Until recently, the i9 9900K was considered the crème de la crème of processors. Renowned for its amazing 5GHz overclocking potential and fiery yet tame thermals, this processor still has plenty of power for modern AAA games.
- Single vs Dual Processor Servers, Which Is Right For You?
- Differences Between a CPU, Core, and Threads
- What is a CPU?
- What is a CPU Core?
- What are CPU Threads?
- Intel Coffee Lake: what is it?
- Intel Coffee Lake: new 9th gen desktop CPUs inbound
- Which motherboard is best for you?
- Chipsets
- Intel
- China produces original pieces
- Quick LGA 1151 CPU Recommendations
- Best LGA 1151 CPU Reviews
- Intel Core i7 9700K
- Intel I5 9600K
- Our Picks for the Best Motherboards For i7 8700K
- Factors To Consider Before Purchasing
- Upgrade Path
- Features and Connectivity
- How We Choose
- Things to Consider
- Cores and Threads
- Clock Speeds
- Architecture
- Multitasking
Single vs Dual Processor Servers, Which Is Right For You?
Home page »Bare Metal servers» One- or two-processor servers, which is right for you?
Are you looking for a dedicated or bare metal server? There are tons of configurations to choose from.
It is very important to define a server configuration that meets your requirements.
The backbone of any server is the number of processors that will power it, as well as the actual processor model and type. From there, you add the amount of RAM you need, storage, and other options your use case requires.
After reading this article, you should be able to understand the differences between a single-processor server and a dual-processor server. If you plan to build a bare metal environment for your workload, one of the questions is whether to choose a one-processor or two-processor configuration.
This article should help you make the right decision about your future infrastructure needs.
Differences Between a CPU, Core, and Threads
At a time when computers began to embrace every aspect of our lives, we couldn’t even imagine a multi-core processor. It was a battle for high clock speed of the processor core. The higher the clock speed, the faster the processor can process information.
When single-core processors were no longer enough, manufacturers began to develop chips with multiple cores and threads. Soon we started seeing servers with multiple CPUs on a single motherboard. But what’s the difference between CPU, Core, and Thread? Read a brief overview.
What is a CPU?
The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is hardware that is responsible for carrying out tasks from other parts of the computer.
Single-core processors could only handle one instruction set at a time. Virtually all modern processors now contain multiple cores. This makes it possible to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
What is a CPU Core?
The core is the physical part of the processor. The cores act like processors in a single processor chip. The more cores a CPU has, the more tasks it can perform simultaneously.
One core can perform one task at a time while the other cores handle other tasks assigned by the system. Thus, the overall performance is greatly improved compared to the old single-core processors. There are also logical cores that act as separate threads in the core. While they increase performance, logical cores do not match physical cores.
What are CPU Threads?
Threads are like paths your computer can take to process information.
If the CPU has six cores with two threads per core, there are twelve paths for processing information.
The main difference between threads and physical cores is that two threads cannot run in parallel. While two physical cores can perform two tasks simultaneously, one core switches between threads. It happens quickly so real multitasking seems to be taking place.
Then Skylake came out, known as the 6th generation Intel desktop processors. These chips also used a 14nm manufacturing process and had model names such as Core i5-6600K and Core i7-6700.
Intel Coffee Lake: what is it?
Coffee Lake is the production code name given to all Intel 8th and 9th generation processors. This includes the most recognizable brand of Core, as well as entry-level Pentium and Celeron processors. The latter two are typically only found on very basic systems that are not designed for gaming, so for the remainder of this article I will focus on Intel Coffee Lake Core processors.
The easiest way to find out if a core is a Coffee Lake CPU is to check its model number. If it’s part of the Intel 8000 or 9000 family – such as Intel Core i5-8400 or Intel Core i7-9700K – then you’re in Coffee Lake territory.
All Coffee Lake processors use a 14 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process. It refers to the size of the individual transistors in the processor. The smaller they are, the more can be packed on a single piece of silicon, resulting in better performance than chips with larger, and therefore fewer, transistors packed on the same surface.
Technically, Intel is a bit behind as AMD has already made the leap to using the 12nm process in their latest Ryzen processors. On the other hand, Intel has chosen to stay on the same 14nm manufacturing process as the last three generations of the Coffee Lake processor, albeit using a process that is significantly “improved” and more efficient than their previous 14nm Broadwell, Skylake and Kaby Lake fries. Using official speech, it’s technically called 14nm++.
