RAKsmart has recently launched a new South Korea E3-1230 server plan. The entry configuration includes 16GB RAM and a 1TB SSD, paired with either Mainland China optimized bandwidth or international BGP 50Mbps bandwidth, and supports unlimited traffic. The starting price is only $99/month (coupon stacking supported).
Compared with the previous RAKsmart South Korea server E5-2620*2 entry-level plan, this new E3-1230 offers better cost performance, especially suitable for small and medium-sized business websites or cross-border operations. So how does its overall performance look? Below is the full test review.
RAKsmart official website: www.raksmart.com (new users can enjoy up to 35% discount across all products)
1. RAKsmart South Korea Server Plans
| CPU | RAM | Disk | Bandwidth | Traffic | IP | DDoS Protection | Price/Month | Purchase Link |
| E3-1230 | 16GB | 1TB SSD | 50Mbps | Unlimited | 1 IP | None | $99.00 | Buy |
| E5-2620*2 | 32GB | 1TB HDD | 50Mbps | Unlimited | 1 IP | None | $139.00 | Buy |
| E5-2630L*2 | 32GB | 400GB SSD | 50Mbps | Unlimited | 1 IP | None | $149.00 | Buy |
| E5-2683v4*2 | 64GB | 1TB SSD | 50Mbps | Unlimited | 1 IP | None | $219.00 | Buy |
2. Hardware Performance & Disk I/O
The tested server is located in RAKsmart Seoul data center, equipped with Intel Xeon E3-1230 (some plans use E5-2630L v2), 16GB RAM, and SSD storage. Three disk benchmark results show 367MB/s, 370MB/s, and 374MB/s, with an average of around 370MB/s. Overall storage performance is solid within its price range.
3. Speedtest Upload & Download Performance
- Upload speed generally exceeds 35Mbps, reaching 45Mbps+ on Shanghai and Hong Kong nodes.
- Download speed is stable above 40Mbps, meeting the 50Mbps bandwidth standard.
- Latency performance: Shanghai Telecom ~60ms+, Tokyo ~30ms.
Overall performance is stable and suitable for bandwidth-demanding applications.
4. Three-Network Routing (Outbound)
- China Telecom: optimized direct route with stable latency
- China Unicom: via KT backbone network
- China Mobile: direct connection, no detour
Average latency is around 70ms, better than many similar Korea-based servers.
5. Return Routing
- Telecom: Japan transit back to China
- Unicom: Japan backbone return path
- Mobile: same routing path
The return path uses Japan as a transit hub, ensuring stable bandwidth and avoiding congestion.
6. Ping Latency
- China Telecom: ~76ms
- China Unicom: ~79ms
- China Mobile: ~75ms
Average domestic latency is around 78ms. Overseas latency: Tokyo ~33ms, South Africa ~464ms. For global audiences, RAKsmart US servers are more recommended.
7. Packet Loss Test
Global packet loss rate is extremely low, especially in Asia where it is nearly zero, indicating strong network stability.
8. CPU Benchmark
Single-core score is 869.5, which is good for this configuration level. Combined with pricing and stability, it is suitable for small to medium websites and cross-border services.
9. IP Quality
The assigned IP is from a Seoul IDC in South Korea, with clean reputation and no major blacklist records, suitable for business use.
10. Streaming Unlock Capability
- Supports Netflix (US region), YouTube Premium (US region), TikTok (Singapore region)
- Bilibili China CDN is not supported
Overall, streaming performance is satisfactory for international media access.
FAQ
1. Who is this RAKsmart Korea E3-1230 server suitable for?
It is suitable for cross-border e-commerce, overseas business websites, corporate hosting, and users requiring streaming access.
2. What is the advantage compared to E5 series?
E3-1230 offers lower price and balanced performance, making it ideal for budget-conscious users.
3. Is it suitable for gaming acceleration or proxy services?
Yes, due to low latency and low packet loss, but usage must comply with local regulations.
4. What does Mainland optimized bandwidth mean?
It refers to optimized routing for China’s three major carriers (Telecom, Unicom, Mobile), offering lower latency and more stable performance for Chinese users.
