My PC needs to be able to simultaneously run 4 OSes (1 VMM and 3 VMs)... The main OS is a VMM running CentOS, and then I have a VM running Tails for web browsing, another VM running Ubuntu for gaming, and lastly an offline VM running Manjaro for development... I want 3 monitors, one 21:9 will be on the bottom and will be for gaming. And then I want two 16:9 on top, one being for the Manjaro OS and the other being an aux switching between CCTV/Tails/duel-monitor for Manjaro... Im going to get 32GB of RAM, and I need a CPU with the VT-d extension which allows me to connect a physical GPU to a VM (aka "GPU passthrough"); I'm going to use a GTX 1060 for the Ubuntu gaming VM...

HOWEVER what im confused about is how powerful of a CPU do I need? How many cores should I be looking at? I think I need 8 cores, 1 for the VMM, 5 for the gaming, 1 for Tails and 1 for Manjaro... Do you think 8 cores is good enough, or do I need 10? Thanks in advanced!!

Edit: When im not gaming I'll use the resources for a virtual lab.

8 cores w/ smt (16 threads) would be sufficient. I wouldn't rely on 8 physical cores w/o smt for that many vm's, you're going to be SERIOUSLY limiting all your VM's in how much they can accomplish. The VM's w/ 1 core only will be SERIOUSLY slow if they're running some form of X, even just a basic WM is slow on modern OS's with only a single core.

But obviously, 10 (or 12) cores would be even better!!

Cool thanks, yeah I knew I needed SMT/HTT.. So like 1 physical core in those VMs would be like 3 and should be enough.. And I can probaly do more optimized CPU sharing of logical cores among the VMs for better performance..

Going to go with either the AMD Ryzen™ Threadripper™ 1900X Processor (4GHz; the only 8-core threadripper class CPU) or AMD Ryzen™ 7 3800X (4.5GHz; the best 8-core Ryzen 7 class CPU)..

Don't bother with the 1900x. A 2800X would have better IPC, or waiting for the 3800X would have better IPC. If you're going to go threadripper, go AT LEAST 2920X to make it worth the price.

And ram, ram, ram. Buy as much as you can afford. That's always my rule of thumb and I have never hit swap once Keep in mind the VM for gaming will suck. VM software simulates a video card and 3d is not their forte. Just my experience, YMMV.

Good advice.. I was heavily considering the Threadripper cause it advertises it's use case for basically what Im trying to do.. But the raw specs of the 3800x just seem to be better.

You can connect a physical GPU to a VM, and so you dont have to use a simulated one. The CPU just needs to be able to support this.

Threadripper is a great idea, I run a 2950X with 32G RAM which would pretty much cover your needs. However to muddy the waters a little I believe there will be a 3950X coming out soon which could be:

1. Cheaper than the current 2nd gen Threadripper CPUs (depending on pricing for both at the time) while offering pretty much close the same performance
2. Easier to cool as it will not be using a TR4 socket

My suspicion is that the 3950X will be the one to aim for. Warnings will be as an early adopter you would be battling with both Kernel and motherboard support...