to use certain software or games on your machine. For example, if you buy a video card that is designed for use with the Intel Core i7 processor (e.g. the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960), then you may experience problems if you run a PECI-enabled system with an Intel Pentium G4400T or AMD Phenom II X4 945 processor. In these cases, you may need to upgrade your graphics card or look for a different product altogether.