I'm in the market for a new VPS and I've heard nothing but good things about Linode. However, I also want the best "bang for my buck" so had to do my shopping.

I've narrowed the best options down to Linode and NeoSurge.

Here's how they stack up:

Linode

Price: $20/mo
RAM: 512MB
Storage: 16GB
Transfer: 200GB

NeoSurge

Price: $26/mo
RAM: 512MB
Storage: 30GB
Transfer: 900GB
CPU: 2x2.4Ghz

Now I have a few questions: Why does NeoSurge list their CPU and Linode doesn't? I have a pretty decent understanding of how VPS works, but that confuses me a bit. Also, the storage and transfer aren't giant factors for me, however they're a nice touch. I could also get the following option.

NeoSurge

Price: $14
RAM:256MB
Storage: 15GB
Transfer: 450GB
CPU 1x2.4Ghz

This option would be great if it wasn't for being so light on RAM. I don't think that 256MB would be enough.

So I was just wondering if someone could tell me some advantages Linode might have and also clarify a few things on the whole CPU thing.

Thanks!

Never heard of neosurge so can't comment on them, but for linode you have.

Awesome and fast support
Automated backups with 3 slots plus 1 manual snapshot (at an additonal fee, however I see neosurge only allow 1 manual snapshot and not automated backups)
Helpful community, just see the forums.
No php errors on their home page see the bottom of neosurge

Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the date.timezone setting or the date_default_timezone_set() function. In case you used any of those methods and you are still getting this warning, you most likely misspelled the timezone identifier. We selected 'America/Chicago' for 'CST/-6.0/no DST' instead in /home/neosurge/public_html/index.php on line 375

just had to put that up there

As for the cpu you're allocated an equal share of the cpu, you have 4 virtual cpus which show as Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU L5520 @ 2.27GHz, I believe linode use two dual core xeons on their servers.

_________________
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How to ask for help
1. Give details of your problem
2. Post any errors
3. Post relevant logs.
4. Don't hide details i.e. your domain, it just makes things harder
5. Be polite or you'll be eaten by a grue

The L5520 has 4 cores, with a total of 8 execution threads due to hyperthreading. Linode's deployment isn't completely uniform (newer hosts are, obviously, newer), but based on statements made by Linode staff in the IRC channel, it's safe to assume every host has at least 2 quad-core processors (I suspect many hosts have more than that).

You get 4 virtual cores. If the host isn't really busy, you can max out those cores. If the host is really busy, then CPU time gets divided up equally amongst the nodes that are asking for it. According to several staff members, it's extremely rare for a Linode to not get the CPU time it "asks" for.

Numerous benchmarks across the internets make it pretty clear that Linode is on the top of the heap when it comes to CPU performance.

If your primary concerns are CPU and Memory, then (in my opinion), you won't fond a better deal than Linode.

Wow, it's even in their google search result:

$6.95/mo Cheap VPS Hosting by Neosurge - 11:14am
Neosurge Web Services 2002- Warning: date() [function.date]: It is not safe to rely on the system's timezone settings. You are *required* to use the ...
neosurge.com/ - Cached - Block neosurge.com

I wouldn't trust NeoSurge's list of "CPU" power. Here's the breakdown they list on their site:

1.2GHz
2.4GHz
2x2.4GHz
3x2.4GHz
4x2.4GHz
5.4GHz
6GHz
6.6GHz
7.2GHz

Umm, what? Are they trying to say they'll sell you a mythical 7.2GHz processor? Or are they aggregating? In which case, what's the difference between 3x2.4GHz and 7.2GHz?

Linode's machines are all dual-processor quad-core Xeon chips. The speed varies on different hosts. Each Linode gets access to up to four cores, or half the host's processing power. CPU is very rarely a bottleneck at Linode.

I stand corrected, we have quad cores, awesome.

And they're right cpu isn't a problem on linode, I've tried various vps providers none have better cpu's than linode (also none had better anything else for that matter regarding performance).

_________________
Paid support
How to ask for help
1. Give details of your problem
2. Post any errors
3. Post relevant logs.
4. Don't hide details i.e. your domain, it just makes things harder
5. Be polite or you'll be eaten by a grue

You could do what I have done and run Unixbench on a test server, assuming they bill prorated or have a refund policy. I've tested 5 or 6 VPS in this way, and Linode consistently outperformed. Even non-parallel tests across one virtual processor beat EC2's more expensive, small instance. IO scores in particular are indicative.

Wow, some really quick responses! I think that alone might be enough to sell me. Linode should really thank it's user base for being so awesome and well informed.

I guess I'll go with Linode! I mean, after all, theres a 7 day money back guarantee. If I don't like it I can always switch. But I have a feeling I'll like it.

Linode hands down.

Check this out:
http://journal.uggedal.com/vps-performance-comparison

I know this cheap vps provider isn't listed in that comparison, but you can see just how much Linode blows their actual competition out of the water.

Never heard of Neosurge. Looking at their home page there is no way I'd ever touch them. Someone would have to pay me to use a service provider like that or anyone advertising themselves as "cheap". I also stay clear of anyone advertising "unlimited".

Their main site is even throwing a php error at the bottom, nice...

For $20/month, my sites are faster and I'm spending less than I was at my old shared host, www.pair.com

And an expired security certificate:

control.neosurge.com:5656 uses an invalid security certificate.

The certificate expired on 2/18/2011 9:43 PM.

(Error code: sec_error_expired_certificate)

Honestly, I'd strongly hesitate on any VPS provider that doesn't have a community (aka forums, wiki, irc).