Intel AVX and GIMPS

ixfd64 · 2010-12-11, 06:34

As some of you probably know, many future chips will support the AVX instruction set, starting with Intel's "Sandy Bridge" in January 2011.

According to Wikipedia, AVX will allow higher more GFLOPS, and future versions will supposedly handle 1024-bit registers. Does anyone know how this will affect GIMPS?

I also have a somewhat unrelated question: there are two other instruction sets on the horizon, FMA3 and FMA4. Does anyone know if they will be of any benefit?

Prime95 · 2010-12-11, 13:36

I have high hopes for AVX, but it will be of no value until I rewrite all the assembly code to use the AVX istructions.

FMA3 and FMA4 are not instruction sets, they are individual instructions -- fused multiply add. They could be quite useful depending on how Intel and AMD implement them

ixfd64 · 2010-12-13, 01:20

Hmm, Wikipedia is listing them as instruction sets. Perhaps the article needs to be updated.

cheesehead · 2010-12-15, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ixfd64

Hmm, Wikipedia is listing them as instruction sets. Perhaps the article needs to be updated.

Perhaps it's just a question of whether one considers a group of instructions that all perform the same basic operation, differing only in operand length and rotation of operand order, to be an "instruction set".

Maybe "FMA instruction set" clues one in, like "ADD instruction set" would.

joblack · 2010-12-18, 23:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prime95

I have high hopes for AVX, but it will be of no value until I rewrite all the assembly code to use the AVX istructions.

FMA3 and FMA4 are not instruction sets, they are individual instructions -- fused multiply add. They could be quite useful depending on how Intel and AMD implement them

Sounds great but I hope you won't drop the optimizations for older cpus.

Lorenzo · 2011-01-05, 12:19

Wow! Nice speed for non-optimized for AVX and mobile CPU

:
http://www.mersenne.org/report_bench...ic_cpu=4369746

petrw1 · 2011-01-05, 16:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzo

Wow! Nice speed for non-optimized for AVX and mobile CPU

:
http://www.mersenne.org/report_bench...ic_cpu=4369746

They're available already!!!!!!!!

Yes, among the fastest of all CPUs benchmarked to date.

And another one here:
http://www.mersenne.org/report_bench...ic_cpu=4369510

ixfd64 · 2011-01-05, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorenzo

Wow! Nice speed for non-optimized for AVX and mobile CPU

:
http://www.mersenne.org/report_bench...ic_cpu=4369746

And that's not even getting to the i7-2920XM!

Lorenzo · 2011-01-05, 17:55

Very nice speed and medium price (205$) for Intel Core i5-2500 @ 3.30GHz

It's good choose for Prime95.

Waiting for support AVX instruction to Prime95!

lycorn · 2011-01-05, 18:30

For Prime95 I recommend the i5-2500K. The unlocked multiplier, specially if coupled with a good mobo, fast memory and a decent cooler, will allow us to overclock the machine so as to make Prime95 fly. Throw in the AVX otpimizations, if and when GW provides them, and we´ll be in for some real awesome benchies (and of course a hefty amount of real work...)

jasong · 2011-01-10, 10:24

Has Mr. Woltman actually stated that he believes this instruction set will be helpful? I don't know anything about the math or this particular set of instructions(or any set for that matter), I just think it's a good question to ask.

I can just picture a bunch of rumors flying for weeks, and the Mr. Woltman comes on and bursts everybody's bubble by saying the instruction set won't help and he isn't going to use it.

2010-12-11, 06:34	#1
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 7⁴ Posts	Intel AVX and GIMPS As some of you probably know, many future chips will support the AVX instruction set, starting with Intel's "Sandy Bridge" in January 2011. According to Wikipedia, AVX will allow higher more GFLOPS, and future versions will supposedly handle 1024-bit registers. Does anyone know how this will affect GIMPS? I also have a somewhat unrelated question: there are two other instruction sets on the horizon, FMA3 and FMA4. Does anyone know if they will be of any benefit?

2011-01-05, 17:55	#9
Lorenzo Aug 2010 Republic of Belarus 2×89 Posts	Very nice speed and medium price (205$) for Intel Core i5-2500 @ 3.30GHz It's good choose for Prime95. Waiting for support AVX instruction to Prime95! Attached Thumbnails

2011-01-05, 18:30	#10
lycorn "GIMFS" Sep 2002 Oeiras, Portugal 5C2₁₆ Posts	For Prime95 I recommend the i5-2500K. The unlocked multiplier, specially if coupled with a good mobo, fast memory and a decent cooler, will allow us to overclock the machine so as to make Prime95 fly. Throw in the AVX otpimizations, if and when GW provides them, and we´ll be in for some real awesome benchies (and of course a hefty amount of real work...) Last fiddled with by lycorn on 2011-01-05 at 18:33

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2010-12-11, 13:36	#2
Prime95 P90 years forever! Aug 2002 Yeehaw, FL 19·397 Posts	I have high hopes for AVX, but it will be of no value until I rewrite all the assembly code to use the AVX istructions. FMA3 and FMA4 are not instruction sets, they are individual instructions -- fused multiply add. They could be quite useful depending on how Intel and AMD implement them

2010-12-13, 01:20	#3
ixfd64 Bemusing Prompter "Danny" Dec 2002 California 7⁴ Posts	Hmm, Wikipedia is listing them as instruction sets. Perhaps the article needs to be updated.

2011-01-05, 12:19	#6
Lorenzo Aug 2010 Republic of Belarus 2·89 Posts	Wow! Nice speed for non-optimized for AVX and mobile CPU : http://www.mersenne.org/report_bench...ic_cpu=4369746

2011-01-10, 10:24	#11
jasong "Jason Goatcher" Mar 2005 6663₈ Posts	Has Mr. Woltman actually stated that he believes this instruction set will be helpful? I don't know anything about the math or this particular set of instructions(or any set for that matter), I just think it's a good question to ask. I can just picture a bunch of rumors flying for weeks, and the Mr. Woltman comes on and bursts everybody's bubble by saying the instruction set won't help and he isn't going to use it.