Single processor with multiple cores or Dual processor with multiple cores for VMware Workstation 11

[mjhock]

I'm trying to pick the best hardware platform to run VMware Workstation 11 on a desktop workstation. I want to know if a Dual processor with multiple cores will perform better than a Single processor with the same number of cores. The answer I guess will be in part determined by the amount of memory available, but assuming I have at least 32G per processor, is there any reason to spend the extra money on a Dual processor machine?

[wila]

Hi,

Won't make much of a difference. If you're so inclined to look at the CPU then make sure you got the latest line, have most "intel smart cache" etc.

It is more important to have a lot of RAM and fast disk nowadays as having more CPU cores as you usually run out of internal memory or bump into a slow performing disk system before you run out of CPU. That's assuming a normal workload.

Of course there are minimums on number of cores (a dual core host will run out of CPU) but if you buy a host to be used for virtualisation then you would normally start at a quad core CPU anyways.

--

Wil

[NoelC1]

I have always opted for dual package systems (Dell Precision Workstations) myself, and haven't been disappointed.

I have presently a T5500 with dual 6 core Xeons (now 5 year old tech) and it easily runs 5 Windows VMs without even stuttering the sound.  I have 16 cores configured in one of the VMs.

This is not comparative information, since I don't have a single package system to compare it to.

-Noel