MySQLTuner request - high CPU problems I've been running a pretty high pop website for a few months new and as its growing we've been having some problems lately. 

Its a 2 core Xeon, 8GB, SSD server. 
We're pulling +- 150k people a day. 

Its a lightning fast wordpress stack and up to about 450 concurrent (200 pageviews a minute) it remains lightning fast. 

If it goes beyond that, the load goes INSANE, from 1.5 to 20 or 30! 
I've been trying to fine tune my.cfg but I'm about to give up, there is LOADS of information which is very varying, so I'm starting to get confused.

Here is my MySQLTuner from the last 4 days.

As you will see, it tells me to increase query cache, doing so however absolutely destroys my CPU even more and a lot earlier than when it remains at 8MB...

We also converted all tables to InnoDB and saw a big performance gain that way in the past.

I hope I can get some insight from professionals. I would even pay for some one on one time if needed.

Thank you!
1st suggestion to consider for your my.cnf [mysqld] section:

query_cache_type=0  # from 1 (ON) to OFF for NO qc to conserve CPU cycles
query_cache_size=0  # from 8M to conserve RAM for more useful purposes
innodb_io_capacity=1800  # from default (200) to increase SSD IOPS limit
innodb_flushing_avg_loops=5  # from 30 to reduce innodb_buffer_pool_pages_dirty count

# added 20181221 8 PM CT USA

innodb_purge_threads=4  # from 1 to expedite purge activity

# this will require stop/start after my.cnf change     


You may monitor innodb_buffer_pool_pages_dirty count with the MySQL command:

SHOW GLOBAL STATUS LIKE '%dirty%';


If you check it every 10 minutes, you should see reduction and CPU busy will reduce as well until you get near 0 pages dirty.

I still need additional information requested to allow for additional performance improvements.

Please view my profile, Network profile and get in touch when you have a moment.