[SLE] Hyper-Threading: Is It There?

• Previous message: C Hamel: "Re: [SLE] Laptop choice"
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

To: suse-linux-e@suse.com
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 13:32:16 -0700

Hi,

Following a recent hardware failure, I got a new CPU and motherboard.

The motherboard is an Intel D865PERL running the latest (P19) BIOS.

The CPU is:

- P4
- 2.40A GHz
- mPGA478 package
- 533 MHz FSB
- 1 MB L2 Cache

Hwinfo tells me this:

% hwinfo --cpu
01: None 00.0: 10103 CPU
  [Created at cpu.290]
  Unique ID: rdCR.j8NaKXDZtZ6
  Hardware Class: cpu
  Arch: Intel
  Vendor: "GenuineIntel"
  Model: 15.3.3 "Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz"
  Features: fpu, vme, de, pse, tsc, msr, pae, mce, cx8, apic, sep, mtrr,
pge, mca, cmov, pat, pse36, clflush, dts, acpi, mmx, fxsr, sse, sse2, ss,
ht, tm, pbe, pni, monitor, ds_cpl, cid
  Clock: 2394 MHz
  Cache: 1024 kb
  Units/Processor: 1
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

/proc/cpuinfo reads:

% cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 3
model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz
stepping : 3
cpu MHz : 2394.520
cache size : 1024 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 5
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca
cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe pni
monitor ds_cpl cid
bogomips : 4718.59

I'm running the latest kernel available via YOU:

% uname -a
Linux twain 2.6.5-7.95-smp #1 SMP Thu Jul 1 15:23:45 UTC 2004 i686 i686
i386 GNU/Linux

Every indication I have suggests that I have fully HTT-supporting hardware
and software, yet I cannot seem to confirm any performance advantage from
HyperThreading. If I type "1" into "top", it says "Sorry, only one cpu
detected". Is there some way for me to confirm that all the necessary
pieces are in place and all the necessary configuration options properly
chosen so I actually get the benefit of HyperThreading. Likewise, is
there an empirical test I can perform that will show me the performance
advantage of HTT?

I should also point out that the rest of my system, including all PCI
boards, hard drives and CD/DVD ROM and recorders as well as the cabinet
and power supply are the same ones that were in the old, now-defunct
system. The initial setup of SuSE Professional 9.1 did not install the
SMP kernel, of course. After I got the new CPU and motherboard installed
and running, I used YaST to install the kernel-smp package from the
original distribution media and then used YOU to upgrade it via the
Internet to 2.6.5-7.95-smp.

One thing that confuses me is the repeated use of the phrase "Supporting
Hyper-Threading Technology" or some such. That phrase, for example, is
printed on the box of the CPU I'm using (right under the text "Pentium
(r) 4 Processor"). Similarly, on the box in which the motherboard was
shipped, the following statement appears (in 12 languages, no less):

"HYPER-THREADING TECHNOLOGY: Using HT Technology with this desktop board
requires an HT Technology-enabled processor, chipset, BIOS and operating
system. See www.intel.com/info/hyperthreading for information."

It seems kind of odd to say you need an HTT-enabled chipset and BIOS when
those components are part of the product itself.

In reviewing the past few months of the mailing list archives for posts
pertaining to Hyper-Threading, I found some refences to enabling HTT
support in the BIOS. I went through every BIOS configuration and
information page (including the ones that are only accessible when some
other option is suitable chosen) and could find no overt reference to
Hyper-Threading.

Can anybody help me understand this business better and find out
unequivocally and unambiguously whether I am currently using HTT on my
new system?

Thanks!

Randall Schulz

P.S. I'm uncertain about the etiquette for this list, so pardon this
request if it's not considered appropriate: I'm not subscribed to
suse-linux-e and the volume of postings deters me somewhat from doing so,
so I'd appreciate being included directly in any replies. Nonetheless, I
will monitor the list archive for responses.

-- 
Check the headers for your unsubscription address
For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com
Also check the archives at http://lists.suse.com
Please read the FAQs: suse-linux-e-faq@suse.com

• Previous message: C Hamel: "Re: [SLE] Laptop choice"
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]