Saints Row Multiprocessing Architecture

Speakers: Randall Turner

Track: Programming

Format: Lecture

Experience Level: Intermediate

Description: Making optimal use of all available cpu resources on a next generation platform can be challenging. This treatment of the approach taken by the Saints Row team illustrates some of the techniques appropriate to a homogeneous multiprocessing environment, where individual processing elements are very similar or identical. This lecture progresses from a presentation of basic multithreading principles to a representative job scheduler design to more advanced load balancing techniques, job granularity issues and handling third party package requirements.

Idea Takeaway: This lecture's goal is for attendees to come away with a baseline understanding of multiprocessor scheduler design and related structural elements to apply to their own projects.

Intended Audience: Programmers and System Architects with an interest in multiprocessor design issues.