What CPU for home server?

[Gerr]

I want to expand the role of my home server and my current CPU just isn't up to that, so need a recommendation on a replacement.

 

Current role...Plex server & security video capture with the following specs...

 

CPU = G3258 @ 4.4Ghz

Mobo = MSI PC Mate Z97

RAM = 16GB of DDR3-1600

OS Drive = 1TB WD Red

Video Drive = 3TB WD Purple

Plex Drives = 4x3TB WD Red in Raid-10 on it's own Raid card.

PSU = Seasonic 450W Gold

NIC - Intel i210

 

I use my current i7 gaming system to rip and recode Blu-ray and DVD discs, but would like to move the recoding part to the server as I don't like to leave my gaming system on for multiple days while it runs through a large recode project.  I also want to start playing with virtualization on this box.  I can easily add more drives on the cheap, either HDD or SSD, but the big bottleneck in my system is its CPU.

 

My ideal CPU would be a Xeon E3-1246v3, but at $280, that's a bit pricey for me.  I am wondering if Hyperthreading is worth the price as I could get a Xeon E3-1226v3 for $220 and all I lose for $60 is 0.2 Ghz & HT.  Or I could save even more by going with a Haswell i5, but wonder if I need a Xeon as this is a 24/7 server.  Pretty much any quad core CPU that is 3.0Ghz or higher should work for my needs, just deciding on which one is the best bang for the buck and at what price point and if I should go with HT or not and Xeon vs i5.

 

Thoughts?

[Guest]

low power i3? small upgrade dependant on the model but good little chips, i take it you want something power efficent.

[Jacktastic-Mofo]

An i3 would be perfect and wouldn't cost a lot of money at all.

[AMDisTheBEST]

xeon. 4 of xeon cpus should suffice. 

[Altecice]

For VM's you need ALOT of RAM and CPU horsepower. Xeons offer added benfits such as VT-X/VT-D as well.

[Gerr]

Don't want to go i3 as it's still only a dual-CPU with HT and I want a true quad-core.  Plus an i3 isn't much of a speed bump over my existing CPU.

 

And this is a headless system that I RDP into, but I do have a spare USB videocard I can use to set it up if needed.

[Gerr]

I would love more input as it helps point me toward the more popular direction.  Plus someone might have some input I had not thought of.

[Najuno]

I´ve got my home server equipped with an i5 4590. Given the fact that it is indeed just a home server with PLEX and data storage, there´s no need for a xeon or other multi threaded CPU. The 4 cores a sufficient for our needs at home in every way.