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AMD Optimization

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Jason G:
Hmmm, only some musing about this,
    From what I understand [could be wrong], Top coder methods encompass the [important and worthy] tasks of algorithmic and software engineering refinement. Their primary platform, being Java and dotnet cross platform applications, would seem to me to necessitate such rigourous methodology due to the associated platform overhead.

 To me it would seem, that with seti@home, the high level algorithmic and developmental refinement was accomplished long ago [i.e. Fast fourier transform is already of NLogN complexity] so there are little gains to be had in that regard IMO.

Beyond algorithmic and design optimisations lie the more specialised hardware optimisations such as those currently filtering through the optimised apps to the stock app (thanks to alex, simon, joe, Ben and probably others I;ve missed).  AFAIK there are no mentions on top coder of vectorisation, cache management, or hardware specific optimisation. [ though clearly present in chicken soup code ]

So the part of me that spent years studying computer science, respects what methods used by top coder can do in terms of productivity.  The other part that has been studying  electronic engineering , recognises that you can only get so much performance from abstractions before you need some  implementations :D

Jason G:
Posting For the sake of completion, and to correct myself:  I just finished reading a 2007 IEEE paper by MIT researchers Steven G. Johnson and Matteo Frigo, confirming/matching  "Recent results by Van Buskirk et al."

The paper describes a new derivation of the Yavne "Split Radix" Fast Fourier Transform that has held the record for lowest flop count since 1968.  The new algorithm is said to be ~6% fewer flops.

So I'm discarding my prior opinions, where I stated that little improvement could be found from an already NLogN algorthm, and also dismissing my prior opinion that there are little gains to be had in further high level algorthimic optimisation of the seti science app.  ;) I was wrong, go for it Top Coders :D

Jason

_heinz:
Hi,

New "BARCELONA" Software Developer Resources are available there.

Its worth to have a look at it.

regards heinz

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