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Subject: Re: Parallel search development on a single processor machine ?

Author: Robert Hyatt

Date: 07:11:06 08/24/99

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On August 24, 1999 at 06:27:34, Rémi Coulom wrote:

>On August 21, 1999 at 14:04:45, Dave Gomboc wrote:
>
>>On August 21, 1999 at 06:13:53, Rémi Coulom wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I plan to buy new hardware soon, and I hesitate about buying a multiprocessor
>>>motherboard. I would like to try parallel search algorithms for The Crazy Bishop
>>>and I wonder if it possible to experiment them with multiple threads on a single
>>>processor. From the little experience of parallel programming I have, I guess
>>>that there are some problems that could arise when two threads are running on
>>>two processors simultaneously that would not arise when they run in different
>>>time slices on the same processor. I would like to know what more experienced
>>>parallel searchers think.
>>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>>Remi
>>
>>I'm wondering if you're hesitating about buying a multiprocessor mainboard
>>because of the price! :-) or because you're unsure of how stable/safe they are.
>>I've used an ASUS P2B-D for a year, and it's been great.  If you wanted 4
>>processors instead of 2, maybe ask Bob and Bruce what they are using.
>>
>>Dave
>
>I simply thought that a single faster processor could be of more interest than
>two slower ones for the same price. But parallel programming looks really fun
>and I will probably choose a bi-processor. I am now looking forward to my first
>nasty multithread bug :-).
>
>Remi

Dual 350's will be slower than a single 600 by a significant margin.  But if
you get the dual 350, you can debug a parallel search, and a quad 600 will be
_far_ faster than a single 600... roughly 3x faster or a bit more, depending
on how good you are at parallel search issues...

It is unlikely that you will find most bugs using two threads on a single
processor... the timing just isn't the same.  You will find a lot, of course,
but every time you port to a new platform you will find more.  I ran for a good
while on a dual 300, and had good results.  Moving to my quad P6/200 (when it
arrived) immediately highlighted many more bugs...



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