Windows 2000 and Hyperthreading

I just bought two computer units for use with the latest software from Autodesk: P4 3.0 Ghz with hyperthreading, 512MB RAM, 2x80GB HDD and 19” monitors. On the day of delivery, I got too excited to try on the latest machines, and promptly installed my favorite network OS: Windows 2000 with SP4 slipstreamed. Unfortunately, I only went as far as the setup screen. Maybe, I thought, the first PC was defective so I’ll just try and install Windows 2000 in the second PC and have the other one returned the next day. So I went with the installation and lo and behold, the same problem occurred.

 

Windows 2000 and Hyperthreading

 

The problem lies in the way Windows 2000 handles the effects of Hyperthreading (HT). With Intel’s hyperthreading, one (1) P4 processor will be reported as two (2) logical processors. This way, multi-threaded applications can execute in parallel with two logical processors, thus cutting the processing time time significantly. Windows 2000 does not differentiate between logical and physical processors. And while Windows 2000 supports multiple processors, it cannot handle effectively the logical processor as a result of hyperthreading. In Windows 2000 Server, the additional logical processor eats up CPU license. On a Windows 2000 server that is capable of using four (4) processors, only two (2) HT processors can be used (2 physical CPU = 4 logical CPUs). Thus, to be able to fully utilize four (4) HT processors, you need to install Windows 2000 Advanced Server which can handle 8 CPUs!

 

According to Intel, only Microsoft XP (Pro and Home) and and subsequent MS Operating Systems can fully utilize the HT technology. Computers running  Windows 2000 (all versions), Windows NT 4.0, ME, 98 (SE) must disable the hyperthreading feature in the System bios.

 

Well, that s*cked because almost all of my workstations are running Windows 2000 Pro (SP4). The only Windows XP installations that I have in the network are from our boss’s laptops which came with the pre-installed OS. Second, I expected more from Microsoft. With their almost unlimited supply of cash, not to mention nerd employees, they were not able to anticipate the next generation of processors. In comparison, there are four (4) Linux OS’ that are eligible to carry the HT logo. These are the Red Hat 9, SuSE 8.2, Red Flag 4 and COSIX 4. Great work for Open Source J

 

Posted by: Allan

 

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