A quick look at Bulldozer thread scheduling

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yousuf Khan
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Yousuf Khan

It looks like AMD could've saved themselves a lot of embarrassment by
simply making the secondary cores in each module look like an Intel
Hyperthreading thread rather than simply as another full core.

A quick look at Bulldozer thread scheduling - The Tech Report - Page 1
http://techreport.com/articles.x/21865
 
There have been a million words uttered about how Windoze 7 fumbles with Bulldozer
(or vice versa). But what about the penguins? I imagine the latest versions
of say Ubuntu or Oracle linux might be kludged to multi-task on Bulldozer.
I doubt the Interlagos and Valencias will fly out the door if they have the
same problem.
Click to expand...

Does slightly better in Linux than in Windows 7. Some support for BD
built into the Linux 3.0/3.1 kernels, more coming in the 3.2 kernel.

[Phoronix] AMD FX-8150 Bulldozer On Ubuntu Linux Review
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=amd_fx8150_bulldozer&num=1
 
It looks like AMD could've saved themselves a lot of embarrassment by
simply making the secondary cores in each module look like an Intel
Hyperthreading thread rather than simply as another full core.

A quick look at Bulldozer thread scheduling - The Tech Report - Page 1
http://techreport.com/articles.x/21865
Click to expand...

Nice ref, nice site.

What's your take on value of 4-core FX-4100 at $105?

Re the site, I found "Life in the lab with Noctua's CPU coolers"
to be more interesting: http://techreport.com/articles.x/21873

I've 2 of the NH-U12P SE2, so count me as biased. :)

bill
 
Nice ref, nice site.

What's your take on value of 4-core FX-4100 at $105?
Click to expand...

Probably depends on what you're upgrading from. I just picked up a
Phenom II X6 1100T BE to replace an X3 710. It was both an upgrade in
GHz as well as cores. So that was a noticeable upgrade. But those are 6
real cores. A 4-core Bulldozer's cores would be more like 2 cores and 4
Hyperthreads. Bulldozers do start off with pretty high GHz though, which
is nice.
Re the site, I found "Life in the lab with Noctua's CPU coolers"
to be more interesting: http://techreport.com/articles.x/21873

I've 2 of the NH-U12P SE2, so count me as biased. :)
Click to expand...

I haven't ventured into the realm of aftermarket coolers yet. I'm trying
to find some headroom within my stock coolers right now.

Yousuf Khan
 
Sat said:
Probably depends on what you're upgrading from. I just picked up a
Phenom II X6 1100T BE to replace an X3 710. It was both an upgrade in
GHz as well as cores. So that was a noticeable upgrade. But those are 6
real cores. A 4-core Bulldozer's cores would be more like 2 cores and 4
Hyperthreads. Bulldozers do start off with pretty high GHz though, which
is nice.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.

I'm running Phenom II X4 955 BE, so for me
it's not likely to be much of an upgrade.

BTW I read your separate thread on your new
Phenom II X6 1100T BE with interest. :)

re FX-4100, I wouldn't mind getting some 1st hand
experience as that's what really counts. I've also
already got a decent AM3+ mobo.

For the moment I'm waiting to see a detailed
review of the FX-4100. So far the initial month
of user reviews are positive, but it's easy
to write that off as AMD "fan boy" stuff.

I'm also starting to look at Intel, but that'd take
both a cpu and mobo, and the Intel based mobo's
cost more than the comparable AMD units.
If you hadn't noticed, the last time I bought
Intel was a very long time ago. :)

BTW I noticed that XMAS showed up two
full weeks earlier this year than last. :)

Comment on PBS news a few days ago
was that per person spending is likely
to be slightly down this season, hence
the earlier advertising.

Anyhow, It's not like I'm doing anything so
demanding that I need to move to a more
powerful PC setup. And as I've not seen
any great deals (I'm not really looking),
I'll keep waiting.
I haven't ventured into the realm of aftermarket coolers yet. I'm trying
to find some headroom within my stock coolers right now.
Click to expand...

FWIW, I only use the best of AMD's stock
coolers with my least demanding cpu's.
They're inadequate and noisy with most
of AMD's faster cpu's.

While the Noctua coolers look expensive,
they're in fact the cheapest of all of them
as you get premium fans (*plural*) along
with the premium heatsink. I also like that
Noctua provides convenient in-line resistors
that allow the fan speed to be lowered.

The NH-U12P SE2 does need a case that's
a minimum of roughly 8" thick. amazon
tends to have best pricing, but not always.
And due to their use of 3rd party vendors,
pricing varies a lot there.

Bill
 
Thanks for the response.

I'm running Phenom II X4 955 BE, so for me
it's not likely to be much of an upgrade.
Click to expand...

Also what I think. Perhaps, a Bulldozer 8xxx series would be much more
noticeable too you: 4 modules/8 cores in AMD terminology, 4 cores/8
threads in generic terminology.
I'm also starting to look at Intel, but that'd take
both a cpu and mobo, and the Intel based mobo's
cost more than the comparable AMD units.
If you hadn't noticed, the last time I bought
Intel was a very long time ago. :)
Click to expand...

