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Hyper-Threading Speeds Linux
developerWorks writes "The Intel Xeon processor introduces a new technology called Hyper-Threading (HT) that makes a single processor behave like two logical processors. The technology allows the processor to execute multiple threads simultaneously, which can yield significant performance improvement. But, exactly how much improvement can you expect to see? This article gives the results the investigation into the effects of Hyper-Threading (HT) on the Linux SMP kernel. It compares the performance of a Linux SMP kernel that was aware of Hyper-Threading to one that was not." Ah, the joys of high performance.
Xeon folks arent having the only fun. The 3 Ghz Pentium 4 is also hyperthreaded for that crunchy flavor and great taste.
All operating on a single chip!
Well if I must say something, it' this: that's really going to put a fancy how-do-you-do in the knickers of all those pay-per-processor software types. I mean Oracle, for heaven's sake, is going to have to go absolutely bonkers trying to figure out how to screw the light-bulb into that buffalo (if you pardon my french). I mean what's a meglomanic to do? I mean I've got expenses! I've got tricarbonfiberalloy yacht hulls to pay for! Can have people going around trying to process code in a processor without us getting some slice of that monkey, I'll tell you right here and now sir! No sir! Maybe it's your not patriotic enough. Trying to cut corners, eh gov'nor? Now I'm gonna have to go and rewrite all the contracts stating explicitly that "processor" is defined as a virtual space for processing. Yes that ought to do it. But I'll still have to have the lawyers check it, just to make sure they aren't any loopies. Drats those laywers! Taking all my money too!
"This isn't a study in computer science, its a study in human behavior"
If you overclock the Xeons (And newer P4 CPUs) too high...
"Prepare to go to HyperThread."
"Go to HyperThread!"
*WHOOSH*
"My God, they've gone plaid!"
(Just to keep on topic, this is a very informative shootout between HT/non-HT Intel and AMD SMP processors setups here.)
Just couldn't resist the Spaceballs reference, tho!
Faster clock speed processors speed up Linux.
As a rock-in-roll Physicist once said, No matter where you go, there you are.
As if there wasn't enough already...
processor : 0
bogomips : 3191.60
processor : 1
bogomips : 3198.15
According to that the logical processor is actually faster than the physical one! Just think of what you could wind up with if you instantiated a logical CPU on the logical CPU!
Earlier SCO Story
My next Slashdot post will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and see it early!