Running Stata on a server with multiple cpus to increase computing capacity

[Oscar Ozfidan]

I have Stata MP 2-core running on a laptop with 2.20GHz dual core cpu. When I run 2 do files my cpu usage gets to about 80% so I try not to run more than 3 do files at a time. However, three do files running 24/7 is not cutting it. I need to double or possibly triple my computing capacity which made me start thinking about running stata on a server. So, if I run Stata on a server with two cpus of the kind I have on my laptop, does that mean I can the run 6 do files and if I install 4 cpus on the server I can run 12 files, basically quadrupling my production? I know nothing about servers but I do know that getting a second laptop and another Stata MP is probably not the way to go. Any guidance will be appreciated. Thanks

[Oscar Ozfidan]

For those interested, I found out that 2 core Stata wont use more than 2 cores of a cpu if it happened to have more than two cores But It wont restrict work being executed by multiple cpus. So, what I need to do appears getting a server that can handle the most amount of cpus which do not need to have more than two cores. FYI

[Oscar Ozfidan]

I finally verified my understanding of Feb 12 message. I now have machine with 4-cpus with 6 cores each. Each Stata process was taking about 3-4 hrs to finish on a single PC with two core cpu and my cpu usage would max out at 100% when I ran 3 processes parallel. Now I can finish 12 processes about the same time on my new machine, which uses only 30% of total cpu capacity. When I added up to 36 parallel processes, CPU usage does not exceed 30% or so benchmark and execution of Stata files gets bugged down visibly. The reason is my Stata version is 2-core and even though i have 6-cores per cpu, Stat does not let use of the extra capacity. So, my next version of Stata should be with more cores