Hyper threading for computation-intense single thread applications

[PeytonH]

Hello,
I have a couple of computationally intensive single threaded programs (written by me). With hyperthreading enabled, should I expect the application to be limited to one hyperthread==half of one core? Will the application run at 1/2 of 1/4 of the computational power of an i7 processor (first generation). Or will it claim all the computations of one core?

Thanks,
Peytonh

 

[gamerk316]

If its single threaded, you aren't going to see any impact whatsoever. There is nothing to offload to a HTT core.

Now, if you threaded the application in such a way as to break up the computation while keeping it parallel, you might see a "small" performance bump.

 

[PeytonH]

Thanks.

Then I conclude that I should run the processor with hyperthreading disabled.

Am I correct?

I.e. I'll get a whole core, rather than a hyperthread half core.

Thanks

 

[13thmonkey]

try it both ways. i don't think you should didable it.

 

[gamerk316]

It shouldn't affect the application either way. I recommend leaving it on, as other background applications can probably benifit from HTT.

 

[jaguarskx]

I would try it both ways. There have been some benchmarks both current and in the past where Hyper Threading (HT) caused a small negative impact in games. I know you are not designing / running a game, but you might as well see if there is some type of impact.

In order for a program to take advantage of HT, it must be specifically designed to do so.

 

[HEXiT]

as others have said best try it both ways. sometimes you will get slightly more performance on single threading apps if you turn off hyper threading. but it depends on how well optimized your code is as to how well the cpu will use it. its q quick test with nothing more than going into bios and turning it off or on..running the app and timing it to completion..