Intel Atom revisited

hj47 · 2010-03-05, 07:52

Hi folks

I know this has been asked several times now, but with the improved Atom Processor D510 (Pine Trail), would it be suitable to use it to complete semi-intensive tasks like DC & P-1? It now has the memory controller integrated onto the CPU itself, there are 2 monolithic cores that are hyper-threaded, clock speeds are up and cache has doubled. I know most people usually recommend TF for such a slow CPU, but a P-1 or DC crunching 12W Atom would be pretty sweet (or even a cluster of them!).

Cheers

hj47 · 2010-03-05, 10:01

If anyone runs PrimeGrid or searches for small-ish primes like Proths feel free to read my similar question at the PG forums: http://www.primegrid.com/forum_thread.php?id=1719

Thanks

ldesnogu · 2010-03-05, 10:14

The problem is not memory bandwidth/latency but the speed of SIMD instructions.

The SIMD engine of Atom is very slow for 128-bit ops (which IIUC is what is used by Prime95).

Ref: http://www.canardpc.com/dossier-42-5...ture_Atom.html

Sorry it's in French, but I guess the graph titled "Debit des instructions - Unite SIMD" is easy to understand.

You can also compare instruction latencies and throughput of various x86 processors using this page: http://instlatx64.fw.hu/

Sorry but the Atom is crap for that kind of work

joblack · 2010-03-06, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldesnogu

The problem is not memory bandwidth/latency but the speed of SIMD instructions.

The SIMD engine of Atom is very slow for 128-bit ops (which IIUC is what is used by Prime95).

Ref: http://www.canardpc.com/dossier-42-5...ture_Atom.html

Sorry it's in French, but I guess the graph titled "Debit des instructions - Unite SIMD" is easy to understand.

You can also compare instruction latencies and throughput of various x86 processors using this page: http://instlatx64.fw.hu/

Sorry but the Atom is crap for that kind of work

Get a P5200 Dual Core, they are cheap, quite overclockable and crunshing numbers like hell =)

hj47 · 2010-06-14, 05:09

Well I ended up buying a foxconn D510 Atom mobo and spent a couple of months Folding on it.

Now I've booted up Prime95 and seeing what kind of speed it gets. I started a DC using all 4 threads and it looked as though it would take a little over 2 months to complete. I also loaded up 2 P-1 tests, and it looks as though it can complete stage 1 in less than a week, and about 2.5-3 weeks for stage 2.

However I don't want to hold the project back, so am I better of double-checking (perhaps now with 2 DC's with 2 threads each) or staying with P-1?

I'd rather not do TF, only because (AFAIK) it's still saturated with a lot of CPU's.

storm5510 · 2010-06-14, 06:08

I feel Intel's idea for the Atom was to create a CPU that would operate at a much lower core voltage and temperature. I had a Netbook which used an Atom CPU, but it was not this model. It was an N450. It was running Vista Basic. Many did not like Vista, but I didn't have many issues with it. It was a bit slow for my suit. I sold it because I was not able to adjust the display to where I could read what was on the screen. My eyes are not what they used to be.

jasong · 2010-06-19, 01:56

2 months is way better than fast enough. If you really feel like you're trailing behind(like if there are only a few tests lower than yours that haven't been proven composite) you might want to post a thread with a predicted end date.

Or just post the end date here.

jasong · 2010-07-04, 03:01

Sorry if this is seen as thread hijacking, but I think the real question, one that will probably start coming up a lot in the next few years, is the question of running Prime95, or DCing projects in general, on some of the new specialized computers that will be coming out soon. It won't be long before someone has the ability to crunch on the refrigerator, tv, air conditioner, stereo, etc...

xilman · 2010-07-04, 09:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasong

Sorry if this is seen as thread hijacking, but I think the real question, one that will probably start coming up a lot in the next few years, is the question of running Prime95, or DCing projects in general, on some of the new specialized computers that will be coming out soon. It won't be long before someone has the ability to crunch on the refrigerator, tv, air conditioner, stereo, etc...

Back in 1994 I received an email saying that the RSA-129 siever was running on a laser printer.

