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FAQ: Does ESRI support dual or dual-core processors with the ArcGIS Desktop products?
| Article ID: | 31903 |
|---|---|
| Software: | ArcGIS - ArcEditor 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcInfo 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS - ArcView 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS Engine Developer Kit 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcGIS Engine Runtime 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 ArcInfo Workstation 9.1, 9.2, 9.3 ArcReader 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.3.1 |
| Platforms: | Windows 2000, XP |
Question
Does ESRI support dual or dual-core processors with the ArcGIS Desktop products?
Answer
Background on Hyper-threading and Dual-Core Processors
Windows CPU vendors Intel and AMD are expanding performance capabilities of new processor technology by supporting CPU Hyper-threading and dual-core processors. Hyper-threading allows two processes to share the same CPU cache, allowing the CPU to preload instructions for a second process while executing the first process' instructions. Dual-core processors provide two independent CPU execution paths on a single processor socket that can simultaneously execute two independent processes at the same time. Hyper-threading improves execution performance by reducing CPU latency when supporting multiple execution threads. Dual-core processors (sockets) improve platform compute capacity by supporting parallel execution of concurrent process threads. Each individual socket core is a CPU.
ArcGIS Desktop running on Dual Processor or Dual-Core Socket Machines
ArcGIS Desktop applications, for example ArcMap and ArcCatalog, are fully supported on dual processor and dual-core computers, but a single ArcGIS Desktop application process does not take full advantage of multiple CPU workstations, for example, dual processors or multi-core processors. This is because ArcGIS Desktop applications utilize sequential process threads.
Some slight performance improvement from multi-processor systems can be experienced with ArcGIS Desktop applications. Concurrent operating system threads, e-mail, security checks, backups, and many other additional background application processes can be supported on the additional CPU resources without impacting ArcGIS Desktop application productivity.
For a single CPU system, it is possible to consume all the CPU resources from a single ArcGIS Desktop execution, for example, when running a heavy geo-processing task. However, running the same process on a dual-CPU or dual-core processor, system CPU utilization peaks out at slightly above 50% with minimal performance gain. To fully utilize the resources of both CPUs, another busy thread from a separate process, for example, a separate ArcGIS Desktop session or another application, needs to exist.
ArcGIS power users, when working in multiple windows and supporting concurrent batch processing, can take advantage of a multiple CPU environment. A two CPU workstation can significantly enhance heavy geoprocessing and/or heavy map production workflows that support multiple ArcGIS processing environments within a single user workflow.
ArcGIS Desktop and Other Server Platforms
For all other server platform environments, such as terminal server, Web services, and GIS data servers, ESRI technology takes full advantage of multiple CPU platform configurations. These platforms need to be configured to support multiple concurrent client processes. For example, terminal server supports several users per CPU, each Web server can be configured with several instances to support concurrent processing of inbound transactions. GIS data server CPUs routinely support several concurrent ArcGIS Desktop client connections.
Windows CPU vendors Intel and AMD are expanding performance capabilities of new processor technology by supporting CPU Hyper-threading and dual-core processors. Hyper-threading allows two processes to share the same CPU cache, allowing the CPU to preload instructions for a second process while executing the first process' instructions. Dual-core processors provide two independent CPU execution paths on a single processor socket that can simultaneously execute two independent processes at the same time. Hyper-threading improves execution performance by reducing CPU latency when supporting multiple execution threads. Dual-core processors (sockets) improve platform compute capacity by supporting parallel execution of concurrent process threads. Each individual socket core is a CPU.
ArcGIS Desktop running on Dual Processor or Dual-Core Socket Machines
ArcGIS Desktop applications, for example ArcMap and ArcCatalog, are fully supported on dual processor and dual-core computers, but a single ArcGIS Desktop application process does not take full advantage of multiple CPU workstations, for example, dual processors or multi-core processors. This is because ArcGIS Desktop applications utilize sequential process threads.
Some slight performance improvement from multi-processor systems can be experienced with ArcGIS Desktop applications. Concurrent operating system threads, e-mail, security checks, backups, and many other additional background application processes can be supported on the additional CPU resources without impacting ArcGIS Desktop application productivity.
For a single CPU system, it is possible to consume all the CPU resources from a single ArcGIS Desktop execution, for example, when running a heavy geo-processing task. However, running the same process on a dual-CPU or dual-core processor, system CPU utilization peaks out at slightly above 50% with minimal performance gain. To fully utilize the resources of both CPUs, another busy thread from a separate process, for example, a separate ArcGIS Desktop session or another application, needs to exist.
ArcGIS power users, when working in multiple windows and supporting concurrent batch processing, can take advantage of a multiple CPU environment. A two CPU workstation can significantly enhance heavy geoprocessing and/or heavy map production workflows that support multiple ArcGIS processing environments within a single user workflow.
ArcGIS Desktop and Other Server Platforms
For all other server platform environments, such as terminal server, Web services, and GIS data servers, ESRI technology takes full advantage of multiple CPU platform configurations. These platforms need to be configured to support multiple concurrent client processes. For example, terminal server supports several users per CPU, each Web server can be configured with several instances to support concurrent processing of inbound transactions. GIS data server CPUs routinely support several concurrent ArcGIS Desktop client connections.
Related Information
- Does ESRI support 64-bit processors with ArcGIS products?
{BOLD}Support for 64-bit processors{/BOLD} ArcGIS on Windows is supported on 64-bit processors starting with ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 3 and higher. {/NOTE}At ArcGIS 9.2 Service Pack 3, the supported 64-bit Windows operating systems are Windows XP...
Created: 10/2/2006
Last Modified: 10/13/2009