On Tue, 2007-01-30 at 23:03 +0000, David Fletcher wrote: > On Sunday 28 January 2007 22:07, Jonathan Berry wrote: > > On 1/28/07, Mick Mearns <off_by_1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > Hi list; > > > this is off topic. > > > > > > I was wondering which is better a dual-core x86 cpu or an x64 cpu? > > > Which is actually faster/better in "normal" use? > > > How about installation problems and hardware cost? > > > > > > I am not planning any upgrades just yet but am curios. > > > > Why not get a dual-core x86_64 CPU? All the AMD dual-core chips are > > 64-bit and Intel's Core 2 Duo is 64-bit. Personally, I like AMD > > better. There is really no reason to get a 32-bit only CPU anymore. > > If you don't want to run 64-bit yet, you can still run 32-bit just > > fine. And a 64-bit installation gives you the choice to run both. > > > > Jonathan > > If the List doesn't mind me staying off topic (it's closer to topic than > servicing a Chevy pickup gearbox I think ;-) ):- Next time I build a new > computer I'd like to be sure that I can run a Xen kernel with full > virtualisation. Then when I occasionally need to poke a little finger into > the Dark Side I can do so without having to shut down and reboot, and keep > the damned thing backed up so I don't ever need to do a fresh install again. > > As I Understand It, if I go for an AMD chip I need to be sure to buy one that > incorporates technology called Pacifica. Only thing that's troubling me about > this is, I can't find any mention of Pacifica in connection with AMD chips in > the component shops. > > Also, I believe I can't do it on this P4 computer because it can only do what > is called paravirtualisation, requiring hooks to be added to the guest OS. > Which is probably why I could run the 98SE installation CD OK when I played > with it but it wouldn't boot. > > So, List, is the little bit I think I know about virtualisation correct? > > Are there chips available now that have Pacifica (such as the AMD Opterons) or > are they not out yet? Yes, they're out. The "official" name for Pacifica is "AMD-V". The Athlon64/X2 series has AMD-V, as does the Opteron 1xxx,2xxx and 4xxx series (e.g. Opteron 1210). If you "cat /proc/cpuinfo", look at the flags string. AMD chips with AMD-V will have the "svm" flag. Intel chips will have the "vmx" flag. I have an AMD Athlon64/X2 and an Opteron 1210. Here's the procinfo for each. First, the Athlon64/X2: [root@labrat1 ~]# cat /proc/cpuinfo processor : 0 vendor_id : AuthenticAMD cpu family : 15 model : 75 model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+ stepping : 2 cpu MHz : 2405.042 cache size : 512 KB physical id : 0 siblings : 1 core id : 0 cpu cores : 1 fpu : yes fpu_exception : yes cpuid level : 1 wp : yes flags : fpu tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm cr8_legacy bogomips : 6014.10 TLB size : 1024 4K pages clflush size : 64 cache_alignment : 64 address sizes : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc And now the Opteron 1210: [root@bigdog ~]# cat /proc/cpuinfo processor : 0 vendor_id : AuthenticAMD cpu family : 15 model : 67 model name : Dual-Core AMD Opteron(tm) Processor 1210 stepping : 2 cpu MHz : 1808.283 cache size : 1024 KB physical id : 0 siblings : 1 core id : 0 cpu cores : 1 fpu : yes fpu_exception : yes cpuid level : 1 wp : yes flags : fpu tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt rdtscp lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni cx16 lahf_lm cmp_legacy svm cr8_legacy bogomips : 4521.67 TLB size : 1024 4K pages clflush size : 64 cache_alignment : 64 address sizes : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual power management: ts fid vid ttp tm stc Note the "svm" flags on both machines. Both chips are AM2 sockets and they're both dual-core. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - Rick Stevens, Senior Systems Engineer rstevens@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx - - VitalStream, Inc. http://www.vitalstream.com - - - - The gene pool could use a little chlorine. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------
