[SOLVED] Optimal BIOS settings for virtualization

[TheHellSite]

Hello guys,

just found my way into virtualization and would like to use proxmox for this!
After a while I read about CPU C-state and so on, therefore I would like to set everything in my BIOS to achieve best performance.
Attached you can find some pictures of the available options: https://imgur.com/a/gZVrwXN

CPU: Intel J3160 (Intel ARK)
RAM: Crucial 16GB DDR3L-1600 SODIMM (Full Specifications)

Right now I have everything set as shown in the pictures. What I am curious about is...

CPU

1. In "PPM Configuration" I could fully disable "CPU C state Report". So why is everyone advising to set it to C1?
2. In this post the user is saying that by disabling Intel SpeedStep power consumption will go trough the roof. Since my CPU is a low power CPU, will this effect me much?
3. In "CPU Configuration" I can set "Power Technology" to disabled. Wouldn't this be the best option?
4. For question 1 and 3: Why do we have to keep C1 state?

RAM

1. MAX TOLUD: Should I set it as high or as low as possible?
2. I disabled "DDR DVFS" so that the memory always runs at max frequency, is this correct?
3. Any other settings to tweak?

What about Intel's Integrated Graphics? Anything to change their? I also want to run a Linux distro with gui.



I hope you guys can help me out here.

TheHellSite

 

[TheHellSite]

Nobody here with any suggestions?

 

[apoc]

Here is my advice:

• Disable all C-States
• Disable Turbo Mode

You want constant, predictable performance so everything which can compromise that (basically power savings) is a no-go.
If that is not enough performance, get yourself better gear (the CPU is well, slow).

 

[MrBruce]

Any other settings to tweak?

Hi, sadly it's a low performance CPU, mostly NOT used for virtualization, used for like music player, processing sensor data or something not performance related job. It's like old Intel Atom CPUs with low TDP. Your TDP have 6W, it's so low.

Check this:

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...9650-vs-Intel-Core2-Duo-E8600/2772vs1050vs957

The 12 years old 2 core Core2 Duo really faster, and also 12 years old Core2 Quad with 4 core more than 2x faster. True, with higher TDP. And many times that 2x faster CPU still not enough for good virtualization performance.
You should use a fast SSD at least and toons of RAM to compensate your CPU's weak performance.

I recommend to you to use this with bare Linux (install Debian or anything + install what needed) or use Proxmox with containers only, no VMs. This is my experience. I also tried to do same with Intel Atom + SSD, and still not was good, only for testing/developing, not was enough for production.

 

[TheHellSite]

@MrBruce
I know that this is a very low power CPU. I am only planning to run 1 Linux distro (for downloading) on it and OpenWrt. Nothing more.
I installed 16 GB RAM and placed a large fan on top of the alu case. During a stress test, temps didn't go any higher than 40°C.
It also has 2 SSDs: 32 GB mSATA for proxmox OS and a 500 GB SATA to store the VMs / containers.
Since I am not planning to use it for any sort of enterprise virtualization or high load tasks, I think it will run OK for my needs.

@tburger
So I should better completely disable C-States, rather then putting it to level 1?

 

[MrBruce]

For that usage this CPU can be fine. I think 8Gb can enough but 16Gb nice for caching.

 

[apoc]

So I should better completely disable C-States, rather then putting it to level 1?

That's my advice / would be my approach.