Performance Tuning Tip - P-Cores <=> E-Cores

[HeikoAnkenbrand]

I often hear the question: Why are the hyper-threading cores not available as often as the physical cores in the data sheets of the 9300/9400 appliance models?

Datasheets	Datasheet Cores	Physical Cores + Hyper-Threading
Quantum Force 9300	10 physical cores, total of 16 logical cores	(6 P-Cores + 6 HT-Cores) + 4 E-Cores = 16
Quantum Force 9400	14 physical cores, total of 20 logical cores	(6 P-Cores + 6 HT-Cores) + 8 E-Cores = 20

Why is that so:

Intel's latest chips are equipped with a unique mix of two types of CPU cores - E-Cores and P-Cores. This hybrid architecture is designed to accommodate different types of workloads and optimize performance per watt.

The P-cores are similar to traditional CPU designs, with high clock speeds and hyper-threading capabilities, while the E-cores are smaller and consume significantly less power. Although the E-cores are slower and do not offer Hyper-Threading, they provide a glimpse of how power-efficient operations could work in the future of mobile systems.

Starting with Quantum Force appliances, Check Point is taking advantage of a new Intel's Performance Hybrid Architecture combining CPU P-Cores and E-Cores to enhance overall system performance. This shows the asymmetrical distribution between real cores and hyper-threading cores in 9300/9400 Force Alliance models.

P-Cores

- The P-cores are designed for heavy work and tuned for high frequency. - P-Cores support the Hyper-Threading technology, and these CPU core siblings are ordered sequentially. - P-Cores can run IPv4 and IPv6 CoreXL Firewall instances or CoreXL SND instances.

E-Cores

- The E-cores are designed to maximize CPU efficiency and are ideal to run background tasks. - E-Cores do not support the Hyper-Threading technology. - E-Cores should run only IPv4 and IPv6 CoreXL Firewall instances - CoreXL SND instances and HyperFlow PPE instances are never assigned to E-Cores. When the CoreXL Dynamic Balancing feature is enabled.

More information can be found here:
- sk182000
- Quantum Force CPU cores virtual