Faster SHA-256, MSVC build

[sgtstein]

falkenberg,

I have a VIA C7 that I'm working to port code over to. Theoretically it won't be faster than multi-core i7/xeons but it will be a very fast hashing engine that require quite low power. From what I've calculated, it would be able to compute about 1500kh/s for < 100W. We won't know until I get it setup and running


sgtstein

[falkenberg]

falkenberg,

I have a VIA C7 that I'm working to port code over to. Theoretically it won't be faster than multi-core i7/xeons but it will be a very fast hashing engine that require quite low power. From what I've calculated, it would be able to compute about 1500kh/s for < 100W. We won't know until I get it setup and running


sgtstein

Sounds cool I also have a VIA processor running my router/bittorrent stuff at 24/7 mode. Having your code I know how to make it busy while it idles Maybe it will be able to compensate the electricity it consumes :DDD

[sgtstein]

Nice! I don't know if it would "pay off" the electricity it uses but it would be a great extra node on the network and low power at that. My next project aims to take this even a step further and lower, right into a chip to crunch and run the program.

[teknohog]

I have a VIA C7 that I'm working to port code over to. Theoretically it won't be faster than multi-core i7/xeons but it will be a very fast hashing engine that require quite low power. From what I've calculated, it would be able to compute about 1500kh/s for < 100W. We won't know until I get it setup and running

For a single point of comparison, my Core 2 Duo system consumes 50 watts while computing just a little over 1000 khash/s. VIA Mini-ITX systems may consume a little less than this (note, entire system, not just the mobo + CPU) so they would be somewhat better, but not hugely so.

[falkenberg]

For a single point of comparison, my Core 2 Duo system consumes 50 watts while computing just a little over 1000 khash/s. VIA Mini-ITX systems may consume a little less than this (note, entire system, not just the mobo + CPU) so they would be somewhat better, but not hugely so.

VIA declares they have the best performance/watt at the market. Having cryptoaccelerator it could be even better for applications like bitcoin

AMD also has something on their Geode processor. It's even slower then VIA, but the complete system on it consumes about 5 Watt energy. I used to have such router built on top of Alix PC hardware.

[alidor]

Interestingly this build even gives my old Ubuntu Core Duo 32 bit a pretty hefty boost. In Wine no less !
Native client 0.3.3 = 602 kHash/s, MSVC build 0.3.3 (+ Wine) 771 kHash/s.

[lfm]

I have a VIA C7 that I'm working to port code over to. Theoretically it won't be faster than multi-core i7/xeons but it will be a very fast hashing engine that require quite low power. From what I've calculated, it would be able to compute about 1500kh/s for < 100W. We won't know until I get it setup and running

For a single point of comparison, my Core 2 Duo system consumes 50 watts while computing just a little over 1000 khash/s. VIA Mini-ITX systems may consume a little less than this (note, entire system, not just the mobo + CPU) so they would be somewhat better, but not hugely so.

I measured my VIA-C7 at the plug at 27 watts including 2 hard drives. With the SHA256 instruction support (I added) in bitcoin it gets 1430 khash/s @1.8 GHz so it seems like a pretty good improvement in power efficiency.

[teknohog]

For a single point of comparison, my Core 2 Duo system consumes 50 watts while computing just a little over 1000 khash/s. VIA Mini-ITX systems may consume a little less than this (note, entire system, not just the mobo + CPU) so they would be somewhat better, but not hugely so.

I measured my VIA-C7 at the plug at 27 watts including 2 hard drives. With the SHA256 instruction support (I added) in bitcoin it gets 1430 khash/s @1.8 GHz so it seems like a pretty good improvement in power efficiency.

The code has improved since my previous post, and my machine now gets about 1800 khash/s at 50 W. Nevertheless, Via C7 remains more efficient. In fact, I am considering getting a Via Nano motherboard, there is even a Mini-ITX model with a full PCIe slot.

[lfm]

For a single point of comparison, my Core 2 Duo system consumes 50 watts while computing just a little over 1000 khash/s. VIA Mini-ITX systems may consume a little less than this (note, entire system, not just the mobo + CPU) so they would be somewhat better, but not hugely so.

I measured my VIA-C7 at the plug at 27 watts including 2 hard drives. With the SHA256 instruction support (I added) in bitcoin it gets 1430 khash/s @1.8 GHz so it seems like a pretty good improvement in power efficiency.

The code has improved since my previous post, and my machine now gets about 1800 khash/s at 50 W. Nevertheless, Via C7 remains more efficient. In fact, I am considering getting a Via Nano motherboard, there is even a Mini-ITX model with a full PCIe slot.

The C7 version of bitcoin should work well on the Nano even if it is just a 32 bit mode, not 64. You might recompile it for 64 bit on a Nano and see if it still works right.