From: user@example.net   
      
   asdf wrote:   
   > I'm planning to upgrade my cpu (currently athlon 1800+)   
   > and wondering if gentoo is multi-core aware.   
      
   It depends on if you select to compile your kernel with SMP support and how   
   many cores you tell is the maximum you want the kernel to support.   
      
   Processor type and features  --->   
   [*] Symmetric multi-processing support   
   (8) Maximum number of CPUs (2-255)   
      
   The kernel in the install media has SMP support.   
      
   You will have to add the smp USE-flag, so that applications that can take   
   advantage of multi core, will have the right algorithms compiled into it, or   
   else they will just not take advantage of the extra cores but run on one at   
   the time.   
      
      
   > The processor I had in mind is phenom 9650 quad.   
      
   I have one with 9550 and another with 9850, both running fine, the CPU is the   
   least of the problems, what you may get trouble with is the onboard stuff of   
   your new motherboard, so I suggest you check that the ethernet is supported in   
   the kernel before you decide to get the motherboard, most will come with the   
   crappier HDA as audio and will work in most cases, but IMHO you would be   
   better off with a SoundBlaster card.   
      
      
   > Other than OS I mostly will be using firefox, evolution and pan.   
      
   None of these applications will take any advantage of 64bit environment or   
   multi core.   
      
      
   > Some people suggested   
   > that i get a dual-core cpu with higher clock speed. Any though   
   > on whether it will be worth my while to upgrade at all and if   
   > so should i upgrade to quad or dual core cpu?   
      
   Much depends on how you use your computer, if you have just one program at the   
   time you use, then single core would do (but it starts to be difficult to find   
   those and aren't worth the price), the more simultanious heavy tasks you are   
   doing, the more you gain from the number of cores. Going with two cores gives   
   you a possibility to get a CPU with a higher Hz, but at the same time the dual   
   cores has older design, so each Hz won't deliver as much power as on a CPu   
   with a newer design.   
   Tre-core don't seem to be worth the price, you usually pay the same for a quad   
   core which has 100MHz less.   
   A motto I have used, don't buy the most expensive one, as you will regret that   
   the next week/month when you can get it for half the price you paid for it.   
   Look at the price tag, don't spend too much money, as you will soon see   
   octa-core CPUs and that will lower the prices on the quads and kill off the   
   duals.   
      
      
   --   
      
      //Aho   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)