I don't see a problem with going Intel, if you really want a performance
upgrade that's noticeable right now. But in order to do that, you'll
need not just an expensive Intel mobo, but also an expensive Intel
processor. The high-end Phenom II's, despite their pre-conceived
sad-sack reputations are no slouches when compared to Intel's offerings.
Only the highest end Intels would put them to shame, and only in some
cases.

You might find that going with an FM1 motherboard with an upcoming
Trinity core processor would be the better deal. The built-in *real* GPU
alone would be worth it.
Anyhow, It's not like I'm doing anything so
demanding that I need to move to a more
powerful PC setup. And as I've not seen
any great deals (I'm not really looking),
I'll keep waiting.
Click to expand...

I waited 3-4 years for this particular upgrade, myself.
FWIW, I only use the best of AMD's stock
coolers with my least demanding cpu's.
They're inadequate and noisy with most
of AMD's faster cpu's.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking that with the current processor that I have, if I do decide
to replace the stock cooler, then I'll go with a water cooler right off
the bat.

Actually, my priority is not a cooler for the next upgrade. It would
either be an SSD, or an upgrade to my GPU. The GPU because I've waited
even longer to upgrade my GPU than the CPU, currently a Geforce 8600GT.
The SSD because I'm finding that really my biggest daily bottleneck is
my OS boot disk speed. Based on Windows Experience Index, my biggest
bottleneck is the GPU, rated at 4.8 out of 7.9; but my hard disks get
5.9 on the index. But of course, it's the hard disk that gets used
constantly, the highest functions of the GPU is used infrequently.

Yousuf Khan
 
Mon said:
On 26/11/2011 4:59 PM, willbill wrote:

Also what I think. Perhaps, a Bulldozer 8xxx series would be much more
noticeable too you: 4 modules/8 cores in AMD terminology, 4 cores/8
threads in generic terminology.
Click to expand...

Interesting thought. I'm not likely to spend the money
for either of the 8 core FX cpus, but I'll start paying
some attention to pricing of the 6 core FX cpu.

Your buy of a 6 core Phenom II X6 1100T BE suggests
that you either run multi-threaded apps, or think that
this will pick up in the near future?
... The high-end Phenom II's, despite their pre-conceived sad-sack
reputations are no slouches when compared to Intel's offerings.
Only the highest end Intels would put them to shame,
and only in some cases.
Agreed.

You might find that going with an FM1 motherboard with an upcoming
Trinity core processor would be the better deal. The built-in *real* GPU
alone would be worth it.
Click to expand...

The apu arena is another that I'll be paying
more attention to. Given the likely additional
complexity (both hardware and software),
I don't see going there any time soon.
I'm thinking that with the current processor that I have, if I do decide
to replace the stock cooler, then I'll go with a water cooler right off
the bat.
Click to expand...

Whoa! There's a jump into the deep end. :)

Given you've zero experience with after-market
air coolers, have you got a ref that makes a case
for water cooling over air cooling? I'm mainly
talking money/performance/convenience ratio
as that seems to be a key interest of yours.
Actually, my priority is not a cooler for the next upgrade. It would
either be an SSD, or an upgrade to my GPU. The GPU because I've waited
even longer to upgrade my GPU than the CPU, currently a Geforce 8600GT.
The SSD because I'm finding that really my biggest daily bottleneck is
my OS boot disk speed. Based on Windows Experience Index, my biggest
bottleneck is the GPU, rated at 4.8 out of 7.9; but my hard disks get
5.9 on the index. But of course, it's the hard disk that gets used
constantly, the highest functions of the GPU is used infrequently.

Yousuf Khan
Click to expand...

All three are clear upgrades. I'd tend to think more in
terms of time screwing around with getting it functional:
1. GPU = least time spent
2. SSD = some time spent, especially 1st time
3. cooler = most time spent; key side benefit = quieter

Bill
 
Interesting thought. I'm not likely to spend the money
for either of the 8 core FX cpus, but I'll start paying
some attention to pricing of the 6 core FX cpu.

Your buy of a 6 core Phenom II X6 1100T BE suggests
that you either run multi-threaded apps, or think that
this will pick up in the near future?
Click to expand...

You don't need individual highly multi-threaded apps to take advantage
of the threading. Just running Windows, you always have several things
running simultaneously. I've gone from single-core to dual-core triple
core, to currently hexa-core, and system responsiveness always gets
smoother with the more cores/threads you have. I found double-core used
to get heavily bogged down easily under Windows. Triple-core was much
more tamed, but still it would've been nice to have at least one more
core available. And now of course, I got 3 more cores. I expect I won't
be maxing that out for a couple of years yet.
Whoa! There's a jump into the deep end. :)

Given you've zero experience with after-market
air coolers, have you got a ref that makes a case
for water cooling over air cooling? I'm mainly
talking money/performance/convenience ratio
as that seems to be a key interest of yours.
Click to expand...

No, but I'm also not in the market for any sort of aftermarket cooling
system either. I figure by the time I'm ready to go there, I'll be able
to really research it. Both AMD and Intel are now offering water-cooling
on their next-gen processors. Also I got a pretty decent full-tower
case, just upgraded last year, which already has holes drilled in for
water-cooling pipes.


Yousuf Khan
 
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