🚀 go-pugleaf

"Zero_G" <zero-g@deeptime.fsnet.co.uk> writes:

> 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?

No because it also has disadvantages:
- Not all drivers are SMP safe.
- Drivers and multithreaded applications may have bugs that are only
triggered on a SMP system.
- Power management does not work on SMP. 

> 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.
> 
> Is there a list of packages with sources that are optimised for dual
> processors?

Few "desktop" programs benefit from SMP. You get the most out of SMP
if you have batch jobs and want to increase throughput. In this case
you might consider buying two single CPU machines or one SMP
machine. The SMP machine has only to be installed once, it needs less
space, a single process can use all memory and the load is
automatically balanced between the two CPUs. A SMP machine may be a
little more or a little less expensive than two single CPU machines.

Moritz


-- 
Dipl.-Phys. Moritz Franosch
http://www1.physik.tu-muenchen.de/lehrstuehle/T35/