Server Processors: Choosing the Right Server CPU

When you purchase a server, you must select the accessories, and one of the essential items is to consider what kind of processor (CPU) to choose. As the core of computing, the importance of the server CPU is self-evident. So how to choose the right CPU? This article will take you through the server CPU basis and crucial details to help you make a decision.

What Is a Server CPU?

The server CPU, that is, the server processor, is the computing core and control core of a server. It is responsible for retrieving and executing instructions, processing data, and performing tasks. The more processors a server has, the more efficiently it can work, and the more instructions it can execute in less time. Therefore, the processor is also called the "brain" of a server and is the primary indicator for measuring server performance.

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The Importance of Server CPU in Data Center and Cloud Computing

With the vigorous development of cloud computing, the requirements of IDCs (Internet Data Centers) for server CPUs are also rising. Whenever a server CPU with stronger computing power, more stable performance, and lower cost is launched, it will arouse the attention of many data center users. The reason is actually simple: whether it is a percentage point of performance improvement or a percentage point of cost reduction, the accumulation of many servers in the data center will be an extremely astonishing figure.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Server CPU

When looking for a server CPU, you need to choose the most cost-effective CPU based on the intended application and budget to avoid excess processor performance.

CPU Cores

The core is the most important part of the CPU. All calculations, receiving/storing commands, and processing data of the CPU are executed by the core. CPU cores are divided into single-core and multi-core.

• A single core is a CPU that integrates one computing core. Only one instruction can be executed during the working period, and when processing multiple instructions, it can only be processed in time-sharing.

• Multi-core integrates multiple CPU computing cores in one chip, which is equivalent to multiple single-core CPUs working at the same time. Thus, a multi-core processor can process multiple instructions at the same time without waiting for the previous instruction to complete.

Clock Speed

The working speed of the server CPU depends partly on the primary frequency, that is, the clock speed, which is equivalent to human intelligence. The CPU processes many instructions (low-level calculations such as arithmetic) from different programs every second. Clock speed measures the number of cycles the CPU executes per second, measured in GHz (gigahertz). Generally speaking, the higher the clock speed, the more instructions a CPU can execute per second.

Thread

Thread count is a logical concept. Simply put, it is the number of simulated CPU cores. For example, a CPU core number can be used to simulate a 2-thread CPU in Intel processors, that is, the single-core CPU is simulated as a dual-core CPU. For a CPU, the number of threads is always greater than or equal to the number of cores. In general, one core corresponds to one thread, but a core can correspond to two threads through Intel's proprietary hyper-threading technology. That is to say, it can run two threads at the same time, which gives full play to the performance of the CPU. This is one of the reasons why most people choose Intel processors.

CPU Cache

The CPU cache is a temporary data exchange between the server CPU and memory. Its capacity is much smaller than memory, but the exchange speed is much faster than memory. The emergence of cache is mainly to solve the contradiction between CPU operation speed and memory read and write speed. Because the CPU operation speed is much faster than the memory read and write speed, which will cause the CPU to spend a long time waiting for the data to arrive or write the data into the memory. The data in the cache is a part of the memory, and this part of the data is considered to be the data that the CPU will access in a short time. When the CPU calls for data, it will be called from the cache first, thus speeding up the reading.

Motherboards

The motherboard, also known as the main board or system board, has the primary function of aggregating all server components into one system. If the processor is the "brain", then the motherboard is the "heart" of the system, carrying vital characteristics of the computer system. Due to the high operating time and high operating intensity of the server, as well as the huge amount of data conversion, power consumption, and I/O throughput, the requirements for the server motherboard are quite strict.

Choosing the Right Server CPU in 2023

As one of the important components of the server, the server CPU has an important impact on the performance of the server. When choosing accessories for your servers, you need to pay attention to what tasks your server will perform, whether it will be used for data-heavy tasks such as video editing or 3D rendering. If you plan to use a lot of CPU-intensive applications, you also need to make sure you have enough RAM to support them.

Most of the server CPU brands currently on the market are either Intel or AMD. Both brands of CPU have their own advantages and disadvantages. AMD processors are cost-effective, while Intel processors tend to have better overall performance. Most FS servers use Intel processors, giving them outstanding performance.

These are the features of FS server CPUs.

• Intel® Xeon® E-2100/2200 Processors: Intel® Xeon® E Processors deliver essential, business-ready performance and scalability for SMB entry-server solutions. Configured with Intel® Xeon® E-2100/2200 Processors, FS servers feature cost-effective, security and reliability.

• Intel® Xeon® Scalable Processors: The Intel® Xeon® Scalable processor family provides the foundation for a powerful data center platform that creates an evolutionary leap in agility and scalability.

• Intel® Core™ i3/i5/i7/i9 Processors: The 8th/9th Generation Intel® Core™ i3/i5/i7/i9 processors provide you with a new level of creativity, gaming, and connectivity. With Intel Core processors, FS RS3110, RS2110 and TS1610 servers can handle multiple simultaneous applications to get work done with higher performance and efficiency.

• AMD® EPYC™ 7502 Processor: AMD EPYC™ delivers exceptional performance for cloud, enterprise, and HPC workloads. With thermal management function to avoid thermal failure. Such as the FS RS7265-V2 server, equipped with an AMD EPYC 7502 processor, is ideal for almost any data requirement or standard enterprise infrastructure application.

Additionally, the FS server supports customized services, and you can customize accessories according to your own needs, including high-performance processors, memory, hard drives, and PCIe expansion slots.

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Summary

Although the server CPU is the most important component, choosing a server should not be limited to selecting a processor, more attention should be paid to the overall performance of the server. If the overall running speed of the server is not high, using a high-frequency processor may cause a performance bottleneck. Therefore, when choosing a server CPU, you need to consider your business situation and match the appropriate hardware configuration so as to maximize the role of the server.