About ATOM N270 with Linux

aazue · ‎07-29-2009

I all
I have install notebook U100 LINUX Opensuse 11.0
Curious ,command cat/proc/cpuinfo give two processors (me and machine we have no drink ...)
Firmeware (Bios) give only one

after upgrade system ls /lib/modules give two kernel
2.6.25.20-0.4-pae 2.6.25.5-1.1-pae

linux-x9zv:/lib/modules # cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 28
model name : Intel Atom CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 800.000
cache size : 512 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 0
cpu cores : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 xtpr lahf_lm
bogomips : 3205.64
clflush size : 64

processor : 1
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 28
model name : Intel Atom CPU N270 @ 1.60GHz
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 800.000
cache size : 512 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 0
cpu cores : 1
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 xtpr lahf_lm
bogomips : 3200.18
clflush size : 64

linux-x9zv:/lib/modules # dmidecode -t4
# dmidecode 2.9
SMBIOS 2.4 present.

Handle 0x0004, DMI type 4, 35 bytes
Processor Information
Socket Designation: CPU 1
Type: Central Processor
Family: Pentium M
Manufacturer: Intel
ID: C2 06 01 00 FF FB E9 BF
Signature: Type 0, Family 6, Model 28, Stepping 2
Flags:
FPU (Floating-point unit on-chip)
VME (Virtual mode extension)
DE (Debugging extension)
PSE (Page size extension)
TSC (Time stamp counter)
MSR (Model specific registers)
PAE (Physical address extension)
MCE (Machine check exception)
CX8 (CMPXCHG8 instruction supported)
APIC (On-chip APIC hardware supported)
SEP (Fast system call)
MTRR (Memory type range registers)
PGE (Page global enable)
MCA (Machine check architecture)
CMOV (Conditional move instruction supported)
PAT (Page attribute table)
CLFSH (CLFLUSH instruction supported)
DS (Debug store)
ACPI (ACPI supported)
MMX (MMX technology supported)
FXSR (Fast floating-point save and restore)
SSE (Streaming SIMD extensions)
SSE2 (Streaming SIMD extensions 2)
SS (Self-snoop)
HTT (Hyper-threading technology)
TM (Thermal monitor supported)
PBE (Pending break enabled)
Version: Intel Atom CPU N270 @ 1.60GH
Voltage: 3.3 V 2.9 V
External Clock: 533 MHz
Max Speed: 4000 MHz
Current Speed: 1599 MHz
Status: Populated, Enabled
Upgrade: Other
L1 Cache Handle: 0x0005
L2 Cache Handle: 0x0006
L3 Cache Handle: Not Provided
Serial Number: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Asset Tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
Part Number: To Be Filled By O.E.M.

Better that you discovering half only one processor,
but problem i think... exactly same you having three shoes , same price that for two ....
I call before installing ICC ,
I dont know if resulting problem at step install or wrong result with flag command compiler ????.
thank.
best regards

TimP · ‎07-30-2009

The report says you have HyperThread enabled, thus partial hardware support for 2 threads, even though it is single core. If you have 2 kernels fully installed, you should have the opportunity on initial grub menu to select one or the other. It used to be common to install both a non-threaded and a kernel supporting threads, with the latter being the default. In such a case, the icc installation ought to continue working even though you reboot with the other kernel.

aazue · ‎07-30-2009

Quoting - tim18

The report says you have HyperThread enabled, thus partial hardware support for 2 threads, even though it is single core. If you have 2 kernels fully installed, you should have the opportunity on initial grub menu to select one or the other. It used to be common to install both a non-threaded and a kernel supporting threads, with the latter being the default. In such a case, the icc installation ought to continue working even though you reboot with the other kernel.

Hi
Thank Tim for your answer
Two kernel resulting same secondary is only update.
with package (DEBAIN 5) same result.
but if can work ICC without problem ,is already well.
when i have time i make also test equivalent model ASUS
(of children) probably , have only 2 hours extend added PSU without the wire (same processors).
I hope that not occurred problem rejected at step quality control ???; type machine is well and good speed result observed.

Thank

Best regards

(added)
secondary OS XP SP3 installed give also two cores
iin www, i have discover that with 330 model would have 4 cores recognize in screen ...

