Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit?

From	Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org>
Newsgroups	comp.lang.c
Subject	Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit?
Date	2015-04-07 10:48 -0500
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<mg0u80$df2$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(2 earlier) <08c430e8-eeb2-4e8c-944e-e7714b4888bb@googlegroups.com> <mfu7ki$rm2$1@dont-email.me> <bhh5iapsecknsfvrtuo67b5lq84b3ese4r@4ax.com> <mfv0j0$51d$1@dont-email.me> <tg57ia5fmg3fhlkjmh3ujmdc1c7ledv06n@4ax.com>

Show all headers | View raw

On 07-Apr-15 03:41, Robert Wessel wrote:
> Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> wrote:
>> Niagara was designed for a specific market (database and web
>> servers) where FP performance is mostly irrelevant; the FPU
>> probably spends most of its time powered off completely, only
>> waking up when someone runs server performance reports and such.
>> They probably could have left it out completely and relied on
>> software emulation instead.
> 
> OTOH, it was a small bit of the chip (1/3 to 1/2 the size of a
> single core) and would have been far faster than emulation on a
> single core. Quite possibly total throughput on all eight cores for
> emulation could have been almost as fast, but on the (valid)
> assumption that FP is relatively rare in server code, it still makes
> sense to provide decent performance when it does show up - Niagara's
> cores were pretty darn slow to begin with, hitting even a modest
> patch of FP would have been really slow if it would have had to drop
> to emulation.  And so long as you don't get too many cores hitting
> patches of FP at once, it works fairly well.

I'm sure they did the simulations to validate their decision, and for a
cost that low, even intuitively it seems like a decent trade-off.

> And a lot of web server workloads, while not FP intensive, still 
> execute a reasonable amount of FP - most of the scripting languages 
> that would run there pretty much make doubles the default numeric 
> type.

They're going to spend a lot of time in filesystem/disk code, network
code, database code, web server code, JVM code, etc., and those are all
written in C and mostly/exclusively use integers.  A little bit of
emulated FP shouldn't hurt much, but maybe it's still enough to justify
1/8th of an FPU per core.

Maybe those transistors could have been spent on more cache, but given
that the justification for that entire class of design is that such
workloads thrash the cache, no matter the size, probably not.

S

-- 
Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking

Back to comp.lang.c | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Find similar | Unroll thread

Thread

Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Weng Tianxiang <wtxwtx@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 06:50 -0700
  Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Noob <root@127.0.0.1> - 2015-04-05 17:17 +0200
    Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-05 17:35 +0200
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 11:21 -0500
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-05 18:40 +0200
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 11:56 -0500
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 10:08 -0700
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 13:17 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 10:10 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 10:26 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 23:40 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Bartc <bc@freeuk.com> - 2015-04-07 23:06 +0100
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-08 01:23 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 23:15 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 20:16 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-08 09:27 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-08 09:44 -0500
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-05 19:37 +0200
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 18:50 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-05 22:29 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 23:09 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 01:54 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 07:44 -0500
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 10:16 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-07 03:32 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 12:48 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Richard Heathfield <rjh@cpax.org.uk> - 2015-04-07 11:57 +0100
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 13:33 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-07 15:21 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-04-07 17:15 +0000
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Tim Prince <tprince@computer.org> - 2015-04-07 14:21 -0400
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-04-05 13:08 -0700
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 15:27 -0500
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Noob <root@127.0.0.1> - 2015-04-05 19:04 +0200
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-05 19:38 +0200
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 10:46 -0700
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-04-05 13:12 -0700
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 09:51 -0700
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 12:18 -0500
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? jacobnavia <jacob@jacob.remcomp.fr> - 2015-04-06 01:30 +0200
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 19:27 -0500
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? christian.bau@cbau.wanadoo.co.uk - 2015-04-07 23:58 -0700
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-08 08:08 -0500
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-06 03:36 +0200
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 10:27 +0200
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 10:39 -0500
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? christian.bau@cbau.wanadoo.co.uk - 2015-04-07 23:47 -0700
    Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 11:04 -0500
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-05 18:20 +0200
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-05 11:43 -0500
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? glen herrmannsfeldt <gah@ugcs.caltech.edu> - 2015-04-05 20:28 +0000
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Malcolm McLean <malcolm.mclean5@btinternet.com> - 2015-04-05 14:46 -0700
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? fir <profesor.fir@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 15:01 -0700
    Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Keith Thompson <kst-u@mib.org> - 2015-04-05 13:17 -0700
  Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Paul <nospam@needed.com> - 2015-04-05 14:31 -0400
    Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 11:01 +0200
  Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-05 22:34 -0500
    Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Weng Tianxiang <wtxwtx@gmail.com> - 2015-04-05 23:39 -0700
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 02:06 -0500
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 08:57 -0500
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 12:38 -0500
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 16:30 -0500
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-04-06 17:10 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating   X87 unit? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 10:16 +1200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating   X87 unit? Melzzzzz <mel@zzzzz.com> - 2015-04-07 02:23 +0200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 17:36 -0500
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 17:41 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 20:09 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Richard Damon <Richard@Damon-Family.org> - 2015-04-06 22:44 -0400
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? David Brown <david.brown@hesbynett.no> - 2015-04-07 11:11 +0200
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Weng Tianxiang <wtxwtx@gmail.com> - 2015-04-06 08:04 -0700
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 12:43 -0500
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Paul <nospam@needed.com> - 2015-04-06 14:52 -0400
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? BGB <cr88192@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-06 17:09 -0500
      Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Paul <nospam@needed.com> - 2015-04-06 11:11 -0400
        Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-06 12:47 -0500
          Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-04-06 17:15 -0500
            Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Robert Wessel <robertwessel2@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-07 03:41 -0500
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Ian Collins <ian-news@hotmail.com> - 2015-04-07 21:19 +1200
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-04-07 10:37 -0500
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating   X87 unit? Tim Prince <tprince@computer.org> - 2015-04-07 12:13 -0400
                Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating   X87 unit? Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-04-09 12:34 -0500
              Re: Does each core of 8-core Intel processor has an independent floating X87 unit? Stephen Sprunk <stephen@sprunk.org> - 2015-04-07 10:48 -0500

csiph-web