Gaming on a Dual 2000MP

RETARD · 29th May 2002, 10:28 PM

hi guys

this is gonna be my next box...
i primarily want it for folding but also want to game, i plan on getting an ASUS 4600 ....

I know this would make a great standalone but what about a dual board? Are there any drawbacks to having 1 of these?

also do what windows OS best supports dual CPU's?
I'm thinking 2000

TIA

RETARD · 29th May 2002, 10:32 PM

so the games have to support dual CPU?

they won't just use 1? whilst the other does something else?

saba · 29th May 2002, 10:48 PM

Yes, thats right.

Lets assume that the game, or any other software application for that matter, is single threaded. On a uniprocessor system, this will strangle the CPU and keep it for itself.

On a dual processor system, the OS will give the application essentially a full CPU for itself. However, on the other CPU, windows can be doing its own stuff, like managing memory, defragmenting, even folding!

For choosing the right OS for your soon-to-be system, there was a past discussion on the best OS for an SMP system, but I can't seem to find it. I'll edit this post with the link when I find it...

RETARD · 29th May 2002, 10:53 PM

wow thats pretty kewl
thanks for that...

saba · 29th May 2002, 11:06 PM

I'm sorry I cannot seem to find the thread about "which is the best OS for SMP". If I remember correctly, sciencewhiz started that one.

The general consensus was that windows 2000 was the best, followed by some unix. People seemed to prefer windows 2000 over XP though

RETARD · 29th May 2002, 11:09 PM

well that confirms what i would like to use
thanks for your help

leperMessiah · 1st June 2002, 1:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by saba
Yes, thats right.

On a dual processor system, the OS will give the application essentially a full CPU for itself. However, on the other CPU, windows can be doing its own stuff, like managing memory, defragmenting, even folding!

I am sorry to disagree with you Saba, but folding is not what Duallies do. It's Seti, two instances of.

Dual CPU's are great for 'responsiveness' and for things like virus scanning a customers HDD while you play SOF2, this is why I never work onsite anymore. I can practically get payed to play

Seriously for your question Win2K is wonderfull, though I haven't used WinXP several customers have againsst my recommendations and then recieved my standard answer 'sorry but I only support XP the same as Microsoft $50 per question if I fix it or not. I warned you about that trash.'

EazyduzIt · 1st June 2002, 3:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by saba
Yes, thats right.

Lets assume that the game, or any other software application for that matter, is single threaded. On a uniprocessor system, this will strangle the CPU and keep it for itself.

That would have to be a badly written piece of software. I take it from the Aces quote below, that the OS should take take care of issues with a particular piece of software hogging up cpu cycles.

From Aceshardware:

Quote:

So there are three different ways to take advantage of a multi-processor machine:

You run only one single threaded program. A SMP-capable OS will run on one CPU, and the program will run on the other CPU. In most circumstances, you will get a speedup of 1 to 5%. Not really impressive.

You run several single threaded programs on an SMP-capable OS. A good OS will feature sophisticated load-balanced scheduling to make sure that each program gets the processor power it needs when it needs it.

You run one or more multithreaded programs on a SMP capable OS.

Pretty much along the lines of Saba's post.

If your a strictly hardcore gamer stick to single cpu. If you want flexibility then SMP is a good choice.

rage · 1st June 2002, 11:05 PM

all the q3 engined games support SMP. Its really good 'cause one cpu handles the geometry and the other handles the lighting and sound. I don't know how the GPUs affect this though...

Shado · 2nd June 2002, 2:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by leperMessiah
Seriously for your question Win2K is wonderfull, though I haven't used WinXP several customers have againsst my recommendations and then recieved my standard answer 'sorry but I only support XP the same as Microsoft $50 per question if I fix it or not. I warned you about that trash.'

XP IS 2000 more or less. 2000 = NT5.0, XP = NT5.1.

The blasted thing is almost the same except 'pretty'.

Dual Processors rock, I'm still using my Dual 800 PIII's I prefer them over my 1.4Athlon for everything bar gaming.

koopz · 3rd June 2002, 7:53 PM

XP Pro doesn't run Quake3 very well at all on my duals.

Win2k runs it as smooth as a baby's bottie.

I've had same results with a Tyan/1900MP config.

ToranaGuy · 4th June 2002, 3:56 PM

I can also say a SMP boxen is more flexable. I'm soon moving my hdd from my Uni celery to my Dual pII 350. The dual pII is just so much more flexable, and yeah it's cool for gaming, as saba i think has said, 1 cpu for the OS and one for the game. It improves the way the game "runs" and my frame rate a fair bit, as the game has the whole cpu to run a muck on.

You can also fold on a SMP rig, don't let ppl tell you otherwise. You just have to run 2 seperate instances of the FAH client, in seperate folders, and set the cpu affinity so each client get's a cpu. I believe there is a guide on the FAH and SMP question.

ToranaGuy

z2177199 · 4th June 2002, 4:25 PM

Duallies with SCSI hard diskes are good for DivX

3-4 Hours per movie

saba · 4th June 2002, 4:51 PM

Its actually closer to 90 minutes at most

Vipster · 4th June 2002, 8:48 PM

I love using a Dual system, it's just so much more responsive. Plus it's good for doing home work, and while your doing that having a divx movie playing on your tv at the same time, with no slow down. ITS WHAT SMP IS ALL ABOUT FREEDOM !!. ( you know what i mean !)