The most important thing about Coffee Lake, however, is not the number of transistors, but the number of cores that come with each processor. While previous Core i3 processors only had two cores at their disposal, Coffee Lake Core i3 processors now feature four. The Intel Core i5 and Core i7 branches have also grown in popularity, going from four to six cores, while their first Core i9 processors have eight.
The end result is a huge performance boost across the board – especially in the bottom end of the Intel Core family – without going too far in price, making them more competitive in the face of ultra-affordable AMD Ryzen processors.
Intel Coffee Lake: new 9th gen desktop CPUs inbound
In October 2018, Intel announced the first three processors that will consist of the 9th generation of Coffee Lake processors: Core i9-9900K, Core i7-9700K, and Core i5-9600K. Now they have announced the rest of the line-up, which you can see in full in the tables below. It is still unknown when exactly these processors will arrive right now (or what their UK pricing will be), but I will update this article again when I get a reply from Intel.
Most importantly, Intel has finally unveiled its plans for the end of the Core i3 spectrum, which was previously not present in the initial 9th generation launch. These include one “unlocked” Core i3-9350K processor and a number of cheaper “locked” processors with lower clock rates. Unlocked, as you will also see below, means they can be overclocked while locked CPUs are limited by setting their base clock frequencies. However, all 9th Gen Core i3 processors now support Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 technology, allowing them to achieve faster speeds than their 8th Gen predecessors without Turbo Boost support.
Intel’s new Wi-Fi6 standard is also supported in every new 9th Gen Core processor, which should hopefully mean lower latency while gaming, as well as faster downloads (up to 3x faster than the standard 2x2AC, according to Intel, and 40% faster) than ordinary wireless AC). Total memory support is also up to 128GB, and they all also support Intel’s super-fast Optane memory.
The important thing to note with the LGA 1151 processors is that while the 6th and 7th generation processors use the same socket, they are compatible with motherboards designed for 8th and 9th generation processors. Likewise, 8th and 9th generation processors do not work with motherboards designed for 6th and 7th generation processors.
Which motherboard is best for you?
source: ASUS
Choosing the right motherboard for your PC can be a bit tricky, but if you’re starting with this component as the basis for your next build, we’ve rounded up a handful of our favorites to create a high-performance platform.
Depending on the pin configuration, some sockets can support multiple generations of CPUs. An example would be the current LGA 1151 socket for Intel, which supports sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth generation processors. The socket cannot be swapped and will require a full motherboard replacement if you need to use a different interface.
But just because the socket fits your CPU doesn’t mean your motherboard will be compatible with it. This is where the chipset comes into play. Both the Intel Core i5 7600K and 9600K support LGA 1151, but the former works with the Z170 chipset and the latter works with the Z370 chipset.
We’ll look at a few socket examples for Intel and AMD processors to show how many generations of CPUs can be supported by the latest solutions from both companies.
Chipsets
In its most basic sense, a chipset is a group of electronic components on a motherboard that manages data between the CPU, RAM, storage, and other connected hardware. Multiple chipsets are available in each slot, allowing you to choose between budget and performance, with more expensive motherboards having more powerful components.
Intel
Intel’s latest generation of consumer desktop processors runs on LGA 1151. People with “Skylake” processors may be able to flash their motherboards with a new BIOS update (if available – check with motherboard manufacturer) and insert “Kaby Lake” processor “But this trick won’t work with the new” Coffee Lake.”
Below is a table of the latest sockets you can find on the internet when building a new computer. The number used by Intel in its naming scheme indicates how many connections are in the socket itself.
| Electric socket | Chipsets | Processors |
|---|---|---|
| LGA 2066 | X299 | Lake Kaby-X Skylake-X Skylake-W Kaskadowe Lake-X Kaskadowe Lake-W |
| LGA 1151 | B360, Q370, H310, H370 and Z370 | Coffee Lake |
| LGA 1151 | H110, B150, Q150, H170, Q170, Z170 B250, Q250, H270, Q270 and Z270 | Kaby Lake Skylake |
| LGA 1150 | H81, B85, Q85, Q87, H87, Z87, H97 and Z97 | Broadwell Haswell |
A different naming scheme is used by AMD with the AM4 used in Ryzen processors. AM3 + was used in the “Bulldozer” and “Piledriver” series processors. AM sockets are used in mainstream and enthusiastic processor solutions, while the FM series is being implemented in APU chips. TR4 is only used for Threadripper processors.
| Electric socket | Chipsets | Processors |
|---|---|---|
| sTRX4 | TRX40 | Threader 3 |
| TR4 | X399 | Threader 1-2 |
| AM4 | X570 | Ryzen 2-3 |
| AM4 | B350, X370, B450 and X470 | Ryzen 1-3 |
| AM4 | A300, B300, X300, A320, B350 and X370 | Ryzen 1-2 |
| AM3+ | 970, 980G, 990X and 990FX | The pile driver Bulldozer |
| FM2+ | A58, A68H, A78, and A88X | Steamroller Excavator |
We’ve seen generations of hardware coming from Intel and AMD. Therefore, it is important to match compatible processors and motherboards with the chipset best suited to your needs. But what is a chipset and why are the slots different?