Best regards

aazue · ‎08-06-2009

Quoting - bustaf

Quoting - tim18

The report says you have HyperThread enabled, thus partial hardware support for 2 threads, even though it is single core. If you have 2 kernels fully installed, you should have the opportunity on initial grub menu to select one or the other. It used to be common to install both a non-threaded and a kernel supporting threads, with the latter being the default. In such a case, the icc installation ought to continue working even though you reboot with the other kernel.

Hi
Thank Tim for your answer
Two kernel resulting same secondary is only update.
with package (DEBAIN 5) same result.
but if can work ICC without problem ,is already well.
when i have time i make also test equivalent model ASUS
(of children) probably , have only 2 hours extend added PSU without the wire (same processors).
I hope that not occurred problem rejected at step quality control ???; type machine is well and good speed result observed.

Thank

Best regards

(added)
secondary OS XP SP3 installed give also two cores
iin www, i have discover that with 330 model would have 4 cores recognize in screen ...

Best regards

Hi
I don't know if is hyper-thread diminished,
All test that i have make give exactly same you have to drive processor two cores.
I wait for making test 300 model to add some parameters to help me investigation.
But without this side that i have not perfectly understand , observed that processor ATOM work very very well
before all my test and only with reading information i have think before that is processor just adapted to small task .. is false is very good processor and can be used all task big and small.
I have install Db2,Oracle,Postgresql and several other big programs without problem.
Just two small problem relation notebook machine

1) touch pad precision control is difficult
2) only one button can moved right and left side, if you are Unix users i think that you using
two button selection for paste that you having cut selection.
With adding external mouse two problem are resolved.

I want use ATOM machine notebook for removing 2 standard machine in laboratory
object is for reduce effect wind rotor cooler PSU contamination.
They machine have to use some binary coff program.
I have compile source Ibcs emulator and result is ok
No problem all working fine with type Atom processor.
Atom is appropriated for this task ,Ibcs not working
64 operating system (but working fine also machine 64 processor that have operating system 32 installed)
I write about this subject i think some time you can have as to move SCO program to Linux
and is well that you having example binary in only one operating system, also sometime must
program Coff obliged working but that you no have the source.
Remark:
SCO is also very well operating system, just for find all driver notebook , Good luck.....
I not add describe exactly how to make IBCS effective but if some users interested i can add is easy.

Council... size screen notebook
call only the costumer that not have glasses
excepted maybe those eyes (squint) excluded justify problem O/S given 2 processors...
.
Kind regards

dpeterc · ‎08-07-2009

Quoting - bustaf

I don't know if is hyper-thread diminished,
All test that i have make give exactly same you have to drive processor two cores.

I also have an Acer Aspire One netbok with Atom N270 processor (thank you, Intel).

I can confirm that, despite specifications, the Linux /proc/cpuinfo is correct, and Atom N270 is indeed a dual core, or almost dual core processor.
Either that, or Hyperthreading is no longer what it used to be.

I first introduced multiprocessing in my programs in mid 2005, when I had a Pentium 4HT.
I was very disappointed since my purely CPU bound application did not experience any speedups.
Later, on a flight from Portland to Europe, a kind Intel engineer sitting next to me, gave me some advice. He explained to me that Hyperthreading only helps when you have concurrent cpu and disk bound threads. Or something like that. And that true multicore processors would be released soon, and that then applications like mine will run faster. Encouraged by this I bought my first Pentium D in November 2005, I got 100% speedup with the same code.
I had a happy relationship with Intel CPUs since then ;-)

On a normal dual core processor i get almost 100% speedup, and 350% on quad core.

Now I made timing measurements of my multicore-enabled application on Atom N270, and I get 50% speedup.
So it is not the same as a true dual core, but it is also much faster than just hyperthreading.
Also note that my code does not use threads, it just forks the extra processes and collects the results.

So I am really curious what is going on here - are there some marketing reasons for Intel's not admitting that Atom N270 is dual core processor? Or is my understanding of multicore flawed.
I also found it strange that none of the many netbook reviews revealed this information, and Atom is considered to be a purely single core processor like Pentium M.

dpeterc · ‎08-07-2009

Quoting - dpeterc

Either that, or Hyperthreading is no longer what it used to be.

