Understanding Parallel Computing (Part 2): The Lawn Mower Law

Part 2 of our discussion of Amdahl's Law. Less math than in part 1.

More cores mean better performance, right? That's not what Amdahl says. Learn one of the foundations of parallel computing in "Amdahl's Law." Prepare yourself for math. And lawn mowing.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• linux
• magazine
• parallel
• computing
• hpc

[mikecarter79]

I wonder if John Deere approves of this analogy ? " Buy less mowers from us, and get more done !!! " (-;

[mahcuz]

"Look... Process Boy." This guy is hilarious. Kinda reminds me of Larry David.

[Mrgreatestfreakout]

lol keep...doing stuff what your doing

[Samurninsai]

I guess using parallel cores could predict the linier portions of an image as precharged/preloaded? This would make it look better, but not work faster? I guess that means The preload is not faster, the out come is not faster, the response is faster. The more that can be predicted, the faster the response could be? I'm glad I got the 64bit then.

[Samurninsai]

Wouldn't we want to see obsolete core processors then? Making core processors, consumer specific products? Like gaming hand held what they use to be. Only now with low power processing with high user input and high resolution display. But what will replace computers then? Quantum Computers?

[blahdelablah]

I'm sorry, this doesn't prove to me that Amdahl's Law is universal, as it makes too many assumptions. What it is true to say is that adding parallel processors does not speed up the serial portion of your program. A truer statement is that: if task 'delegation + processing' for all parallel tasks completes faster than the serial portion, you won't notice any speed increase. As for the task delegation speed penalty, take a look at the Transputer concept, there's more than one way to organise.

[charlestwoo]

lmao .....very funny and informative...... what do people do when they're not mowing lawns ?????

[themassau]

youldn't it be a good idea to make the CPU asymetrical so you have like 1 or 2 large cores that have a high clock and high IPC and a lot of small ones that arn't clocked that high but that are meant to do the parallel work or is this a like an apu

[SirCrest]

great video, thanks for this