China produces original pieces
Chinese entrepreneurship looking for ways to earn money from various discarded and even processed hardware components has again produced some pretty interesting results. Sometimes it creates some pretty useful stuff, other times it’s quite bizarre, but I have to say that the world of PC hardware is certainly more interesting in terms of these phenomena. I discovered the existence of these converted Comet Lake CPUs when I was looking at a desktop motherboard that is actually based on partially custom APUs from the Xbox One (by the way, you’ll probably hear about this board thanks to one of our readers).
And when I was looking at the offer of these converted processors for the LGA 1151, an advertisement for this popped up: a newly manufactured motherboard designed to work with the 10-year-old Opteron 6100 with socket G34. Refreshing, these were dual-chip 45nm processors with up to 12 K10 cores, in a way it was an Epycs / Threadrippers announcement. On top of that, the 16-core Opteron 6200 and Opteron 6300 which have the Bulldozer / Piledriver architecture should work on this board as well.
New motherboard “X89” for Opteron processors with socket G34 from China
The business plan is probably based on the fact that eBay, as well as dismantling old servers, offers a plentiful supply of old server processors like these Opterons that have no other use. That it was worth having someone design and build a brand new motherboard for him is something amazing (I expected it to be for Xeon processors that already have custom motherboards made for them, but not for much less widespread recently – the Opterona era…)
You may wonder how much equipment could be reused in this way. For example, the ARM processors in today’s phones are quite powerful and even better, they already have a nontrivial amount of RAM pre-soldered in their package, often 4GB or more. If they could be reused and turned on with the right software, they could surely find new jobs on SBC motherboards as the cell phones they originally called home were dying. Or maybe you can even make decent cheap notebooks / chromebooks out of them…
With six single-threaded cores and clocking far in excess of what is required for a responsive AAA game, the 9600K packs a punch at the standard settings alone. Plug it into a Z-series motherboard, use manual overclocking, and you’ll be able to achieve performance levels close to 9700K.
Quick LGA 1151 CPU Recommendations
The processor needs to be chosen carefully as you can pick a processor that does not perform optimally with your motherboard or does not work at all due to compatibility issues. That is why we have created this guide for those who do not have enough knowledge about processors.
Compatibility: The first thing you should check on your CPU is its compatibility with your motherboard. The motherboard should support the same socket that is required by the processor and with the exact variant; otherwise your system won’t work at all. If you are considering purchasing Intel 9th generation processors, you should have a Z390, Z370, H370, H310 or B360 motherboard.
Cores: The basic specification of the processor is the number of cores. The more cores a CPU has, the better its performance will be. The best ninth-generation processor with the LGA 1151 socket is the Core i9-9900K, which has eight cores and sixteen threads. The Core i7-9700K has eight cores and eight threads, while the Core i5-9600K has six cores and six threads. Core i3-9100F is the cheapest processor from 9th generation processors, which is equipped with four cores and four threads.
Overclocking Support: The ability to overclock the CPU can increase CPU performance and therefore most enthusiasts prefer to buy an unlocked CPU that can be overclocked if paired with a Z-series motherboard. All Intel K-series CPUs are unlocked CPUs, which means have unlocked multipliers. CPU overclocking has a big impact on gaming performance because the faster the cores are, the more FPS you’ll get in your games.
Hyper Threading Support: Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology is a great feature that can result in double the number of threads in the CPU, improving CPU performance by up to 25 percent. Among 9th generation processors, only the Core i9-9900 and 9900K processors are equipped with Hyper-Threading, while the Core i3, i5 and i7 processors do not. If you want to check how many threads your CPU has, check out this article.
Best LGA 1151 CPU Reviews
Intel Core i7 9700K
Even with the removal of hyper-threading, Intel managed to provide similar performance to the AMD counterparts. The decision was pretty good though, as the 7th-gen i7 7700K only had four cores too low for today’s gaming requirements. Removing extra threads and adding physical cores makes the performance even better. The Intel Core i7 9700K offers eight cores and threads, which are enough for today’s gaming requirements, but this processor gives way to AMD processors at the same price when it comes to multi-core performance. An excellent reason to buy this processor is that the i9 9900K is relatively reasonable but requires a strong motherboard and cooler, meaning enthusiasts have to pay extra.
