Decision Criteria for Processor Type

[Schifty1]

Hi Guys,
My Home Server died, and I’m thinking of building a FreeNAS system and need some advice about the hardware base I should use. The work load is light to medium.
I looked at the Resource page, and most of the hardware there is a couple of years old or later, so I decided to see what new hardware is available.
It turns out that ASRock has a miniITX board that uses the new C246 chips (Board Model C246 WSi). I currently have a call into their Tech Sales department to see when one will be available. It supports 64GB RAM (2 slots), and 8 SATA 3 connections. Cost should be in the $200 dollar range.
It uses either the E-2100 series XEON processors, or a variety of i5/7 core processors. The processors have graphics built in, so that’s an easy.
The question is if the XEON and the i5/7 cost roughly the same, what is the next decision criteria? Both types have 4 cores, 8 MB of cache and run in the 3.5GHz range. Specifically, I’m looking at the:

• Xeon E-2104G, 8 MB Cache, 3.2 GHz Freq. Cost ~$195 (65 Watts)
• Xeon E-2126G, 12 MB Cache, 3.3 GHz Freq.. Cost ~$250 (80 Watts)
• I7 8700, 12 MB Cache, 3.2 GHz Freq. Cost ~ $300 (65 Watts)
• I5 8600, 9 MB Cache, 3.1 GHz Freq. Cost ~ $250 (65 Watts)
• I5 8500T, 9 MB Cache, 2.1 GHz Freq. Cost ~ $220 (Low PWR version, ~ 35 Watts)

Any help making this decision is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance for your comments/suggestions.

 

[Ericloewe]

It turns out that ASRock has a miniITX board that uses the new C246 chips

I haven't heard of anyone managing to actually buy one of the newer boards from any vendor.

The question is if the XEON and the i5/7 cost roughly the same, what is the next decision criteria?

Xeons support ECC, i5s and i7s don't. It's that simple and that is why the latter don't make sense.

Xeon E-2104G, 8 MB Cache, 3.2 GHz Freq. Cost ~$195 (65 Watts)

That's a four-core/four-thread part. It probably isn't worth the extra cash over an i3-8xxx.

Xeon E-2126G, 12 MB Cache, 3.3 GHz Freq.. Cost ~$250 (80 Watts)

Six-core part, still no hyperthreading, for some reason. It's probably overkill for "light to medium" workload, but you'd have to be more specific.

 

[Schifty1]

HI Ericloewe,
Thanks for the quick reply and explanation. I missed the no ECC support in the i5/i7's.
As a result of your comments, I generated the attached spread sheet compiled from the Intel Website detailing XEON's separated by Graphics support with Hyperthreading and ECC. I included some "suggested" pricing as ball park numbers.
I hope this helps others converge on interesting processors for their application.
Regards

 

[Ericloewe]

Careful, you've got quite the eclectic mixture of parts there. You have LGA1151 in both Xeon E3 v5/v6 / C23x and Xeon E / C24x variants (they're artificially incompatible and will not work with the other), Xeon-D (soldered BGA) and LGAHoly-crap-so-many-pins.