Some time ago I started a new build for a new server based upon the i9-9900k.  I purchased the motherboard, but subsequent upgrades to Linux improved performance to where it was not necessary.  I was going to go with the i9-9900k because it was economically doable while the next generation really wasn’t.  I do not want to go to even newer generations because the e-core/p-core system of newer Intel processors has proven not entirely stable under Linux yet.

     Well, in the meantime, web traffic has doubled and the number of virtual private servers has grown to the point where if one machine failed, the remaining would not be able to run all the existing services with good performance so time to continue the build.

     I managed to score an i9-10900x CPU off of Amazon, new, for under $400 which is about half of what I had expected to pay for the i9-9900k.  This CPU is better in two ways, it has 48 PCI lanes so nvme SSDs can talk faster, and people have been able to get it to clock at 5Ghz without an issue.  This is a 10 core, 20 thread CPU, but the most useful thing about it for us is that it can support 256GB of RAM and it has four memory channels rather than two providing a whopping 90gb/s of memory bandwidth.  And best of all this CPU will work in the motherboard I had purchased for the i9-9900k.  And the ‘x’ part denotes that it is binned by Intel.  Basically, when CPUs are made, those nearest the center of the die provide the highest clock rates at the lowest voltage and heat dissipation.  Intel tests the chips and those with the highest performance get an ‘x’ part number instead of a ‘k’, otherwise the chips are identical.  This is significant in this application as cooling will be the main challenge.  For that I ordered a Noctua D15 cooler.  I am going to start with it’s 82CFM fans, and if those prove insufficient I can order some 300CFM fans that fit in the same form factor but are noisy but since this is going into a data center that already sounds like you’re standing behind a 747 at takeoff, that doesn’t really matter.

     The old Iglulik machine will then serve primarily as an additional machine for VPS’s with the new machine becoming the main web server and probably also will host ubuntu.

     If anyone knows any good relevant inuit / eskimo words, I am open to suggestions for new server name.  Shorter words are better.  Thanks.