However, at the same time, users are also looking for the Ryzen 7 2700X (see suggested 2700X RAM) which is available in the $ 325 price range while being $ 50 more expensive. In addition, AMD Ryzen processors come with coolers attached, making the deal even more attractive. The base clock of this processor is 3.60 GHz, while its boost clock speed reaches 4.7 GHz, but a good motherboard and cooling are enough for that. The TDP of this CPU is 95W, which allows it to be overclocked with air coolers such as the NH-D15 or DeepCool Assassins 3.
In 2021, this CPU is worth considering, but you won’t have PCIe Gen4 slots on it, while you may have them with all of AMD’s competitors. The high price and the lack of an attached cooler are the main things that disappoint users of this processor. The good thing is, you’d like to know that eight cores provide exceptional performance in parallel workloads. High turbo boost clocks mean better single core performance compared to AMD processors. TIM solder provides excellent heat dissipation and transfer to the radiator. Overall, this processor is notable for Coffee Lake processors for the LGA 1151 socket.
Intel I5 9600K
The performance improvement of the Intel Core i5 9600K (also check this article to find out what the best CPU cooler for the i5 9600K is) compared to the last generation is not worth mentioning, but Intel has still significantly improved its Coffee Lake processors. Previously, Intel processors only shipped with four cores to the seventh generation. Now the company has cut off hyper-threading and increased the two actual cores, which I appreciate very much as modern games require more cores.
When it comes to raw gaming performance, this CPU is what you need, but those looking for multi-core performance will go with AMD alternatives. The great thing about this CPU is that it comes with an unlocked multiplier which means you can overclock it to its full potential, but you need a good motherboard and a moderate cooler that you can check out there.
Intel has increased the number of cores for its processors by 50% to match the performance of the first generation AMD Ryzen processors, but the latest round of Ryzen processors is still better. They re-increased the number of cores for the ninth-generation i7 and i9 processors, but not in the i5 series. This CPU is a bit cheaper than the Ryzen 7 2700, but you need to know there’s an AMD CPU that comes with an attached cooler while it’s missing.
As mentioned above, the Intel Core i5 9600K comes with six cores and six threads which is enough for mid-range gaming. The base clock of this processor is 3.7 GHz, which with a turbo boost the clocks reach 7.6 GHz, but for this you need a Z-series motherboard which is quite expensive compared to other chipsets, and also a good cooler to squeeze of this maximum.
The important thing to note with the LGA 1151 processors is that while the 6th and 7th generation processors use the same socket, they are compatible with motherboards designed for 8th and 9th generation processors. Likewise, 8th and 9th generation processors do not work with motherboards designed for 6th and 7th generation processors.
Our Picks for the Best Motherboards For i7 8700K
Choosing a motherboard type for the i7 8700K, which is an enthusiast-grade processor, isn’t the easiest task when building your dream gaming machine. Since the CPU itself is fairly performance-focused and requires clean and stable power from the motherboard, it’s wise to choose motherboards that have well-built power systems and VRM components. Overclocking is another factor that comes into play in this decision, but our recommended best motherboard for the i7 8700k should be able to handle this operation with varying degrees of success.
| # | Announcement | Model | Award | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
ASUS ROG Maximus X code | The best overall motherboard for the Core i7-8700K | 128 reviews Check the price |
| 2 |  |
ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero | The best motherboard for Core i7-8700K overclocking | 386 reviews Check the price |
| 3 |  |
GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming Wi-Fi | The best looking motherboard for the Core i7-8700K | 65 Reviews Check the price |
| 4 |  |
MSI Z370 GAMING PRO CARBON AC | The best inexpensive motherboard for the Core i7-8700K | 1,449 reviews Check the price |
| 5 |  |
ASUS TUF Z370-PRO Gaming | Best Durable Motherboard for Core i7-8700K | 79 Reviews Check the price |
| # | 1 |
| Announcement | |
| Model | ASUS ROG Maximus X code |
| Award | The best overall motherboard for the Core i7-8700K |
| Details | 128 reviews Check the price |
| # | 2 |
| Announcement | |
| Model | ASUS ROG Maximus X Hero |
| Award | The best motherboard for Core i7-8700K overclocking |
| Details | 386 reviews Check the price |
| # | 3 |
| Announcement | |
| Model | GIGABYTE Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming Wi-Fi |
| Award | The best looking motherboard for the Core i7-8700K |
| Details | 65 Reviews Check the price |
Factors To Consider Before Purchasing
Motherboards are one of the most important components of a gaming or workstation computer as they provide the foundation platform on which to lay the foundation for a particular design. Since they don’t directly affect the results you can see on your screen, it’s really easy to forget their importance and either spend too little or too much on your board. Achieving the perfect balance is essential in this process as it would keep your structure safe and reliable for many years to come, while at the same time providing an excellent value proposition.
