News: 0001491115

  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

Intel Demonstrates Up To 48% Improvement For AVX-512 Optimized PostgreSQL

([Intel] 4 Hours Ago AVX-512 + PostgreSQL)


With the upcoming PostgreSQL 17 database server release there is some initial [1]AVX-512 optimizations that are looking quite nice according to Intel's findings.

Since earlier this year there's been a [2]pg_popcount() optimized for AVX-512 :

"Optimize pg_popcount() with AVX-512 instructions.

Presently, pg_popcount() processes data in 32-bit or 64-bit chunks when possible. Newer hardware that supports AVX-512 instructions can use 512-bit chunks, which provides a nice speedup, especially for larger buffers. This commit introduces the infrastructure required to detect compiler and CPU support for the required AVX-512 intrinsic functions, and it adds a new pg_popcount() implementation that uses these functions. If CPU support for this optimized implementation is detected at runtime, a function pointer is updated so that it is used by subsequent calls to pg_popcount()."

Intel has published a technical paper exploring that PostgreSQL AVX-512 optimized pop count implementation. Intel engineers found as much as a 46~48% performance improvement with PostgreSQL's bit_count() function. Here is the Intel finding over AVX-512 gains for PostgreSQL bit counting on their Xeon processors on-premise and in the cloud:

Those wanting to learn more about Intel's findings around this initial AVX-512 usage for PostgreSQL can find the paper on [3]Intel.com .

In case you missed it PostgreSQL this summer also rolled out [4]up to 4x query performance with SIMD-optimized JSON escaping .

Separately there is also a [5]proposal from Intel for AVX-512 CRC32C usage within PostgreSQL.

It's great seeing continued new areas where AVX-512 is paying nice dividends for performance from [6]speedy JSON parsing to databases.

PostgrSQL 17 with this AVX-512 bit counting and [7]many other new features is currently up to its release candidate phase. PostgreSQL 17.0 stable should be out as soon as later this month.



[1] https://www.phoronix.com/search/AVX-512

[2] https://git.postgresql.org/gitweb/?p=postgresql.git;a=commit;h=792752a

[3] https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/developer/articles/news/accelerate-postgresql-performance-intel-avx-512.html

[4] https://www.phoronix.com/news/PostgreSQL-Opt-JSON-Esc-SIMD

[5] https://www.postgresql.org/message-id/BL1PR11MB530401FA7E9B1CA432CF9DC3DC192%40BL1PR11MB5304.namprd11.prod.outlook.com

[6] https://www.phoronix.com/review/simdjson-avx-512

[7] https://www.postgresql.org/docs/17/release-17.html



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Humorix Holiday Gift Idea #3

iTux Penguin Computer
Price: $999.95 for base model
Producer: Orange Computer, Co.; 1-800-GET-ITUX

Based on the Slashdot comments, response to the Apple iMac from the Linux
community was lukewarm at best. Orange Computer, Co., has picked up where
Apple left behind and produced the iTux computer specifically for Linux users
who want to "Think a lot different".

The self-contained iTux computer system is built in the shape of Tux the
Penguin. Its 15 inch monitor (17 inch available next year) is located at
Tux's large belly. The penguin's two feet make up the split ergonomic
keyboard (without those annoying Windows keys, of course). A 36X CD-ROM
drive fits into Tux's mouth. Tux's left eye is actually the reboot button
(can be reconfigured for other purposes since it is rarely used) and his
right eye is the power button. The iTux case opens up from the back,
allowing easy access for screwdriver-wielding nerds into Tux's guts.

The US$995.95 model contains an Alpha CPU and all the usual stuff found in a
Linux-class machine. More expensive models, to be debuted next year, will
feature dual or quad Alpha CPUs and a larger size.