OK, now I am really embarrassed for not doing my homework properly.
Nevertheless, the news is very good.
I already added support for up to 8 processes in my code.
Inspired by Atom results, did the measurements on my workhorse Q6000, varying the number of calculation processes. This are the results:
processes: time (seconds)
1: 4.9 (baseline)
2: 2.5
3: 1.6
4: 1.2
5: 0.9
6: 0.8
7: 0.7
8: 0.64
So on a Quad core processor with hyperthreading, like Q6600, I get great speedups with 8 concurrent processes.

The conclusion - Atom N270 is a single core processor, but Hyperthreading has been greatly improved from the time of Pentium 4 HT, which gave hyperthreading a bad reputation.
So programmers like me shold be aware, that hyperthreading will still greatly improve performance of multicore enabled CPU bound application, even on single core CPU.

aazue · ‎08-07-2009

Quoting - dpeterc

Quoting - dpeterc

Either that, or Hyperthreading is no longer what it used to be.

OK, now I am really embarrassed for not doing my homework properly.
Nevertheless, the news is very good.
I already added support for up to 8 processes in my code.
Inspired by Atom results, did the measurements on my workhorse Q6000, varying the number of calculation processes. This are the results:
processes: time (seconds)
1: 4.9 (baseline)
2: 2.5
3: 1.6
4: 1.2
5: 0.9
6: 0.8
7: 0.7
8: 0.64
So on a Quad core processor with hyperthreading, like Q6600, I get great speedups with 8 concurrent processes.

The conclusion - Atom N270 is a single core processor, but Hyperthreading has been greatly improved from the time of Pentium 4 HT, which gave hyperthreading a bad reputation.
So programmers like me shold be aware, that hyperthreading will still greatly improve performance of multicore enabled CPU bound application, even on single core CPU.

Hi
Thank for your comment experience.
One or two cores ???
Essential is already, processor work good speed and work also result correctly ....
Kind regards.

(Added).
Hi
Having tested several kernel recompiled with some change parameters (with GNU compiler only ).
I think personally (criteria only proportional my experience) ,for an singular using , choices default kernel for Atom of distribution (OpenSuse 11.0 and Debian 5.0 (after upgraded)) is well and correctly instructed parameters (probably the better adapted)
process have taking some time.. but must be realized for excluding all my doubts about eventual wrong or inappropriate kernel (by default) choice.
Kind regards

aazue · ‎09-22-2009

Quoting - bustaf

Quoting - dpeterc

Quoting - dpeterc

Either that, or Hyperthreading is no longer what it used to be.

OK, now I am really embarrassed for not doing my homework properly.
Nevertheless, the news is very good.
I already added support for up to 8 processes in my code.
Inspired by Atom results, did the measurements on my workhorse Q6000, varying the number of calculation processes. This are the results:
processes: time (seconds)
1: 4.9 (baseline)
2: 2.5
3: 1.6
4: 1.2
5: 0.9
6: 0.8
7: 0.7
8: 0.64
So on a Quad core processor with hyperthreading, like Q6600, I get great speedups with 8 concurrent processes.

The conclusion - Atom N270 is a single core processor, but Hyperthreading has been greatly improved from the time of Pentium 4 HT, which gave hyperthreading a bad reputation.
So programmers like me shold be aware, that hyperthreading will still greatly improve performance of multicore enabled CPU bound application, even on single core CPU.

Hi
Thank for your comment experience.
One or two cores ???
Essential is already, processor work good speed and work also result correctly ....
Kind regards.

(Added).
Hi
Having tested several kernel recompiled with some change parameters (with GNU compiler only ).
I think personally (criteria only proportional my experience) ,for an singular using , choices default kernel for Atom of distribution (OpenSuse 11.0 and Debian 5.0 (after upgraded)) is well and correctly instructed parameters (probably the better adapted)
process have taking some time.. but must be realized for excluding all my doubts about eventual wrong or inappropriate kernel (by default) choice.
Kind regards

Hi
I have submit an friends working processor programing
answer: (only part that i have understand clear ... also personally not persuaded is true , not accorded with my precedent tests ????)
Two type core, virtual and physical existing.
Virtual can be used for emulate an virtual process accorded 2 shared cache processor.
Used probably for compatibility standard accorded this type processor series.

