CPU Clock Speed vs Number of CPU Cores

Should I choose a CPU with a higher clock speed but with a lesser number of cores or a CPU with a lower clock speed but with a higher number of cores?

This is a question that most people are always struggling with when choosing a CPU or deploying a server. Let's clear this up once and for all.

What about CPU cores

In modern computing technology, most CPU has multiple processor cores that enable you to complete multiple tasks at once.
The ability to run multiple programs concurrently and process multiple tasks such as editing a document, running a script while debugging your programs simultaneously.
This is made possible with multiple processor core units.

What about CPU Clock Speed?

CPU clock speed is a measuring term for how fast can the CPU process pieces of information and instructions. Higher clock speed means faster CPU speed. This means that if you have multiple processes running, a CPU with a higher clock speed will process the tasks quicker than the other with a lower clock speed.

A higher clock speed allows tasks to be completed faster, making the experience quicker and less waiting time than slower clock speed.

CPU Clock Speed vs Number of CPU Cores

So should I choose a CPU with a higher clock speed but with a lesser number of cores or a CPU with a lower clock speed but with a higher number of cores?
Unfortunately, this isn't that easy. The answer is, it depends.
This depends on the program, the number of processes you are looking to run, and how you run the program.
Let's consider some cases.

Case 1:
Running a single program at once.
In this case, this depends on the program. Will the program utilizes multiple cores?
A program that doesn't utilize multiple cores will require a higher clock speed to complete the task faster, while if a program that utilizes multiple threads, getting a higher number of cores can complete the process just as fast. However, if you are only looking to run a single process, the more efficient and safer way is to get a higher clock speed as there will be no guessing around and researching required.

Case 2:
Running multiple programs at once.
Suppose you are looking to run multiple processes at once. A CPU with more cores can run multiple processes at the same time, even if it takes longer for the task to complete, running multiple tasks at once, of course, will be quicker. While in a single-core but higher clock speed processor, the CPU will only run a process once at a time but quicker.
In this case, getting a multi-core processor with a lower clock speed might be better.

Case 3:
Need a process to complete as quickly as possible.
In this case, you will have no choice but to choose a processor with a higher clock speed.

Some real-life examples:
1) Game servers – Game servers usually will benefit from higher clock speed as most game servers only utilize a single thread at a time.
2) Website process – Both can work in this case. This will depend on the traffic. If the traffic is small and usually only serves several visitors, a higher clock speed might be beneficial in this case.
3) Windows Machine – It is almost impossible to run Windows OS smoothly with a single core that is lesser than 3.0 GHz clock speed.
4) Video Editing – Video editing requires a lot of CPU processing power. To render video faster, choose a CPU with a higher clock speed
5) Energy-saving – Lower clock speed processors consume lesser energy compared to higher clock speed processors. If the electricity bill is what you care about and not the processing speed. Choose a lower clock speed.

The ideal, of course, will be a higher number of cores and high clock speed. Unfortunately, this will comes at a considerable cost…

Why choose Evoxt?
A higher core count with low clock speed will be cheaper and more profitable for providers as the most cost-efficient processors have a lower clock speed but a higher core count.
Most providers also hide the fact that they use low clock speed and charge you based on the number of cores, as that is the more obvious marketing strategy and cost-saving tactic.
In virtual machines, where every core matters, getting a higher clock speed is more beneficial.
If you can only choose 2 cores, will you choose 2 cores with a lower clock speed or a higher clock speed?
This is where Evoxt comes in! Evoxt seeks long-term happy customers and customer satisfaction, so Evoxt offers CPU cores with a higher clock speed, and we match the prices of providers that offer a lower clock speed.

How awesome is Evoxt.

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