Advice on CPU choice for running 3–4 small servers (low power usage focus)

Hey everyone,

I’m currently considering running a small self-hosted setup and could use some advice before upgrading my CPU.

Current hardware:

• Intel Core i3-8100T (4c/4t, 35W TDP)
• 32 GB RAM
• SSD storage (1-2 TB NVMe)
• network connection upload around 40 Mbits
• Found "HP EliteDesk 800 G4 mini" that uses these components

Use case:

• Running 3–4 Minecraft servers in parallel (maybe also using LazyMC to reduce CPU usage)
• Maximum of 4–5 players, sometimes all on one server, sometimes spread across multiple servers.
• Servers are using PaperMC with some plugins.
• Goal: low power usage to keep electricity bill low (that’s why I’ve been looking at Intel “T” models).

Questions:

• Is the i3-8100T going to bottleneck me long-term, given that I have 32 GB RAM to work with?
• Any recommendations for efficient CPUs that pair well with 32 GB RAM for multi-server hosting?

I’d love to hear from people who’ve hosted multiple small servers on low-power hardware — what worked well for you, and what didn’t.

Thanks in advance!