Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 09:08:15 +0100 From: "Anthony Atkielski" <anthony@freebie.atkielski.com> To: "Tom Parquette" <Tom_Parquette@myrealbox.com>, <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Multiprocessor boards benefit a workstation? Message-ID: <016501c1892d$7a22d000$0a00000a@atkielski.com> References: <1008834290.651b0ff2Tom_Parquette@myrealbox.com>
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Two processors are faster than one, all else being equal. An important advantage of a multiprocessor system, at least for me, is that it keeps CPU-bound processes from completely monopolizing the system. While UNIX or any other competent OS can still keep a system reasonably responsive even when it is pegged by such a process, it is sometimes nice to have a hardware limit on how much a single execution thread can use. The flip side is that no process with only one such thread can ever use the full power of your system, since you have more than one processor. Note that two processors never give you twice as much power as one processor, because of additional hardware and software overhead, but a ratio of 1.7-1.9 is not unreasonable, depending on the exact configuration. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Parquette" <Tom_Parquette@myrealbox.com> To: <freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 08:44 Subject: Multiprocessor boards benefit a workstation? > I'm selecting components for a workstation machine and I would like some input. > > I'm planning to use an AMD processor (Athlon or Duron) and a Tyan motherboard. I have had good luck with my Athlon and Tyan board in my curent machine. > > Question #1: Does an SMP configuration benefit a workstation machine's performance enough to justify the costs? e.g. two of the Athlon MP chips in a Tyan multi processor board. > > Question #2:I remember seeing a couple of items asking about experiences with the Athlon in an SMP configuration. The Questions mailing list archive does not seem to be available so I cannot search it. What are the experiences with the Athlon MP systems? > > TIA for any insights. > Cheers... > Try not. Do or do not. There is no try. -- Yoda > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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