Intel's HyperThreading Techology

[bruincal]

As you all probably know, Intel has announced its HyperThreading technology for the P4 3.06 GHz processor. It also reviewed on www.tomshardware.com. I was just thinking, why not release a dual HT processor system? If two HyperThreaded P4 3.06 GHz processors were placed on the same motherboard, Windows would recognize the system as a 4-processor system. Does anyone know if this is in the works? already released? or just isn't possible? Also, would Windows 2000/XP know that it was only two physical processors instead of 4? otherwise, it'd think there were 4 physical processors and require people to buy a multiprocessor license for the OS.

 

[AndyHui]

There already are dual processor HT systems: the XEON. 2-way and 4-way HT enabled systems are available already and have been for a long time.

These are not 3.06 desktop processors though.

Windows 2000 cannot distinguish between a logical processor and a physical processor. It will see a single P4-HT as 2 P4s.

Windows XP can distinguish between logical and physical CPUs, so it will see the single P4-HT for what it really is: a single processor. You can draw your licensing conclusions from that.

 

[CrawlingEye]

XP pro can support twice as many logical and physical processors than XP home or other basic variants of XP can.
I think this should be remembered.

 

[Manning]

Originally posted by: AndyHui
There already are dual processor HT systems: the XEON. 2-way and 4-way HT enabled systems are available already and have been for a long time.

These are not 3.06 desktop processors though.

Windows 2000 cannot distinguish between a logical processor and a physical processor. It will see a single P4-HT as 2 P4s.

Windows XP can distinguish between logical and physical CPUs, so it will see the single P4-HT for what it really is: a single processor. You can draw your licensing conclusions from that.

I would have to disagree on that, a windows xp with the P4 3.06 with HT enabled will show two processors.
Though it will handle it as a single processor when it comes down to licensing.

Windows 2000 sets the number of processors according to what the bios detects,
while Windows XP/.NET counts the number of physical processors.

 

[AndyHui]

I didn't say it won't show up as two processors. I said it won't show up as two physical processors. It will still show both logical processors in the task manager.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

LMAO! only a newbie would try to put the smackdown on Andy

 

[Manning]

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
LMAO! only a newbie would try to put the smackdown on Andy

I maybe a newbie at THIS forum, dont judge me from reading the number of posts i have made here

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Originally posted by: Manning

Originally posted by: DAPUNISHER
LMAO! only a newbie would try to put the smackdown on Andy

I maybe a newbie at THIS forum, dont judge me from reading the number of posts i have made here

Certainly not, I am only stating that if you had been here for awhile you would know Andy is exactly what his title states and that the chances are you've misinterpreted his reply as oppossed to his having stated something inaccurate I appologize if I slighted you as it wasn't intended in that context

 

[AndyHui]

All in good humour. No harm done. I've been operating exclusively in Chinese for the last several months, so please excuse my English being not quite up to scratch.

 

[Manning]

No worries im not offended in any way

I just like discussing things, like this thread
A great way to get a wider understanding of this everlasting jungle of computer technologies

Where I think HT is one of the best things that has happend to the Pentium-class-processors.

 

[dukeharsha]

I have a question on HT technology. I read the Ace's Hardware review, and it looks like HT did not perform in the top for Adobe Premiere. I do a lot of video MPEG2 encoding and wanted to know if HT is better than a dual PIII 1.4 GHZ machine. I would like to know as soon as possible so I may cancel my Dell order for the dual machine and order one with HT!

Harsha
hs2@duke.edu

I am using Win2k SP3 with TMPGEnc v2.56