Is SMP worth it.

[Hanpan]

I have a chance to go smp and was wondering if you thought it was worththe added cost. BTW the added cost is about 133-150 usd.
I currently run a 1022 on an sh6 and was hoping for dually gig on a msi694d pro.

 

[Topochicho]

short answer: NO

Long: Only if you are working with SMP enabled software (high end graphics programs usually). Even then it doesn't take many more MHz to catch up to it.

Or if you are running a non Microsoft OS. I haven't seen much of Linux but I hear it does SMP fairly well.

 

[thorin]

If you are going to install an OS which supports SMP and you have the processing needs for a Dualy rig then go for it.

OSs:
Linux
NT
Win2K

CPU Eating Apps:
Compiling large c/c++ apps
Distributed computing
High end graphics editing
Non-linear video editing
3D Rendering

Thorin

 

[Hanpan]

The thing is I dabble in some things like video editing etc but nothing too seriuos. I of course run smp enalbed oses. hmm...

 

[thorin]

If you really just dabble then don't bother, save your money for software, a better video card, a really good VCR to output to, a DV Recorder for input/output, or something useful for just dabbling.

Thorin

 

[FaultCode]

I say that it is. I've been using SMP for three years now. It's true that not too many apps support SMP but you can run several intensive apps at the same time and not see the system stumble. Also, the system will seem so much more smooth. I say that if you can afford it to go for it.

 

[Hanpan]

Faultcode that's what alot of peopel have been saying. ONe doesn't notice a huge speed increase in benchmarks but in overall system performance responsiveness etc this is a huge difference. Unfortuantly this isn't really verifiable by numbers. Kinda like scsi. Lots of people say it's a waste of money but those who have it at work etc swear buy it.

 

[MGMorden]

I would say to wait for dual AMD motherboards. At their current cost it would likely be about the same price to get a dual AMD 1ghz setup instead of a single P3 1ghz setup. The main reason I want one though is for C compiling with linux. Like others have said, if you're not doing anything heavy go for a single cpu.

 

[Hanpan]

WEll i'm not too conerned about 6 months down the road. I am anticipating amd dual boards but at that time the 0.13 micron p3's will probably be out and there will be new considerations.

 

[TravisBickle]

nice no-nonsense post, thorin. you didn't become elite by shooting Thargoids, eh? (reference for the old-timers )

 

[Moohooya]

I think I am going to wait for an AMD solution. More and more apps these days will use multiple processors if they are available. So much of what I do would run on multiple processors. Sure most of the time with dual 1G processors I won't be using even one processor, but to take a 10 minute CPU intensive process down to something over 5, sure.

Moohoo

 

[Hanpan]

Thnaks for the input guys but i'm still not swayed either way.

 

[thorin]

TravisBickle
"nice no-nonsense post, thorin. you didn't become elite by shooting Thargoids, eh? (reference for the old-timers )"

Thanks!

Die fearless insects.

Thorin

 

[spamboy]

Sure its worth it! You can run two SETI units at a time! Oh, wait, I guess some people don't purposly spend money just to run SETI faster...

 

[Hanpan]

Thnaks spam boy. That makes all the difference. I can run TWO!!! seti units at eh same time. Yeah.

 

[OS]

yes, it's true, SMP allows you to multi-task up the ass without degradation in responsiveness. Assuming of course, one has lots of ram and a fast hard drive.

 

[Topochicho]

Wow spamboy you da man. Your suggestion struck him so hard emotionally he could barely even thank you "Thnaks"

 

[Kwad Guy]

IMHO, it's a no-brainer: SMP is DEFINITELY worth having. As
others have noted, your system will be APPRECIABLY more responsive
when you're multitasking. Want to encode MP3s while surfing or
playing games? Not a good idea with a single processor, but not
a problem with SMP...

And then there are the benefits for programs like Photoshop, that
actually know about multiple processors.

Now, if SMP was a lot more expensive, I could understand people
saying "not worth the cost". But, heck, you can buy the BX-based
stable-as-a-rock Tyan Tiger 100 dual motherboard for $100-150, not
much more than a comparable single processor board. The only other
additional cost is for the second processor (and you can run with
only a single processor, so you don't have to do the upgrade
right now, if you want to save money).

Kwad

 

[WetSprocket]

BeOS is good dually with quite a few video apps.

 

[TheOverlord]

id say give it a shot, if your doing multiple things on the same system then you'll notice faster responses...make sure you have enough ram too.

and dont waste your time with SETI, the aliens will come find us ones they have evolved far enough!
instead run an RC-5 cracker and join TeamAnandtech!!!!!

 

[TravisBickle]

ugh, I'd say that unless you are loaded with cash then don't bother because you can like count the number of apps on one hand that will take advantage of it.
and if you do have the money, why aren't you cruising around in your convertible with a champagne glass in your hand and some blonde in the passenger seat?

what I mean is that in the days of the smp celeron it was worth a blast, but the cheapest P3 is 2.5x as much.

 

[Sir Fredrick]

I'm currently running a Dual CPU, all-SCSI system.
You don't need to run all SMP-enabled apps to see a benefit from SMP, if you multitask a lot and want your computer to run smoothly. It's also nice for the stats if you run distributed or SETI.

Between the SMP and the SCSI, my computer allows me to defrag my hard drive while burning a CD while listening to MP3s and chatting on ICQ while videoconferencing with my girlfriend through netmeeting. I could also quite feasibly play Q3 or UT while burning, but have never bothered to try it because I'm not big into gaming.

Before I went SMP, I probably would have had to drop the listening to MP3s and videoconferencing. Also, previous to my investment in SMP, if I was doing a lot of other things, my MP3 player would occasionally hiccup. That would probably be less of a problem with a GHz processor, but I was running at 450. One thing's for sure, a dual gig system would keep you from feeling the need for any CPU upgrades for quite a while. I'm even content with dual PIII 450s

 

[Sir Fredrick]

Also, 133-150 isn't *that* much money compared to say, what most everyone here spends on video cards. If you've got the money go for it. If you don't have the money immediately, get a dual proc board and hold off on getting the second processor until you can afford it (or start to feel the itch for an upgrade)...that's what I had to do.

 

[Gatsby]

SMP is nice to have for system load. I always run 5-8 programs at once and its stable and fast.. no noticeable slowdown.. EVEN in Netscape 4.76.

Gatsby - 861

 

[Syborg1211]

well, smp support is pretty low and I think it would be even lower with an AMD chip. And I would definitely not want a dual amd solution until about the 3rd or 4th+ generation of dual boards/chipsets.