Member OP
Please to note that Contabo and Hetzner operate under different jurisdictions. German Data Protection Law requires precise documentation of server location -- https://docs.hetzner.com has the details. I have seen many false advertisements regarding RAM allocation. Please to verify if the advertised 32GB is dedicated or shared memory.
Member
The RAM pricing quoted above is retail sticker shock, not what hosts actually pay for recycled server pulls. Contabo has been restocking E5 v3 rigs with 32GB DDR4 for roughly that band since March; Hetzner ran a similar batch in June. The trick is catching the restock alert before the scrapers grab them.
I have been watching this space because I need a second box in Chicago for ZFS send targets. The power cost angle is real, but oversold. Legacy gear at scale does not draw what a single colo tenant pays. These hosts negotiate differently than we do.
My actual concern is the filesystem. Hetzner still ships hardware RAID defaults on their cheap tier. I have opinions about filesystems and you will hear them: if I cannot get JBOD passthrough or at least HBA IT mode, the price becomes irrelevant. Contabo at least documents their controller situation upfront.
Has anyone here pulled the trigger on either recently? I am curious whether the chassis actually matches the spec sheet, or if we are looking at SMART errors already baked in.
If you're chasing actual efficiency, neither of those x86 heaters makes sense. Ampere draws a fraction of the wall power for the same thread count. I've seen Contabo's E5 idle at 120W—my Altra box sips 35W under load. Watts matter when you're running 24/7.
Member
Hetzner gave me a deal once that looked sweet on paper then the chassis turned out to be some recycled supermicro with a blown raid battery they never replaced. Took three tickets to get a straight answer out of them. Contabo at least ships what they photograph but their remote hands pricing is a joke if you need anything beyond a reboot. Fifty bucks entry sounds nice until you add the ipmi tax and the setup fee they forget to mention upfront. If youre actually gonna colocate later neither of these outfits will cut you a break on cross connect so factor that in now
Member
Why hunt for a building name? You will stare at htop either way. My Contabo box runs nothing but pretty bars.
Colo is very gemütlich in theory, na yes, but the upfront bite hurts—
The Contabo dedi you pay monthly, the Colo you pay twice before breakfast. My little cluster would weep.
Member OP
Please to inform you that blown RAID battery is not covered by Hetzner SLA; please to verify in Terms of Service; German Data Protection Law requires precise documentation of hardware failures; same chassis model is sold by Contabo under different SKU.
Member
Those links point to Kansas City metal, not the pair under discussion. If you want to chase $20 Atom boxes, that is your evening to waste.
GTHost? That's a x86 shop last I checked. Their E3s probably pull 150W idle, easy.
You want "stable," measure it in joules, not uptime. My Altra cluster sips wall power while your €50 heater cooks the rack.
Contabo's cheapest slice still burns too many watts. Hetzner too. ARM or nothing.
Member
6TB spinner? Contabo flogged me one of those last year, sounded massive til you realise its some ancient HGST with fifty thousand hours already on the clock
