Topic: Coming up next: multicore/multiprocessor support.

Hi Frits,

I am very happy for you !

Do you think that the changes in the code will also influence Podium’s behaviour with Hyperthreading processors ?

I know that the technique is different from dual core, but perhaps is there also a reason for the differences that I have reported on my P4 HT ?
It would be nice…

Now Frits, what about that feature I asked for via mail quite some time ago? 🙂 You know people would love it… 🙂

@Zynewave wrote:

I decided it was time to replace my aging development/music PC. I went for a Dell Dimension 9100 with one of the new Pentium D 2.8GHz dual core processors. Multicore/multiprocessor systems are fast becoming mainstream, so I figured it would be good to have such a system to test with Podium.

Podium seems to run ok on this system. However, after a couple of minutes of watching the two CPU panels in the Windows performance meter, with one CPU running at 95% and the other CPU doing almost nothing, multiprocessing support suddenly was at the top of the priority list 😆

Took me a couple of days to implement, and still need another week of finetuning. The dual processing has given Podium 70% extra CPU headroom (depending on signal routing). A full 100% extra cannot be obtained because there are some overhead in the shared access to memory and other system resources. I tested an arrangement with multiple tracks playing a sound file through an ambience reverb. Single processing could give me 7 tracks before overload. Dual processing could give me 12 tracks. So in effect I have a 4.7 GHz PC. I’m thrilled

Are there any users out there that have a dualcore/multiprocessor system? Anyone thinking of getting one?

Great!

I am in the market for a Dual processor system. Dell do seem to have cheaper prices.I guess I may have to bump up the mulitprocessing Podium thread! 🙂

Every PC will have dual core processors from what I have read. AMD and Intel are committed to this path.So even budget low end base units will indeed have dual core processors over the next 6 – 18 months.

It is indeed the way to go now. I should have a dual processor system very soon.

Your observation about Podium and the *other* CPU being idle is a problem many music packages will face until they upgrade their apps to support dual cores. Good to see you are right on top of things already. 🙂

Here is a question for you though Frits…High end audio workstations currently have two separate processors like a dual Xeon PC for instance or dual opteron. Now that processors are dualcore, quad processing will replace the current dual xeon or dual opteron systems.

Quad as in two dual cores in one PC. Can Podium reach such dizzy heights? If you already have got this far can you or will Podium handle quad processing? 8)

First of all Frits, congrats on your new dual core system!

Multicore/multiprocessor support… This is fantastic news! 😀

@Frits wrote:

Are there any users out there that have a dualcore/multiprocessor system? Anyone thinking of getting one?

I’ve been running on two 600mhz Klamath CPU’s since 1999, and I’m still enjoyning the benefits of having two two physical processors “under the bonnet”. For me, there’s no doubt. I’m going dual for my next workstation, fanless of course 8)

So, to put it short: “One time dual, always dual… Because two is better than one!”

/Joachim

@Zynewave wrote:

I assume as the limit for memory on 64bit systems is up to a terabyte or something that Podium will also scale up to take advantage of this new memory ceiling?

It should on the new 64-bit Windows. On the current Windows versions the limit is 2 GB RAM. It is possible to support up to 3 GB, but this is not implemented in Podium yet.

How has the Dell Dimension noise levels been for you Frits? Would you describe it as quiet enough for recording vocals in the same room for instance?

It is not as loud as I had feared. What I notice most is actually the harddisk noise when it moves the heads. I would not record with a microphone in the same room. I have purchased a 5m DVI extension cord, and with my wireless keyboard/mouse, I’ll be able to put the Dell in another room.

Thanks Frits. I guess it will then be a specialist PC for me or I may try your solution. 8)

You did that in two days? I’m impressed. I’m currently looking at what’ll be involved in making one of my projects parallelisable, and it’s going to take a lot longer than two days to pull off.