Paul

Rhyled · 2010-07-04, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by hj47

I started a DC using all 4 threads and it looked as though it would take a little over 2 months to complete.

You might want to benchmark the performance of that processor with and without HT. On my Core i7 processor, HT actually caused a 5% DROP in performance, so turning off HT actually lets my PC chug through Prime95 faster and cooler.

cheesehead · 2010-07-04, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by xilman

Back in 1994 I received an email saying that the RSA-129 siever was running on a laser printer.

I suppose that simplified printing the result.

Running on an air conditioner: simplified cooling.

Running on a refrigerator: only during auto-defrost.

2010-03-05, 07:52	#1
hj47 Oct 2008 2×3×11 Posts	Intel Atom revisited Hi folks I know this has been asked several times now, but with the improved Atom Processor D510 (Pine Trail), would it be suitable to use it to complete semi-intensive tasks like DC & P-1? It now has the memory controller integrated onto the CPU itself, there are 2 monolithic cores that are hyper-threaded, clock speeds are up and cache has doubled. I know most people usually recommend TF for such a slow CPU, but a P-1 or DC crunching 12W Atom would be pretty sweet (or even a cluster of them!). Cheers Last fiddled with by hj47 on 2010-03-05 at 08:03

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2010-03-05, 10:01	#2
hj47 Oct 2008 42₁₆ Posts	If anyone runs PrimeGrid or searches for small-ish primes like Proths feel free to read my similar question at the PG forums: http://www.primegrid.com/forum_thread.php?id=1719 Thanks

2010-03-05, 10:14	#3
ldesnogu Jan 2008 France 2³×71 Posts	The problem is not memory bandwidth/latency but the speed of SIMD instructions. The SIMD engine of Atom is very slow for 128-bit ops (which IIUC is what is used by Prime95). Ref: http://www.canardpc.com/dossier-42-5...ture_Atom.html Sorry it's in French, but I guess the graph titled "Debit des instructions - Unite SIMD" is easy to understand. You can also compare instruction latencies and throughput of various x86 processors using this page: http://instlatx64.fw.hu/ Sorry but the Atom is crap for that kind of work

2010-06-14, 05:09	#5
hj47 Oct 2008 2×3×11 Posts	Well I ended up buying a foxconn D510 Atom mobo and spent a couple of months Folding on it. Now I've booted up Prime95 and seeing what kind of speed it gets. I started a DC using all 4 threads and it looked as though it would take a little over 2 months to complete. I also loaded up 2 P-1 tests, and it looks as though it can complete stage 1 in less than a week, and about 2.5-3 weeks for stage 2. However I don't want to hold the project back, so am I better of double-checking (perhaps now with 2 DC's with 2 threads each) or staying with P-1? I'd rather not do TF, only because (AFAIK) it's still saturated with a lot of CPU's.

2010-06-14, 06:08	#6
storm5510 Random Account Aug 2009 Not U. + S.A. 2·7²·23 Posts	I feel Intel's idea for the Atom was to create a CPU that would operate at a much lower core voltage and temperature. I had a Netbook which used an Atom CPU, but it was not this model. It was an N450. It was running Vista Basic. Many did not like Vista, but I didn't have many issues with it. It was a bit slow for my suit. I sold it because I was not able to adjust the display to where I could read what was on the screen. My eyes are not what they used to be.

2010-06-19, 01:56	#7
jasong "Jason Goatcher" Mar 2005 6663₈ Posts	2 months is way better than fast enough. If you really feel like you're trailing behind(like if there are only a few tests lower than yours that haven't been proven composite) you might want to post a thread with a predicted end date. Or just post the end date here.

2010-07-04, 03:01	#8
jasong "Jason Goatcher" Mar 2005 3×7×167 Posts	Sorry if this is seen as thread hijacking, but I think the real question, one that will probably start coming up a lot in the next few years, is the question of running Prime95, or DCing projects in general, on some of the new specialized computers that will be coming out soon. It won't be long before someone has the ability to crunch on the refrigerator, tv, air conditioner, stereo, etc...