> Quartz [qua...@sneakertech.com] wrote: > > Quick question: I need to make a decision between a faster single core and a > > slower multicore. The faq currently states that pf gets no improvement from > > mp. Is this still correct/current information? Presumably it would see no > > benefit from hyperthreading either, right? > > > > For an OpenBSD machine acting as a gateway/firewall/router with a handful of > > related tasks (pf, dhcp server, etc) would mp yield anything? > > While it was true up until 2012 or 2013 that MP kernels had worse > networking performance than the SP, that is no longer the case. There > were problems in the MP kernel that made latency higher and throughput > lower than SP kernel, especially as traffic levels incrased. This > hasn't been an issue for at least two years. The recommendation > that people use SP kernels for networking is no longer valid. > > In fact, under -current, my myx routers now make use of two cores, > today. There is a lot of work going into this area right now.
I think the OP should buy a single processor machine. Then, in a year or two, he can provide uplift for the stalling global economy by purchasing a replacement. On a more serious note, I don't see how one can actually buy faster single-core performance for this purpose. If the question was more detailed, describing specific models of machines, we'd be able to show it makes no financial sense. The cheapest stuff is good enough.
