CPU 2 cores with more L3 cache or 4 cores?

[vuser1]

Hi all,

What is better for running several (3-5) VMs - more cores or more CPU cache? Is it possible to answer in general?
In my case, one VM works as network gateway - it's primary job is to route network packets. There are also linux and windows HTTP servers. Finally, 2-3 testing computers running diferent soft, even SQL.

Following CPUs has similar price:
AMD Phenom II X2 560 3.3 GHz 7Mb
AMD Athlon II X4 640 3.0 GHz 2Mb

Which one is better for virtualization?

[vbox4me2]

More cache per cpu is better, but alot of quads these days have larger caches, up to 6mb/core.

[fixedwheel]

What is better for running several (3-5) VMs

depends on the workload, but thats how much i would run on a quad core. A dual core is ok for max. 2 guests IMHO

[vuser1]

Workload is not big. The only hard-loaded VM is network gateway. Other VMs are not loaded a lot. There ARE CPUs with 4 cores and 8Mb cache, but I believe I don't need to pay so much.

So, in my case:
- one VM is net gateway, loaded
- 2-4 VMs, not loaded so much

I know that VM eats CPU context switches even when idle. Which CPU is better?

[vuser1]

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