High CPU usage web host?

[ryanhellyer]

I've been steadily building traffic over the past few months to the point where I was aware that I was probably pushing the limits of my US$10/month Hostgator shared account. I contacted Hostgator about this and they said my peak CPU usage was 15% and my maximum was 25%.

However, in the past two days my traffic is skyrocketed to the point where if it keeps up, I'll be looking at ~40,000 uniques per month and ~240,000 page views or so.

The sites I'm hosting were all database driven with comments, forums etc. (SMF and WordPress). Although I've now converted one to a static site to help with server load and I've installed WP-Cache to help with the WordPress sites. I'm guessing I'll need to upgrade shortly though as I'm steadily building traffic all the time.


So .... I really don't want to upgrade to a dedicated server if I can avoid it. I also don't have any experience/desire to manage my own server, so a cheapie unmanaged dedicated isn't an option.


Do any of you have any good suggestions for a web host for me? They will need to have high CPU limits and support all the regular linux goodies, preferably including CPanel but that's not a requirement.

[ryanhellyer]

I messed up my numbers above, I'm estimating ~40,000 uniques/month and ~240,000 page views/month if my traffic keeps at it's current rate.

[ryanhellyer]

Since I first posted, I've been look around at some virtual servers. Do any of you have any experience with these?

I looked at Slice Host, but I get the distinct impression that they are aimed towards the Linux nerd brigade which I am definitely not a member of. My last attempt at using Linux resulted in me frying my XP install (dual boot off one drive). So I'm loathe to launch straight into something which is above my head for my main sites. I don't mind fiddling with something to see how it works and go from there. But I don't have the time right now and really just need something I can pay the money for and start uploading as per a regular shared hosting account.

The other one I've serious looked at is HostV. They are twice the price of Slice Host, but they don't seem to be aimed so much towards Linux gurus which is more up my alley.

I have a few questions I hope you guys can answer though:

Firstly, how hard would it be to setup the HostV server? They claim that it's about as easy as a regular shared account, but they also talk about using root access and many other fancy things I have no idea about.

Secondly, I asked them if they could handle 2000+ unique visitors/day via WordPress blog posts on their bottom model and they said "sure, no problem at all". But that bottom level package only has 256 MB RAM (plus another 1 GB of 'burstable RAM') and a friend of mine reckons that isn't enough RAM to serve the amount of traffic I need it to handle. Do any of you have an idea about this? I don't have the foggiest idea about such things.

If you don't think the 256 MB plan would do, then what sort of plan do you think I need?

[CirtexHosting]

Could you please show example of what you are looking to host?

[hornic]

Specify your requirements clearer.