On Mon, 26 Nov 2001, vince cagud wrote:
> i disagree on this disagree. two heads are better than one, as long as > the OS supports smp...one cpu could do something for an OS process while > another runs an application or the like. anyway, one usually adds > another cpu not for redundancy. geez, how many of you use smp because > you want a backup cpu? we do smp because we want the added processing > power...at the risk of another cpu failing. but hey, what's the > statistic of a failed cpu on a multi-processor machine? i think it's > easier for a hard disk to fail than a processor...well, maybe the > processor fan. but that's what the cpu fan monitor is for. My point was the chance for a failure of a CPU is greater if you have more of them, and when the system does not support dynamic hotplugging, or disconnection, you are actually carrying more risk factors than uniprocessor systems. You made the best case yet, CPU fan failure, which is quite common nowadays with Ghz type machines. It doesn't have to be a fan failing, it may be as simple as a power wire getting in the way of the blades. > on the example of P3-800 vs dual p2/c-400, of course you'd have reason > to doubt the dualie. the p3 would most probably be sitting on a newer > motherboard with a newer chipset with higher memory bus bandwidth than > those p2s, which are probably using a two to almost three years old > mobo. still, i'm not too sure...i bet the dual given a good smp os could > still give the p3 a run for its money. There are benchmarks available on the net that show that performance of 2 x CPU < 1 x (CPU x 2Mhz). The run for the money may actually be money running away due to lost performance... and.. Linux isn't actually a good SMP performer as compared to solaris or other commercial systems. Performance actually plateau's at 8 CPUs. It's gotten better, though with kernel 2.4, but still needs much improvement. _ Philippine Linux Users Group. Web site and archives at http://plug.linux.org.ph To leave: send "unsubscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to the Linux Newbies' List: send "subscribe" in the body to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