I have call for netbook 330 model but is 64 register also exist only one netbook (China model)
have this type processor and model not imported in my land.
Also here impossible to find model U115, U200,U200 would probably use ULV type processor.
U155 can be buy here 4 months ago but actually no ???...
With my preceded investigation 270 model are result very satisfaction this processor,
i have also search phone with Atom processor but no result ...
Size screen phone is not problem. to resolve this problem require just using
DISPLAY (programm -display xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:0.x) process X11
I have start several program installed origin phone to big screen.
I think ,you can never wrote long letter with keyboard phone not serious.
The really interest is that with phone format you can move your computer in your pocket.
To create API graphic tools specific, or browser appropriated small size format phone is well
but not obligatory required.

With process DISPLAY X11 you start your program to server X server and also in same time you
take default gate for the WWW access (Also voice ip , better all people for excluding actually position as hostage of assembly constructor and phone operator).
Only screen, mouse, and keyboard are used.
I have already use same process long time ago (1992 or 1993) with SCO machine is very nice...
For secure is well you have no trace problem same resulting when you move your file USB KEY or
same.Easy just router with graphic display for an process X server.

I have given demonstration process some customer with wifi phone borrowed
and result immediately customer want buy several same.
(Problem this phone not imported and also keyboard is querty, here required azerty...)

I have answer that if no ready as probably fault some people want rewrite an new alphabet
for taking the colored proprietary of an Gnu public operating system..

Is already very nice that you can move your computer in your pocket,and also with an probability to use big screen
and big keyboard (With process XDISPLAY you can also start several application in several screen in same time if you
having internal network typed UNIX).

Same you have Wireless screen

I think friends team Bill O/S have an great work before to make same result....
Maybe ???? C: Program fileTux.exe -Gate:xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:0.x ???? you never know !....

I study to understand how can be changed value DISPLAY putenv() (effective) in real-time without restart program
(Big problem I think.... , an true solution can be nice also for OPENMP affinity side)
I have all ready made an small program in (cron) , i use size signal wireless as flag for dynamically (vlan &vhost) address to according display started program, (If used DHCP address received).

I must made also test to verify an plug Bluetooth also in wind with DISPAY (tablet Sams... Q1 of mother my wife have... (shut .... secret ... test only in hidden the night , is an dragon... , no the processor , mother wife........)

(From Atom@Bustaf.com To Nehalem@Oracle.Sun.com)

I have requested an friend for Q1 for tests, i hope i not receive model have Via Nano , I think
install last Icc (as already aleatory Intel #) would be result virtual or rather fatal....

Kind -display Regards......

Added

Hi
To confort that is not imperative to use specifical distro for mobile
I have install Debian 5 old machine A20m Ibm have celeron 550 128k cache
192 Mo memory screen size 12" max resolution 800*600. Hd 10Go
Without using as calaculator, speed perfectly correct.
(installed without Gnome,used ledger desktop Wmaker, this desktop can be perfectly
accorded parameter for using in an small screen).(i have have add external wireless to old port USB1)
and with Firefox 3.5.3 video Google or Bing working perfectly.(ppp server shared by service Squid)
I have not install Icc to this machine I don't know if really interest to use with same old processor,
Gnu compiler working very well, also to recompile all major library require time..

Also i can confirm that process display with phone working extraordinary
an dream for working appropriate human size ... you can also using SMB CIFS,NFS,RLOGIN,DATABASE as REMOTE ext...
and all service that you want without problem..
I have add two server X (machine model all in screen (also decrease wind cooler PSU)) in laboratory
for two other new Atom U100 machine i see now screen netbook never used...
An technician have request if can be removed screen for decrease volume...
I have answer that I not sale, the chunks detached...also maybe N270 show two
cores ??,(camel also..), where is problem to having also two screen ???
Serious: netbook machine with Atom N270 fabulous machine.
We wait now same , for an standard phone type model size...

Probably my last exchange or maybe less number frequency ,as now that Oracle have buy Sun,i must increase
the level of my Warthread with Postgresql for resulting an reserve advance or remain in the race
I like same challenge....
Problem... the team Sun probably between better programmers in the world, me,
I am now only an small already old penguin tired ..but with two (or 1.5 cores) N270 and Icc
I have maybe already an chance to rescue some crumbs ? no ??
Good luck to all.
Kind regards