Re: More slower CPUs vs. fewer faster CPUs

And don't forget Oracle Power Unit Licensing costs? # cpus is a multiplier.

>>> BoivinP_at_mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca 02/23 8:20 AM >>>
I was wondering if it would be better to have three or four relatively slower CPUs than having only two faster ones.

I think I remember that Ixora says fewer faster CPUs is better because the CPUs are constantly negotiating who should do what. The more CPUs exist the more time-consuming the debate (this is very simplified, I realize).

Jonathan Lewis in Practical Oracle8i: Building Efficient Databases, Adison Wesley, p. says the opposite.

Is this another one of those questions that has "it depends" as the only answer? Or that has very plausible theoretical answers that are mitigated in real life? I imagine that the I/O patterns play a part in the validity of either answer.

Has anyone on this list tested to see which would be faster?

We are on Compaq Tru64 UNIX alphas, upgrading to ES-40s with up to four CPUs. My database is a mix (mess) of background tables for web apps, ad hoc querying, sporadic intensive data loads and in the near future: replication.

Opinons?

TIA
Patrice Boivin
Systems Analyst (Oracle Certified DBA)

Systems Admin & Operations | Admin. et Exploit. des systèmes
Technology Services        | Services technologiques
Informatics Branch         | Direction de l'informatique 
Maritimes Region, DFO      | Région des Maritimes, MPO

E-Mail: boivinp_at_mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca <mailto:boivinp_at_mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca>

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