🚀 go-pugleaf

On Mon, 17 May 2004 01:28:47 +0000, Chris Cox wrote:

> Zero_G wrote:
>> Hello,
>> 
>> I'm using SuSE 8.2 Professional (free magazine DVD version) on an Athlon
>> 700MHz and thinking of saving up for a Dual Processor system.
>> Is this even slightly worth the comparatively enormous outlay for a home
>> user?
> 
> Sure.  But I never spend a whole lot on my dual systems.  My wife's
> dually cost us $700USD (dual MP2000+ with 512M, onboard SCSI, 36G 10K
> drive).  I recently purchased a dual 2.8Ghz Xeon with 1G, onboard
> SCSI and a 120G IDE drive for $1225.  My latest purchase, dual 3.2Ghz
> Xeons, 2G, 3 x 15K 18G SCSI drives for a little less than $2000.
> 
> If you shop for good deals, you can get what you want fairly cheap.
> 
>> 
>> You see I've read a lot about various software support for this type of
>> hardware and it loks like there are competing solutions to implement
>> parallel/SPM hardware at the moment.
> 
> uhhh... what?  I guess... err... what?
> 
>> 
>> I understand that gcc has libraries to allow for compiling software to be
>> multi threaded but the source needs to be written with multi-threading in
>> mind.
> 
> Biggest mistake a person can make is to assume that dual processors
> require threaded processes.  Realize that EVERY process is assigned
> a CPU when run... so on a Linux box, with 20-30 processes (these
> are proceses that are started behind your back) will be spread
> across CPUs resulting in better performance and a much smoother
> feel.
> 
>> 
>> Is there a list of packages with sources that are optimised for dual
>> processors?
> 
> Any program that uses threads OR any program that consists of multiple
> processes will benefit from multiple CPUs.
> 
>> 
>> This would be an extremely useful variable in justifying the extra outlay.
>> 
>> Thanks.
>> 
>> 
> 
> Word of warning, once you experience a dual processor system, you'll
> NEVER want to go back.

I worked on a DELL dual 1.7 Xeon system with RH for a couple of years
before I retired - I have a single 2.4 P4 at home, and don't really miss
the DELL.