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Subject: Re: Intel doesn't garantuee P4 has hyperthreading in the CPU

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 07:58:35 11/18/02

Go up one level in this thread


On November 18, 2002 at 10:15:53, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:

>On November 18, 2002 at 01:28:17, Terry McCracken wrote:
>
>>On November 17, 2002 at 13:58:43, Vincent Diepeveen wrote:
>>
>>>Hello,
>>>
>>>If i read the below section of the intel programming guide very well,
>>>then i interpret that as:
>>>
>>>  a) only the Xeon MP has hyperthreading and not the normal P4s,
>>>     not even P4s sold as Northwoods.
>>>
>>>  b) even the Xeon MP you should not assume that it supports hyper
>>>     threading. In fact something that gets sold as Xeon MP you should
>>>     still not assume that it supports hyper threading, but instead
>>>     one must assume that only after specifically questionning the cpu
>>>     whether it can do it.
>>>
>>>Intel IA-32 programming manual. Page 247 (of 780):
>>>"
>>>7.6.1 Implementation of Hyper-Threading Technology in IA-32 Processors
>>>
>>>Intel's Hyper-threading Technology was introduced into the IA-32 architecture
>>>in the Intel Xeon processor MP and in the later steppings of the Intel Xeon
>>>processor. Both of these processors implement Hyper-Threading Technology with 2
>>>logical processors per physical processor. When reading the following sections
>>>(and other sections in this book that refer to this technology), assume that all
>>>references to the implementation of Hyper-Threading Technology in the Intel Xeon
>>>processor MP also apply to those later steppings of the Intel Xeon processor
>>>that implement Hyper-Threading Technology.
>>>
>>>Intel recommends that software not rely on IA-32 processor names to determine
>>>whether a processor supports Hyper-Threading Technology; but instead, it should
>>>use the CPUID instruction as described in Section 7.6.5, "Detecting
>>>Hyper-Threading Technology".
>>>"
>>>
>>>Vincent
>>
>>Careful, Intel sues!
>
>Not at all. They now claim only the > 3Ghz P4s will have hyperthreading
>enabled, but that's an easy claim, because i cannot check it as the
>fastest P4 i can test now is 2.53Ghz. With some luck soon also 2.8Ghz P4.
>
>At the time the > 3 Ghz P4s are there within say a 6 months or so,
>of course those statements will have been forgotten.
>
>The only official statement is that the group of processors which
>*might* support SMT is the Xeon MPs and only
>after you ask the cpu a CPUID and when that response is positive
>*then* it supports it.
>
>So they give ZERO garantuee simply yet.
>
>Best regards,
>Vincent


It isn't only the xeon MT.  The MTs are certified for 4-way and 8-way, but the
other xeons are also doing hyperthreading.  The 2.8's in particular.  This is
from experience, not from guessing, btw...



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