Benchmark Configuration
We used the MySQL version (4.0.18) that came with the SUSE SLES9 CD's and Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.1, which was certified to work on our OS. Our YDL Linux reported: "Linux version 2.6.10-1.ydl.1g5-smp (gcc version 3.3.3 (Yellow Dog Linux 3.3.3-16.ydl.7))"Software
Intel, AMDSUSE SLES 9 (SUSE Entreprise Edition), Linux kernel 2.6.5, 64 bit
Workstation tests: Windows XP SP2
Apple PowerMac G5
OS X 10.4.1 Tiger, 64 bit (partially)
Yellow Dog Linux 3.3.3-16.ydl.7
Shared
MySQL 4.0.18, 32 en 64 bit, MyISAM engine
Gcc 3.3.3 and 4.0
Hardware
Here is the list of the different configurations:Apple PowerMac Dual 2.7 GHz, Dual 2.5 GHz
4 GB (8x512 MB) Corsair XMS3200 running at CAS 3-3-3
Intel® Server Board SE7520AF2
4 GB (4x1024 MB) Micron Registered DDR-II PC2-3200R, 400 MHz CAS 3, ECC enabled
NIC: Dual Intel® PRO/1000 Server NIC (Intel® 82546GB controller)
Opteron Server: Dual Opteron 250 (2.4 GHz)
Iwill DK8ES Bios version 1.20
4 GB: 4x1GB MB Reg. Transcend (Hynix 503A) DDR400 - (3-3-3-6)
NIC: Broadcom BCM5721 (PCI-E)
Client Configuration: Dual Opteron 250
MSI K8T Master1-FAR
4x512 MB Infineon PC2700 Registered, ECC enabled
NIC: Broadcom 5705
Shared Components
1 Seagate Cheetah 36 GB (15000 RPM, SCSI Ultra320, 8MB cache)
Maxtor 120 GB DiamondMax Plus 9 (7200 RPM, ATA-100/133, 8MB cache)
Words of thanks
A lot of people gave us assistance with this project, and we like to thank them, of course:Frank Balzer, IBM DB2/SUSE Linux Expert
Jasmin Ul-Haque, Novell Corporate Communications
Matty Bakkeren, Intel Benelux
Trevor E. Lawless, Intel US
Larry.D. Gray, Intel US
Damon Muzny, AMD US
Nick Leman, MySQL expert
Ruben Demuynck, Vtune and OS X expert
David Van Dromme, Iwill Benelux Helpdesk
I also would like to thank Lode De Geyter, Manager of the PIH, for letting us use the infrastructure of the TUK to test the database servers.
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stmok - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
LOL...As everyday passes, it seems more "interesting things" are revealed from Apple solutions.ViRGE - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
Granted, some of this was over my head(more than I'd like to admit to), but your results are none the less very interesting Johan. Now that we have the Linux/G5 numbers, there's no arguing that there's a weakness in MacOSX somewhere, which is a bit depressing as a Mac user, but still a very useful insight as to how there's obviously something very broken in some design aspect of the OS(it simply shouldn't be getting crushed like it is). My only question now is how Apple and its devs will respond to this - it is pretty damning after all.Thanks for finally getting some Linux/G5 numbers out to settle this.
sdf - Friday, September 2, 2005 - link
By changing hardware platforms.No, seriously.
A transition from PowerPC to Intel would be the perfect time to correct ABI flaws like this. It isn't that the G5 causes the slow down, it's that the slow down (maybe) can't really be fixed without breaking binary compatibility. A CPU transition is clearly going to do that anyway, so maybe they'll just wait...
toelovell - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
I am kind of curious to see how Darwin would work on an x86 based system for these same tests. There are x86 binaries for Darwin 8. So it should be possible to run these tests and compare Darwin with Linux on an x86 platform. This would help to see if the OS really is the limitation. Just a thought.JohanAnandtech - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
If linux is capable of pushing the G5 8 times higer than with Mac OS X, there is little doubt on my mind that the OS is the problem. Or did I understand you wrong?Anyway, I have no experience whatsoever with Darwin. My first impression is that installing Darwin on x86 is probably a very masochistic experience, due to lack of proper drivers. We might get it working but can it really run MySQL and other apps? THere are probably libraries missing... Will the results be representative of anything as it is probably tuned for just getting it running instead of performance? Anyone with Darwin x86 experience?
wjcott - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
The only interest I have in a mac OS is if they are going to sell it without a computer. I would love to have OS X, but I must build the machine.Quanticles - Thursday, September 1, 2005 - link
Every component must be fine tuned to the upmost degree... Every BIOS Setting... Every Hidden Register... *crazy eyes* =)