Multi-core serves up performance

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
06/13/05

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Today's focus:

Multi-core serves up performance

By Ben Williams

As application performance demands grow, data centers require
more computing power in a smaller box so that more servers can
fit in a rack. Multi-core processing helps address these needs.

Multi-core refers to a CPU that includes two or more complete
execution cores per physical processor. The processors and their
caches and cache controllers are combined onto a single
integrated circuit. This technology evolution allows for
increased performance and higher productivity in computers that
can simultaneously run multiple complex applications and
complete more tasks in a shorter amount of time. These
performance gains are accomplished without increasing power or
heat.

Processing powerIn 1965, Gordon Moore predicted that the number
of transistors on a chip would double every 18 months. The next
40 years witnessed this assertion become law (Moore's Law), as
transistor size decreased and transistor density and computing
power increased.

However, the laws of physics restrict Moore's vision. First,
transistors slimmer than 16 nanometers cause unpredictable
electron transmission, creating a ceiling for transistor size
and density on a single core. Second, performance improvements
related to innovations in cache, clock speed, memory access and
I/O cause undesirable power consumption and heat generation.

To achieve constantly increasing microprocessor operating
frequencies, individual transistors need to switch faster and
faster. Continuous enhancements in transistor technology enable
this, but the trade-off is the amount of power consumed by each
transistor.

To operate at very high speeds, transistors draw power
constantly. This is referred to as "leakage" or "static" power.
With the highest-frequency microprocessors, static power can
become a large percentage of the total power consumption.

Creating further challenge, the increase in static power for
every extra megahertz of operation is a non-linear function.
Where a microprocessor may require 100 watts to run at a certain
frequency, to run 10% faster might require 30% or 40% higher
power. This creates a problem at the system level where the heat
generated by these microprocessors needs to be removed from the
box.

There are limitations on how much heat can be removed using
traditional fan and heat-sink air-cooled methods. Moving to more
exotic system cooling solutions is a significantly more
expensive proposition.

For more on how multi-core processing can address growing
application performance demands, please see:
<http://www.networkworld.com/nltechupdate2503>
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To contact:

Williams is vice president for the commercial business
microprocessor solutions sector for Advanced Micro Devices. He
can be reached at ben.williams@amd.com
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Concord Communications
Network World Executive Guide: The Evolution of Management
Technologies

Network and systems technologies have an important new role -
helping networked systems live up to new business realities.
With growing and shifting demands, network executives are
balancing business goals with prioritizing IT projects. Read
about the 'Future of Management', 'IT Service Management',
'Managing Security', and 'Best Practices'.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106665
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