my pleasure, Rick.
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on
Behalf Of Rick Westerfield
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 9:11 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [digitalradio] Calculating CPU use for multiple applications?
Hello Dave,
This is awesome. A real keeper of an e-mail. I am not in the market for a
computer but this is still excellent knowledge to have and I do not have to buy
a bunch of magazines or join another Yahoo group to get it.
Again, thank you.
Rick - KH2DF
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 28, 2010, at 9:10 PM, "Dave AA6YQ" <[email protected]> wrote:
CPU "capability" is but one set of dimensions (clock speed, instruction issue
rate, cache size, cache organization) in a multi-dimensional problem that
includes motherboard capabilities (CPU-memory interface, GPU organization and
interface, memory organization and speed), disk capabilities (rotational
latency, track-to-track seek time, transfer rate), and Windows configuration
(settings on "Performance Options" window's Advanced tab, and a bunch more
accessible via a Registry Editor).
If you monitor the excellent FlexRadio reflector, you'll see how challenging
it is to "compute" a hardware configuration for optimized for just one
application; building and evaluating multiple configurations was required to
find the "sweet spot". Computing an optimal configuration to host 12
applications is hopeless; this requires the application of general principles,
not a spreadsheet.
The most critical decision should be made up front: do all of the
applications you need run correctly in a 64-bit environment? If so, then plan
on building a 64-bit system (Windows 7, if your applications will all run there
correctly); I wouldn't choose a motherboard that supports less than 16 GB of
RAM, but you can start out by populating it with 2GB or 4GB as your budget
allows (don't start with an initial increment that's would have to be discarded
to utilize the maximum memory capacity, however). A 64-bit operating system
does reduce the choice of serial port interfaces; see
<http://www.dxlabsuite.com/dxlabwiki/Win7VistaHardware>
As far as I know, none of the applications on your list can exploit more than
one processor core, so you should choose a dual-core processor (Windows will
run on one core, and your applications will compete for the second core); if
PhotoShop were on you list, you'd reach a different conclusion. Spend some time
on Intel's and AMD's web sites looking at the desktop processor comparison
charts, e.g.
<http://www.intel.com/consumer/products/processors/corei7-specs.htm>
Dvorak's old rule of "third best" is a good starting point, as companies
charge big premiums for their most-powerful CPUs. CPU selection should also
consider cache size and architecture (bigger, with more sets is better). Also
don't buy a CPU built with an older production process. From Intel, you want 32
nm lithography, not 45 nm; smaller transistors run faster and generate less
heat.
In choosing a GPU, pick one that offloads all graphics processing, and will
handle the screen resolution you'll likely be using over the next couple of
years (taking multiple monitors into account, if that's a possibility). This
will be an add-in card that can later be upgraded, so tradeoffs can be made.
Alternatively, you can save some money by starting with the GPU from your
current PC, assuming its above the bar and will run under the new PC's version
of Windows.
With hard drives, its tempting to buy the biggest disk you can afford, but
those spacious 1+TB drives are relatively slow, and a PC with one hard drive is
slower than a PC with two hard drives. If you can, go with two hard drives - a
~100 GB device with fast track-to-track times and low rotational latency to
host the operating system, and a larger slower drive for your applications and
data. Western Digital's Velociraptor family is a good candidate for the
small/fast C: drive; you could consider a solid state "drive" for this role,
but I have no personal experience with them. Choose a motherboard that supports
a 3 GB SATA interface, and choose hard drives that exploit this interface.
Again, you can save some money up front by starting with your current PC's hard
drive in your new system, and upgrade later.
All DXLab applications run correctly under 64-bit XP, Vista, and Windows 7.
73,
Dave, AA6YQ
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]on
Behalf Of Andy obrien
Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 7:17 PM
To: digitalradio
Subject: [digitalradio] Calculating CPU use for multiple applications?
I like to multitask, and I am greedy... I like to keep an eye on
several things at once. I am thinking about a better PC, one with
enough CPU capability to run many tasks at the same time. Is there a
way to calculate the total CPU demands of severall applications. Here
is a list of what I often run at the same time (or wish i could)
Commander (or HRD)
Winwarbler (or Multipsk)
DX Keeper
Spotcollector
Pathfinder
DX View
Weather Watcher
Firefox
Spectravue or SDR-RADIO Console
Fldigi
WSJT/JT65-HF
Dimension 4
Andy K3UK
