New Xeon Chip Appears in Dell Workstation

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Dell Computer is offering an unannounced 3.06-GHz Xeon processor from Intel for Precision workstations on its Web site. The chip features a 533-MHz front-side bus and Intel's hyperthreading technology, which enables a user to execute background tasks on software written in multiple threads more quickly than conventional processors can. Hyperthreading is supported only by Microsoft's Windows XP, however, and Dell allows the buyer to order a system with hyperthreading turned off.The Precision can be configured with two processors and is sold without a monitor. So far, Intel has announced Xeon processors at speeds only up to 2.8 GHz.

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News source: PCWorld

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(1 reply) #1 nacs on 07 Feb 2003 - 00:35

So 6.12Ghz of power in one workstation.

Maybe IPS should have bought this for Neowin instead.

(j/k)

#1.1 Octol on 07 Feb 2003 - 02:14

Why screw around? Just get IPS to buy the computer announced here: SEATTLE, November 14, 2002 - Global supercomputer leader Cray Inc. (Nasdaq NM: CRAY) today announced the Cray X1™ system, the world's most powerful supercomputer product. The new product is available with up to 52.4 trillion calculations per second (teraflops) of peak computing power and 65.5 terabytes of memory. U.S. list pricing starts at about $2.5 million.

(1 reply) #2 silly_walk on 07 Feb 2003 - 03:13

Notice they don't mention Linux supports HT

#2.1 nacs on 07 Feb 2003 - 07:12

Um, it does. Each HT enabled CPU appears to most OSs as 2 CPUs. And Linux definitely has SMP support (even better than XPs I might add).

(4 replies) #3 rx-- on 07 Feb 2003 - 03:30

Uhh.. The OEM version Xeon 3.06GHz processor has been available for few weeks now. Oh, and this is a lie.. "Hyperthreading is supported only by Microsoft's Windows XP" Windows 2000 and Linux support HT, so do all other multi-processor supporting OS's.

Last edited by 20688 on 07 Feb 2003 - 03:39

#3.1 xStainDx on 07 Feb 2003 - 06:06

no its not a lie, Windows 2000 will notice the HT, but use it incorrectly. Read some Intel and Microsoft Docs to understand why. It works only Properly on Windows XP, Linux and Windows Server 2003. Here's the information you're looking for [url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/hyperthreading.doc]http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/hyperthreading.doc[/url] [b]Windows 2000 Server Family and Hyper-Threading Technology[/b] [i]Windows 2000 Server [b]does not distinguish between physical and logical processors on systems enabled with Hyper-Threading Technology; Windows 2000 simply fills out the license limit using the first processors counted by the BIOS.[/b] For example, when you launch Windows 2000 Server (4-CPU limit) on a four-way system enabled with Hyper-Threading Technology, Windows will use the first logical processor on each of the four physical processors, as shown in Figure 2; the second logical processor on each physical processor will be unused, because of the 4-CPU license limit. (This assumes the BIOS was written according to Intel specifications. Windows uses the processor count and sequence indicated by the BIOS.) [/i] [b]Windows .NET Server Family and Hyper-Threading Technology[/b] [i]When examining the processor count provided by the BIOS, Windows .NET Server distinguishes between logical and physical processors, regardless of how they are counted by the BIOS. This provides a powerful advantage over Windows 2000, in that Windows .NET Server only treats physical processors as counting against the license limit. For example, if you launch Windows .NET Standard Server (2-CPU limit) on a two-way system enabled with Hyper-Threading Technology, Windows will use all four logical processors, as shown in Figure 4[/i]

Last edited by 335 on 07 Feb 2003 - 06:20

#3.2 nacs on 07 Feb 2003 - 07:13

[neoquote=#3.1 by xStainDx]no its not a lie, Windows 2000 will notice the HT, but use it incorrectly. Read some Intel and Microsoft Docs to understand why.[/neoquote] I'm not surprised that W2k doesn't do HT correctly. But Linux does support HT so it is still a lie.

#3.3 rx-- on 07 Feb 2003 - 07:25

xStainDx- no you misread the information. HT is still fully functional, each logical CPU will simply count as a real CPU against your license. HT is done in hardware and is fully transparent to software unless it specifically checks for logical CPUs (like XP/2003 does). It's treated the same in all OS's otherwise.

#3.4 xStainDx on 07 Feb 2003 - 09:23

I did't misread anything, IMO its doesn't work properly by stealing my CPU License!

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