Stata/MP is the fastest and largest version of Stata. Most computers purchased since mid-2006 can take advantage of the advanced multiprocessing capabilities of Stata/MP.
Stata/MP is a version of Stata/SE that runs on multiprocessor and multicore computers. Stata/MP provides the most extensive support for multiprocessor computers and multicore computers of any statistics and data-management package.
The exciting thing about Stata/MP, and the only difference between Stata/MP and Stata/SE, is that Stata/MP runs faster—much faster. Stata/MP lets you analyze data in one-half to two-thirds of the time compared with Stata/SE on inexpensive dual-core desktops and laptops and in one-quarter to one-half the time on quad-core desktops. Stata/MP runs even faster on multiprocessor servers. Stata/MP supports up to 64 processors/cores.
The graph below summarizes the performance differences between Stata/SE and Stata/MP.
In a perfect world, software would run twice as fast on two cores, four times as fast on four cores, eight times as fast on eight cores, and so on. Across all commands, Stata/MP runs 1.6 times faster on two cores, 2.1 times faster on four cores, and 2.7 times faster on eight cores. These values are median speed improvements. Half the commands run even faster.
On the other side of the distribution, a few commands do not run faster, often because they are inherently sequential, such as time-series commands.
We worked hard to make sure that the performance gains for commands that take longer to run would be greater. Across all estimation commands, Stata/MP runs 1.8 times faster on dual-core computers, 2.8 times faster on quad-core computers, and 4.1 times faster on computers with eight cores.
For a complete assessment of Stata/MP’s performance, including command-by-command statistics.
Stata/MP is 100% compatible with other versions of Stata.
Analyses do not have to be reformulated or modified in any way to obtain Stata/MP’s speed improvements.
Stata/MP is available for the following operating systems:
Windows (32- and 64-bit processors)
Mac OS X (64-bit Intel processors)
Linux (32- and 64-bit processors)
Solaris (64-bit SPARC and x86-64)
To run Stata/MP, you can use a desktop computer with a dual-core or quad-core processor, or you can use a server with multiple processors. Whether a computer has separate processors or one processor with multiple cores makes no difference. More processors or cores makes Stata/MP run faster.
What computer should I use to run Stata/MP?
Stata/MP is a flavor of Stata that can perform symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) on a computer with multiple processors or cores.
Stata/MP is available for the following operating systems:
Windows (64-bit x86-64)
Windows (32-bit)
Mac (64-bit Intel)
Linux (64-bit x86-64)
Linux (32-bit)
Solaris (64-bit SPARC)
Solaris (64-bit x86-64)
A computer’s processor is often called the central processing unit, or CPU. Computers can have multiple CPUs, and Stata/MP takes advantage of this design to process data faster.
Also available are computers with processors that contain multiple cores. A core is the computation engine of a CPU, consisting of integer and floating-point processing units. Thus a computer with one dual-core processor is similar to a computer with two processors. In fact, Stata/MP does not distinguish between CPUs and cores; it is designed to use systems with up to 64 cores—be they single core (one per CPU), dual core (two per CPU), or multicore (many per CPU).
Most manufacturers sell multiprocessor computers as servers. Thus your choice is to buy either a desktop computer with a multicore CPU or a server computer with multiple processors, each of which might or might not be multicore. Having more processors/cores means that Stata/MP will run faster.
Be aware of the term “hyperthreaded”, however. Stata/MP runs faster on hyperthreaded processors, but not as fast as it would if you had full cores instead of hyperthreads. Computers with multiple hyperthreaded processors are suitable for Stata/MP. The number of real processors is the critical factor.
Both Intel and AMD manufacture chips appropriate for Stata/MP. Either run a modern Windows operating system (7, Vista, or newer) or run Linux.
Mac Intel-based dual-core computers are appropriate for Stata/MP. Stata/MP supports OS X.
Oracle computers with multicore 64-bit SPARC processors running Solaris are appropriate for Stata/MP. Oracle Solaris computers on x86-64 hardware can also run Stata/MP.
Regardless of the system you buy, the most important thing you can do is to ensure that you have enough memory to hold 1.5 times the maximum dataset size you plan to use.
