Multi proc or Single?

[SyN]

how does winxp manage the threads to CPUs?
on 3dsviz? can you somehow assign it to one cpu and do say, photoshop on the other?

[Myne_h]

How does it manage threads?
The same way any multitasking OS does. It assigns the next idle thread in the process queue to an avaliable processor.

If there's 1 thread demanding 100% cpu, all other threads will be sent to the other cpu so you might end with 1 cpu on 100% and the other on 30%.
if there's 2 threads demanding a fair amount of cpu it'll be a bit closer an identical split. Eg if 1 is at 50% the other will be too.

Only real thing you have to be aware of is that processor utilisation is done on a cpu per thread basis. So a game.exe which will use 100% of 1 single cpu will never ever use 2 cpus at a time. A multithreaded videoediting program like virtualdub will happily use both cpus but only because it has more than 1 thread.

If you're like me and like to have 400 programs open at once and about 4 intensive programs then a dual cpu will feel a LOT smoother.

For assigning programs to a cpu, it is possible to do it manually but windows will automatically do it anyhow so unless the program has some inherint problem it isnt worth the effort.

[SyN]

thanks, the answer i was looking for.
in other words, when i render 3d with viz, it will rape one CPU and the other can serve me

sounds like someone is going to look for a dualie setup

[Myne_h]

Exactly.

Glad to help

[SyN]

these days,
i could get 2 XP-Ms, XPs modded to MPs or two MPs
but where do i buy a mobo that handles them for around $400?
opteron setup still seems too expensive...

[infiltraitor]

found this at scorptec for $495

[Hebby]

tyan tiger mpx sell for $350 search on www.staticice.com
theres some ex-demos going around for $260 aswell...

theres otheres, but i only know of this one because ive had to replace it recently

[SyN]

thanks for the replies guys

Memory
Four 184-pin 2.5v DDR DIMM sockets
Supports up to 4GB* of Registered PC2100 DDR memory
Supports ECC (72-bit) memory modules

it takes normal non-ECC DDRRAM right?

+ do i just go buy any barton and it is able to be MP-modded?
or with the XP-M mod to barton then mod to MP? (dont know if theres any point coz i dont know if the mobo o/c's)

[Hebby]

donno about any other board, but the tyan tiger MPX [s2466] can take non registered non ecc ram in the first 2 slots.

[Defyant]

I never seem to be one to compromise,

I run a duel 3.2Xeon and added a 6800u to keep my games upto scratch.

I choose the IwillDH800 cause it has some awsome overclocking features!
(well for a duel Xeon board it does!!)

It also supports standard ram wich is perfect for me.

I almost talked myself into selling it due to the poor 3d scores i was getting.
But that only seems to be the case with 3dm01,

3dmark03,05 and Aqua3 show a diff story,this sys is rocking!!!

HL2 and DoomIII also confirm this.

I aways hate that when i sat at my pc my sys would be grinding along when running drdivx encoding, or simply mutli-thread downloading the news groups.

i do play a lot of online window mmorpg games and being able to open up multiple clients without any cpu lag is the cream on the cake for me

Being able to encode dvix watch a movie and plod along in my mmorpg's makes life a lot more fun.



I also run a old duel P3-1GHZ SGI box as our sever, and find this to be exreeeemly slow in comparrison, but for its new duties here at home as a file server/ICS box it performs admirably and is still good as a second net surfer and photshop chop box when needed.

[dinos22]

it will be great when dual core athlon 64s or intels...... arrive just because of that.....you can throw anything at a dual CPU setup and it will handle it all with ease

[security]

Originally Posted by dinos22

it will be great when dual core athlon 64s or intels...... arrive just because of that.....you can throw anything at a dual CPU setup and it will handle it all with ease

Quad core's not far off, waiting!

[R3xx]

Not far off??? They're here!

[aerospyke]

hey guys..... i'm building (very slowly coz of the price involved) a small server for home... its going to be running server 2k3 x64 (coz i got a license work bought for me) but all its going to be doing is basic networking duties, i.e. DNS, DHCP, active directory, file/print serving, nothing rather big.

My question is, would a single quad core system be fine? or would a twin dual core system be better, or twin quad.

As its only a small, very light load server (only about 5-6 clients connecting to it max) i'm more inclined to go with the UP setup over the DP setup.

Opinions? Advice?

[FreeFrag]

A Celeron would 'be fine' - anything over a P4 HT for that sort of basic basic server would be overkill