Cheers
Vipster

29th May 2002, 10:28 PM	#1
RETARD Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Croydon, Adelaide Posts: 3,006	Gaming on a Dual 2000MP hi guys this is gonna be my next box... i primarily want it for folding but also want to game, i plan on getting an ASUS 4600 .... I know this would make a great standalone but what about a dual board? Are there any drawbacks to having 1 of these? also do what windows OS best supports dual CPU's? I'm thinking 2000 TIA __________________ HUNGRYinc coming soon ... Official Brand Ambassador - Bulla Cream & 4 Ingredients iGP Manager Series

29th May 2002, 10:32 PM	#2
RETARD Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Croydon, Adelaide Posts: 3,006	so the games have to support dual CPU? they won't just use 1? whilst the other does something else? __________________ HUNGRYinc coming soon ... Official Brand Ambassador - Bulla Cream & 4 Ingredients iGP Manager Series

29th May 2002, 10:48 PM	#3
saba Evil Vizier Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 2,711	Yes, thats right. Lets assume that the game, or any other software application for that matter, is single threaded. On a uniprocessor system, this will strangle the CPU and keep it for itself. On a dual processor system, the OS will give the application essentially a full CPU for itself. However, on the other CPU, windows can be doing its own stuff, like managing memory, defragmenting, even folding! For choosing the right OS for your soon-to-be system, there was a past discussion on the best OS for an SMP system, but I can't seem to find it. I'll edit this post with the link when I find it... __________________ i7 920 ; Asus P6T Deluxe ; 12Gb DDR3-1333 ; nVidia 260 GTX powering 230" LCDs ; 315k SAS RAID-0 and 5*1.5TB WD EARS RAID-5 on a Adaptec 5805 ; Windows 2008 Server and Gentoo Linux ; RME Fireface 800 56-channel 24bit/192kHz soundcard

29th May 2002, 10:53 PM	#4
RETARD Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Croydon, Adelaide Posts: 3,006	wow thats pretty kewl thanks for that... __________________ HUNGRYinc coming soon ... Official Brand Ambassador - Bulla Cream & 4 Ingredients iGP Manager Series

29th May 2002, 11:06 PM	#5
saba Evil Vizier Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 2,711	I'm sorry I cannot seem to find the thread about "which is the best OS for SMP". If I remember correctly, sciencewhiz started that one. The general consensus was that windows 2000 was the best, followed by some unix. People seemed to prefer windows 2000 over XP though __________________ i7 920 ; Asus P6T Deluxe ; 12Gb DDR3-1333 ; nVidia 260 GTX powering 230" LCDs ; 315k SAS RAID-0 and 5*1.5TB WD EARS RAID-5 on a Adaptec 5805 ; Windows 2008 Server and Gentoo Linux ; RME Fireface 800 56-channel 24bit/192kHz soundcard

29th May 2002, 11:09 PM	#6
RETARD Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Croydon, Adelaide Posts: 3,006	well that confirms what i would like to use thanks for your help __________________ HUNGRYinc coming soon ... Official Brand Ambassador - Bulla Cream & 4 Ingredients iGP Manager Series

1st June 2002, 11:05 PM	#9
rage Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Canberra Posts: 1,982	all the q3 engined games support SMP. Its really good 'cause one cpu handles the geometry and the other handles the lighting and sound. I don't know how the GPUs affect this though... __________________ Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

3rd June 2002, 7:53 PM	#11
koopz Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Qld Posts: 1,295	XP Pro doesn't run Quake3 very well at all on my duals. Win2k runs it as smooth as a baby's bottie. I've had same results with a Tyan/1900MP config.

4th June 2002, 3:56 PM	#12
ToranaGuy Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: In the Shed Posts: 4,378	I can also say a SMP boxen is more flexable. I'm soon moving my hdd from my Uni celery to my Dual pII 350. The dual pII is just so much more flexable, and yeah it's cool for gaming, as saba i think has said, 1 cpu for the OS and one for the game. It improves the way the game "runs" and my frame rate a fair bit, as the game has the whole cpu to run a muck on. You can also fold on a SMP rig, don't let ppl tell you otherwise. You just have to run 2 seperate instances of the FAH client, in seperate folders, and set the cpu affinity so each client get's a cpu. I believe there is a guide on the FAH and SMP question. ToranaGuy __________________ \| Time for a Sig Update - old one was very old! \|Still folding on, now a 9,000ppw member!\| Currently on ADSL 2+, 5mbit/900kbit speed. Thanks TPG ADSL @+ \| There's no replacement for displacement, but you can always compliment it with BOOST! \|

4th June 2002, 4:25 PM	#13
z2177199 Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,993	Duallies with SCSI hard diskes are good for DivX 3-4 Hours per movie __________________ F@H3 - 14/06/2002

4th June 2002, 4:51 PM	#14
saba Evil Vizier Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Melbourne Posts: 2,711	Its actually closer to 90 minutes at most __________________ i7 920 ; Asus P6T Deluxe ; 12Gb DDR3-1333 ; nVidia 260 GTX powering 230" LCDs ; 315k SAS RAID-0 and 5*1.5TB WD EARS RAID-5 on a Adaptec 5805 ; Windows 2008 Server and Gentoo Linux ; RME Fireface 800 56-channel 24bit/192kHz soundcard

4th June 2002, 8:48 PM	#15
Vipster Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Warrnambool Posts: 300	I love using a Dual system, it's just so much more responsive. Plus it's good for doing home work, and while your doing that having a divx movie playing on your tv at the same time, with no slow down. ITS WHAT SMP IS ALL ABOUT FREEDOM !!. ( you know what i mean !) Cheers Vipster