2 low spec servers, or 1 high spec?

which for best performance and scalability

[BenSeb]

Hi

I currently run a website on a single machine:

Dual P3 1.4Ghz, 1Gb ram, 2x73Gb SCSI disks in raid, freebsd 6.0

and im looking to upgrade.

The main problem at the moment seems to be when the site is very busy, mysql tends to become unstable, even after lots of tuning. The server loads arent very high (only about 2-3 but its dual processor) but its instability is causing issues, we are also limited to 1Gb of ram so I need to be able to expand this...

The question is, do we either:

Scrap this server, and move to a single new higher spec machine (Xeon P4 3.2Ghz, 2x73Gb SCSI, 2Gb ram)

or

Get another one of these lower spec servers, keep the existing and move Mysql onto the new server and keep http on the existing server?

The only other problem is that the lower spec servers use old memory (133) so its expensive to upgrade - so would be difficult to go above 1Gb on each. However, we can get two of these for the price of the one higher spec machine - more lower spec machines, or just one high spec, more expandable machine?

I'd appreciate your thoughts!
Cheers all

[jtara]

Geez, you can probably get another one of those for FREE, as long as you're willing to pay the shipping...

A dual P3 is a dinosaur machine. Any current low-end machine will beat the pants off of it.

As far as a "high spec" machine - I doubt a Xeon at this point is worth the premium, and I wouldn't call that machine "high spec". High-spec would mean 2-4 physical processors, each dual-core. AMD Opterons are currently popular for this.

You will probably get more bang from your buck from a non-server dual-core chip, such as Athlon 64 X2 (939 or AM2) or Intel Core 2 Duo. Here, too, unless you need multiple physical chips, the benefit of using a "server" chip is dubious, given the high price.

Depending on your packaging and remote admin needs, though, it can be difficult to find these in a configuration appropriate for a server. Go to "we build you a server".com, and you won't likely find this in their lineup.

I run an Athlon X2 for my test server at home. Don't have the packaging and remote admin issues. It screams.

[stajer]

Keep your dual p3 as a webserver. Separate your mysql db into onto own server. Forget about Xeon - just get a dual dual core amd machine for the db (2x processors (dual dual)). After optimizing your sql code, the best thing you can do for performance on a busy site is split the db into its own machine.

[romaniucc]

I'd take the 'two servers' option and optimize the sql code. But, once you get to a highest level, you'll be limited (again). A p3 is indeed an old machine.