This is actually a reply to an earlier thread, but I kept getting errors about a lack of disk space.
Just some notes on SMP machines. The 50 / 50 split that you see when running a single threaded application is not good, it is far better to assign the process to a single CPU to avoid cache invalidation and time wasted by context switches. Windows 2000 fixes this to some extent, threads tend to stick to one CPU wherever possible.
Secondly Q2 on my Voodoo running under NT on a dual 400 machine was noticeable faster than Windows 98 on the same machine (where obviously only one processor was used), so even single threaded apps will benefit, especially if they spend a lot of time in system code or drivers.
Lastly, video drivers can be written to take advantage of SMP machines. To my knowledge Matrox has never attempted this, and given their current track record with NT support I wouldn't be holding my breath. Windows 2000 may turn out to be the best gaming platform yet, so I hope Matrox re-think their strategy here.
ATI apparently have SMP optimized drivers for the Rage 128 line, it would interesting to find out how great a difference this makes.
Paul
Just some notes on SMP machines. The 50 / 50 split that you see when running a single threaded application is not good, it is far better to assign the process to a single CPU to avoid cache invalidation and time wasted by context switches. Windows 2000 fixes this to some extent, threads tend to stick to one CPU wherever possible.
Secondly Q2 on my Voodoo running under NT on a dual 400 machine was noticeable faster than Windows 98 on the same machine (where obviously only one processor was used), so even single threaded apps will benefit, especially if they spend a lot of time in system code or drivers.
Lastly, video drivers can be written to take advantage of SMP machines. To my knowledge Matrox has never attempted this, and given their current track record with NT support I wouldn't be holding my breath. Windows 2000 may turn out to be the best gaming platform yet, so I hope Matrox re-think their strategy here.
ATI apparently have SMP optimized drivers for the Rage 128 line, it would interesting to find out how great a difference this makes.
Paul
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