Matlab on a dual core processor?

[f95toli]

Has anyone tried running Matlab on a dual core processor?
I know I can't expect much better performance since Matlab is basically single-threaded (yes, I know it is officially multi threaded) but I would like to be able to use my computer for other things while Matlab is running a calculation.

I frequently run simulations that take several hours to complete and during that time I can't even read e-mail or surf because the computer basically locks up.

So is it worth buying a dual-core processor?

(I know I should have posted this in a software forum but I figured I stand a better chance getting a good reply here)

 

[jer0608]

Not dual core, but I run Matlab simulations on a dual-proc (Xeon) workstation on a daily basis. These are pretty substantial Simulink models, containing up to 300 states, that can take hours, or even days, to execute. The main benefit I see from the extra proc is the ability to run two sessions/simulations simultaneously without any appreciable performance hit. However, even with two simulations going, I can perform background tasks (Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel, browsing AT) without difficulty. Based on our different experiences, it seems there might be additional multi-tasking benefits to the extra processor.

 

[oboeguy]

I find HyperThreading works reasonably well for that sort of situation.

 

[CycloWizard]

Another option is to run MATLAB at a lower priority, just slightly below normal so whatever you're doing has priority. This will only minimally impact the computation time and should allow you to perform normally on other tasks.