Upgrade Path
One factor to keep in mind when making your purchasing decision is the upgrade path you can expect from your investment. Often times the motherboard is not the component that inhibits the performance of your particular revision, so people tend to use the same board for a long time. In these cases, it is important to plan ahead and choose a platform that will not only unlock the full potential of your current CPU, but also enable you to move to the next generations in the future.
Features and Connectivity
There are tons of marketing jargon and nonsensical taglines in the motherboard market these days, and you only need to look at the back of your motherboard’s retail packaging to find them. However, there are some features that are actually useful and should therefore be included in the purchasing process. Features like turning on Wi-Fi, better connectivity to 2.5GbE or even 10GbE LAN ports, solid on-board audio, Flashback BIOS, CMOS Clear, and built-in Boot / Reset buttons are all very important and offer tons of convenience all the way down the line. Distinguishing gimmicks from features is an essential part of the buying process, as per our guide to how much you should actually spend on a motherboard.
To further explore the many factors that influence your motherboard purchasing decision, check out our comprehensive motherboard buying guide. Following the guidelines listed in our guide will ensure that you make the perfect motherboard selection for your specific use case.
This was our top i7 8700k motherboard guide, feel free to share your opinion in the comments.
The M.2 heat shield sits between the PCI-E x16 slot, and the Hero has 2x PCI-E x16, 1x PCI-E 3.0 x6 and 3x 3.0 / 2.0 x1 PCIe. When it comes to memory, the Hero can support a maximum of 64GB of DDR4 RAM thanks to the 4 RAM slots. The hero supports Intel XMP technology that predefines overclocking configurations to make everything easier.
How We Choose
We can play some pretty advanced hardware in competitions, but with our personal platforms, we also try to squeeze every scrap of performance out of our motherboards before advances in gaming technology force us to empty our hands and empty our hands from our bank accounts.
We knew exactly which products to show you, because they are still stuck in our cases and fighting a good fight, still full of gaming potential, even when paired with powerful GPUs and monitors. This is the best of Coffee Lake who don’t want to be gentle bedtime.
Things to Consider
In order for you to understand what we’re going to talk about in the reviews, let’s briefly look at some of the characteristics of the CPU.
Cores and Threads
The processor cores are the components that do all the processing. They are in charge of transferring data and solving problems, they are lieutenant generals of your entire computer system. The more you have, the more processes and applications they can handle.
There are two main types of processor cores, single-threaded and hyper-threaded. Single-threaded cores focus on the execution of single sequence instructions. They are extremely efficient when focused on single tasks. Hyper-threaded cores can execute two concurrent execution sequences. They show a bit of increased latency, but are amazing at multitasking.
Clock Speeds
You can think of clock speeds as the second in the command after cores and threads. They work in tandem with CPU cores to maximize performance by speeding up instruction execution sequencing.
Many people mistakenly mix the cores and clock rates, but they are very different. Suppose you have a dual-core processor with high clock speeds. You can run one program extremely quickly, but running programs at the same time is not an option. If you have a multi-threaded octa-core processor with low clock speeds, you can open tons of programs, but each one’s speed would be slow, to the point of useless. Balance is the key!
Architecture
Like a building, a processor’s architecture relates to its structure plan. It covers the rules, processes and organization of the processor. Determines what kind of software and hardware is compatible. This is the reason why new processors require new sockets to be developed with them.
The different architectures are referred to by code names such as “Sky Lake” or “Coffee Lake” and the idea is that each new generation of processors outperforms their predecessors.
Generational changes can be quite small, perhaps just the ability to carry more cores, or they can be a complete overhaul including physical and functional changes throughout the project.
Multitasking
Multitasking in a computational sense is exactly what it looks like. The ability to do many things at once. It can be listening to music, opening some tabs, streaming, downloading at the same time. As already mentioned, processors with hyper-threaded cores are much better at multitasking.
It’s not that single-threaded-core processors can’t multitask. They’ll be fine for the average user, but for professional content creators, media editors, and animators, flawless multitasking is essential.
