I did it!...I just configured and ordered a Athlon Dual Core from CyberPowerSystems

The motherboard chipset most definately does not do anything related to job control, cpu wise it only assigns external interrupts to the processor system bus, where in a multicpu environment the cpus communicate with each other with interprocessor interrupts between the local APICs (advanced programmalble interrupt controller) residing on each cpu.

The Windows CreateThread() system call does not include any provisions for requesting resources which would mean that resource allocation in regards to threads is the sole responsibility of Windows itself and thus does not place any requirements on the programmer on this issue.
 
So it is not the chip set or the software writers function...so what is the answer in plain speak if you do not mind...how can we use these dual core machines efficiently? Until I understand this I will not buy one. My Dell 8350 that I bought for 350 bucks is a "sexy" black & gray.

heck... at the time that I posted this thread they did not even have the OS software finished for 64 bit! because everybody did not provide drivers and get on board..

Michael B.




Quote from bl33p:

The motherboard chipset most definately does not do anything related to job control, cpu wise it only assigns external interrupts to the processor system bus, where in a multicpu environment the cpus communicate with each other with interprocessor interrupts between the local APICs (advanced programmalble interrupt controller) residing on each cpu.

The Windows CreateThread() system call does not include any provisions for requesting resources which would mean that resource allocation in regards to threads is the sole responsibility of Windows itself and thus does not place any requirements on the programmer on this issue.
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You're always mentioning "root beer". You trying to convince ETers of something"? (Of course, Coors is pretty much like sarsaparilla, xcept less taste, of course.)
 
ElectricSavant, if your application is single threaded it can at max use one core to itself and no more.

But the other core will still be busy running operating system tasks and device drivers (and possibly other programs) at the same time. True performance lack with a single threaded application would only be found in a dualchip dualcore system=4 cores altogether.

With multithreaded applications you don't need to worry about any of this as efficient usage will happen.

Now the fineties of this depend on the operating system and that's where I can't help you. In theory it should be possible to devote one chip 100% for one application so that it will not be interrupted by operating system functions. Is this possible in Windows, I don't know.

Going 64 bit is another topic alltogether. From Windows point of view it doesn't pay yet due to lack of drivers and applications as they need to be at least recompiled for 64 bit. Your computer seller made you a huge favor when telling you about the problems, you would have been into a world of hurt with Win-64. For a trader 32/64 is a complete non-point, from trading point of view you will not gain or lose anything.

But if I were getting a desktop machine for myself I'd probably get a dualcore AMD-64 because its operating system could be upgraded to Win-64 sometime later when they get the problems sorted out, and it could functions as a backup trading computer years later when everything will be 64 bit. Also it could serve as a nice testing platform for 64 bit varieties of Linux.

Edit: what I would be much more concerned with is getting a RAID 1 disk system. This would mean two identical drives which are mirrored. If one gets bad the other one still runs, and when you replace the bad drive it will be re-mirrored automatically. For a trader data safety and uptime should be of much more concern. Many motherboards include RAID 0/1 functionality nowadays. Definately consider this.

Get two of the Seagate 750 GB monsters and you'll be set for some time :-)
 
Quote from canyonman00:

Ok, I've got several multiprocessor boxes running. If only Windows was truly that efficient. :( Yes, you can assign duties to a dedicated processor, but the software programmer/coder has his work cut out for himself/herself. Windows tends to poll for available resources. Working from a, "What's available, who's next, what's next, which processor is in line with available resources?" framework.

When you get into the server versions of Windows it is more controllable. IMHO :)
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canyonman,

That's exactly what I observed too. Looking at multiprocessor configurations, it is very obvious that windoz XP doesn't take care of this. The programmer has to get involved here. Very little run of the mill software has been written in the past for true multiprocessor configurations.
If the latest Dual Core processors will change anything at this? I doubt it, the OS must still intervene unless a completely revamped OS version would be released. In spite of all the hype and hullabaloo surrounding Dual Core, this question is carefully sidestepped by the manufacturers.

:confused:
 
Quote from nononsense:

canyonman,

That's exactly what I observed too. Looking at multiprocessor configurations, it is very obvious that windoz XP doesn't take care of this. The programmer has to get involved here. Very little run of the mill software has been written in the past for true multiprocessor configurations.
If the latest Dual Core processors will change anything at this? I doubt it, the OS must still intervene unless a completely revamped OS version would be released. In spite of all the hype and hullabaloo surrounding Dual Core, this question is carefully sidestepped by the manufacturers.

:confused:
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Can you help me out and point to which programming languages you can do this? I cannot do this in Java. Years and years ago when I wrote C++ for Solaris - I couldn't do it with C++.

Granted, I have not done any threaded applications for Windows, but I thought all the that was taken care of by the OS.

Thanks!
 
For the reasons being illustrated, I am now even more happy about my decision to cancel my order.

I hope this thread has helped some of you. Unfortunatley the push is to get these new machines marketed, so that everyone will provide drivers. Just wait a few years.

I made the right decision to buy the used Dell 8350 that I did...

Michael B.
 
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