computer/CPU types... noob question

[asheenlevrai]

Hi,

 

I need a class here. Or at least a detailed explanation

 

Can someone please help me understand what are the differences between "mainstream" desktop CPUs vs "High end" (HEDT) desktop CPUs vs "Workstation" CPUs vs "server" CPUs?

(I'm not interested in mobile CPUs)

 

 - I know the price tag is very different

 - I know the socket and chipset they use is different

 - I know the different chipsets/CPU combos bring different functionalities (like dual/quad/more channel memory) but I don't necessarily understand the advantage of all these in fine details

 

Most people I ask this just tell me:

"Just buy the best CPU in your price range, don't bother with the stuff that is too expansive or too cheap. There is little overlap if any anyway."

 

That may be true but since I'd feel better if I understood all this a little better.

 

Oh, and I don't need a "gamer's only" point of view but rather a more "general/multiple work cases" point of view...

 

AFAIU currently (last gen) there are:

1) Intel CPUs:

 - Socket 1151_z390 -> "mainstream"    (have iGPU)

 - Socket 1151_c246 -> "mainstream"? 

 

 - Socket 2066_x299 -> "HEDT"         

 - Socket 2066_c422 -> "HEDT"?        

 

 - Socket 3647_c621 -> "Server"

 

2) AMD CPUs:

 - Socket AM4_x570 -> "mainstream" (have iGPU)

 

 - Socket TR4_x399 -> "HEDT"

 

 - Socket SP3_? -> "Server"?

 

What would be the main reasons for anyone to chose one type over another (except from the financial aspect)?

 

 

Thank you very much in advance for sharing your knowledge.

 

Tx

-a-

 

PS: I know that most people recommend to just buy according to the needs. Ask what the machine is intended for... But in my world these are very dynamic considerations. Needs evolve and machines are repurposed all the time. A better understanding the above would help me optimize the resources I manage

[asheenlevrai]

I found some useful info here:

https://www.howtogeek.com/427596/xeon-vs.-core-are-intels-expensive-cpus-worth-a-premium/

 

Although I still have many questions unanswered and only a partially better view of the landscape...

[ZephCloud]

i think the biggest different is on the pcie lanes available that's why it also depends on what you're using it for...for basic task like gaming/streaming 'mainstream' pc are sufficient since you'll most probably only make use of the 1st slot for a gpu...if you need to add another pcie device the lane will change usually on the motherboard manual will tell you which slot affects which..

[Akira Shimazu]

the mainstream its obviously the type of CPU that people use the most. they used it for gaming or working at some case. Ryzen series.  i5. that what people mostly now. or majority of pc. low- medium performance.

 

the highend refer to something like high-boost clock pair with a lot of cores to work with. maximum gaming performance or Heavy workstation. usually i7 or i9  or even Xeon XE edition. and its same with workstation actually.

 

the server  is same with high end but they tend to use lot of cores with lower boost clock. XEON or EPYC. lot of ram and storage but mediocre GPU.

 

 

[minibois]

In my opinion, what mainly sets server CPU apart from any other sort of CPU, would be ECC support. This is not common-place on HEDT or especially on the 'mainstream' platforms.

But the difference between 'mainstream' and 'HEDT' is just what the manufacturer uses as a name for the product(s). I mean technically an i5 7640x is on a HEDT platform (X299), but it's still a quad core CPU with many X299 features cut from it.

 

The difference (IMO) between mainstream and HEDT is the motherboard choice (you have a lot more choice on mainstream, while on HEDT you usually only have 1 or 2 chipset choices, all in a higher price bracket) and often you will have more cores at your disposal. The tech in these CPU's usually is a bit more dated (e.g. Intel HEDT is usually based on last gen's tech). For Intel for example that means each mainstream CPU code-name gets HEDT equivalent, to make the lineup look like this (underlined = HEDT): Haswell, Haswell-E, Broadwell, Broadwell-E, etc.

You could see this as a bad thing, but it's more to do that this is a matured platform, which good support from your software.

 

In the past (pre-Ryzen days), HEDT was the only place to get good single-core performance and more than 4 cores. Since Ryzen, it has shaken up the market quite bit and made today's high-end consumer chips act more like the low-end HEDT chips of the past.