AnandTech Exclusive: Sun's sub-$1000 SunFire X2100 Server
by Kristopher Kubicki on September 12, 2005 1:29 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
Compiling
We expect our X2100 to take the largest hit in performance here, during the compiling tests. Our previous analyses have shown that hard drives are often the bottleneck on heavy compiles. Our Aquarius uses SATA rather than SCSI, a performance hit for any server doing heavy compilations. Then again, the Aquarius also has a lighter core logic when compared to other systems that we've looked at in the past, as well as faster unbuffered memory.
GNU Make 3.79.1 / GCC 3.4.2
While GCC isn't multithreaded, we can run multiple jobs using the -j command in make. Below, you can see the significant improvement on performance going from 1 to 3 jobs. We used the commands as below to compile the Linux 2.6.4 kernel from kernel.org:
# yes "" | make config
# time make -jX
We expect our X2100 to take the largest hit in performance here, during the compiling tests. Our previous analyses have shown that hard drives are often the bottleneck on heavy compiles. Our Aquarius uses SATA rather than SCSI, a performance hit for any server doing heavy compilations. Then again, the Aquarius also has a lighter core logic when compared to other systems that we've looked at in the past, as well as faster unbuffered memory.
GNU Make 3.79.1 / GCC 3.4.2
While GCC isn't multithreaded, we can run multiple jobs using the -j command in make. Below, you can see the significant improvement on performance going from 1 to 3 jobs. We used the commands as below to compile the Linux 2.6.4 kernel from kernel.org:
# yes "" | make config
# time make -jX
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dilidolo - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
If you want to conpare hardware, then run same OS.If you want to benchmark OS/App, then use same hardware.
With Anand's testing method, you can't really tell if it's OS or hardware that makes the difference.
Furen - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
Considering that the 175 is supposed to be cheaper than the 152, Sun's margins on the Dual-core system are huge. Then again, these systems cannibalize their 2-way single-core systems, so of course they have to be priced accordingly.MCSim - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
https://www.sun.com/nc/05q3/">Sun NC05Q3 eventMCSim - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
https://www.sun.com/nc/05q3/">Fixed linkgibhunter - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
Everyone retains their badge number in our company too. I think it makes it easier from an accounting standpoint.When I left in 99 and came back in 03 I still had the same badge number even though new employees' numbers have gone up by about a hundred.
splat1 - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
The board is a rebranded tyan K8E.surprized the guys from anandtech didnt see that.
ftp://ftp.tyan.com/img_mobo/i_s2865.tif">ftp://ftp.tyan.com/img_mobo/i_s2865.tif
Looks like they pulled the pci slots and some other stuff but Im pretty sure the board layout was tyan's design.
Furen - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
I would call it a similar design, it's not easy to "pull" stuff out of a motherboard.splat1 - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
Can anyone find a better pic of the sun motherboard. From what I can tell the board layout is identical. Even the smdc card looks to be the same one that tyan uses. I guess I could try to flash the k8e with the sun bios and see what happens.MCSim - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
Sun is doing really well with the Opterons.Questar - Monday, September 12, 2005 - link
Yeah, look at those profits they're making!