Photoshop and Hyperthreading Technology

Is any version of PS written to take advantage of the Hyper threading capability of certain Intel CPUs?
If so, which versions?
Bob Williams

In article , "Robert E. Williams"
wrote:

Is any version of PS written to take advantage of the Hyper threading capability of certain Intel CPUs?

Share the knowledge and tell us what difference it would make if it did, or did not and how it might relate to dual CPUs, cache magic, and the rest of the Meaning of Life and Everything Else. Seriously.

jjs wrote:

In article , "Robert E. Williams"
wrote:

Is any version of PS written to take advantage of the Hyper threading capability of certain Intel CPUs?

Share the knowledge and tell us what difference it would make if it did, or did not and how it might relate to dual CPUs, cache magic, and the rest of the Meaning of Life and Everything Else. Seriously.

The big Hype in computers today is Hyper Threading technology used by some Intel CPUs.
All the vendors are careful to mention in bold type that their computer has hyper threading capability.
I googled on Hyper Threading and the explanations were so esoteric, it left me very unsure of its actual usefulness to the
average computer user.
I'm probably missing something but as best I can figure, the main advantage to the majority of home computer users, is the bragging rights one gets from having the latest gee-whiz thingee on his/her computer.
As I understand it, *IF* an application is written to take advantage of hyperthreading, things move along faster because several different tasks can be worked on in parallel rather than in series. With the POSSIBLE exception of Photoshop, I don't know of any programs that I use (or any of my friends use) that can take advantage of hyperthreading.
Who really needs, or can benefit from, a CPU with hyperthreading? Video Editors?
Bob

I've been watching it bit on my new P4 3.0 GHz HT machine. I certainly haven't tried everything yet. It looks like it isn't using both processors. It looks like it's using just one.

However, that does free the other one up to run something else. For example, I can run iTunes without it bothering Photoshop at all. That's kind of nice.

Clyde

Clyde wrote:

I've been watching it bit on my new P4 3.0 GHz HT machine. I certainly haven't tried everything yet. It looks like it isn't using both processors. It looks like it's using just one.

However, that does free the other one up to run something else. For example, I can run iTunes without it bothering Photoshop at all. That's kind of nice.

Clyde

Yes! I can see where that would be cool, but then PS would not run any faster.
Bob

On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 12:02:27 -0800, Robert E. Williams wrote:

Is any version of PS written to take advantage of the Hyper threading capability of certain Intel CPUs?
If so, which versions?

More importantly, is there likely to be support for Intel's Prescott extensions including SSE3? Will there be support for AMD64? Lots of new technology to play with now, just need the software to go with it! :) Mind you, it's early days so we'll have to see what happens..

Regards,

Martyn
--
http://www.drake.org.uk
http://www.lykiaworld.info

I believe Photoshop 6 was the first version to support HyperThreading. And all later versions support HyperThreading.

Versions prior to 6 would use HyperThreading - but could reduce performance because they cannot distinguish between physical and logial processors.

Chris

In article , Robert E. Williams
wrote:

Is any version of PS written to take advantage of the Hyper threading capability of certain Intel CPUs?
If so, which versions?
Bob Williams

3d artists maybe? not maybe surely....

"Robert E. Williams" wrote in message

Who really needs, or can benefit from, a CPU with hyperthreading? Video Editors?
Bob

Robert E. Williams wrote:

Clyde wrote:

I've been watching it bit on my new P4 3.0 GHz HT machine. I certainly haven't tried everything yet. It looks like it isn't using both processors. It looks like it's using just one.

However, that does free the other one up to run something else. For example, I can run iTunes without it bothering Photoshop at all. That's kind of nice.

Clyde

Yes! I can see where that would be cool, but then PS would not run any faster.
Bob

PS won't run any faster because it is still only one processor. Hyperthreading is designed to use the
otherwise wasted clock cycles from applications. Unfortunately this won't help any cpu intensive
programs which use 100% or thereabouts of processor power. So as an example if a program uses
only 60% of the available computational power then the other 40% is usually wasted but hyperthreading
can use the 'spare' 40% for something else.

Stuart

--

Robert E. Williams wrote:

Clyde wrote:

I've been watching it bit on my new P4 3.0 GHz HT machine. I certainly haven't tried everything yet. It looks like it isn't using both processors. It looks like it's using just one.

However, that does free the other one up to run something else. For example, I can run iTunes without it bothering Photoshop at all. That's kind of nice.

Clyde

Yes! I can see where that would be cool, but then PS would not run any faster.
Bob

Well, going from a 400 MHz iMac to a 3.0 GHz P4 with HT, fast is very relative. I am still giddy over the speed.

Besides, I don't know that Photoshop doesn't use HT. I just haven't seen it. OK, I haven't looked that hard yet either.

Clyde