JW wrote:
> Hello,
>
> We recently purchased a Dell PowerEdge 6650 thinking it would be a real fast
> server.
>
> Specs are:
> OS: Linux Debian 4.0/Etch
> RAID 5 on 4x U320 15k rpm drives
> (uses a perc-raid 3/DC hardware raid controller)
> 16GB of RAM
> 4 3.0 Ghz Xeon processors - I think they're dual core, in /proc/cpuinfo it
> shows up as 8 processors - maybe it's only HT

<snip>

This machine is not what is seems to be unfortunately.

1. Dell until their latest series with the Woodcrest based CPUs was a
notoriously bad performer period.

2. Raid 5 + Database == run faster over serial cable. Use RAID 1+0.

3. Dell hasn't made a re-branded a decent RAID controller that is
anything more than 18 months old.

4. 16GB doesn't help you because you are limited by your 32bitness. Get
a real machine with real processors.

5. The CPU is hyper threaded, not dual core.

I doubt you would ever get decent performance out of this for any
database let alone MySQL.

Tell your boss to suck it up, spend 5k. You can get a new, decent Dell
for that. Or better yet, a HP.

Sincerely,

Joshua D. Drake