As I understand it, the .NET memory model on a 32-bit machine ensures that a 32-bit word writes and reads as atomic operations, but does not provide this guarantee for 64-bit words. I wrote a quick tool to demonstrate this effect on 32-bit Windows XP, and I get the results as described by this memory model.
However, I took the same executable file and ran it on the 64-bit Windows 7 Enterprise OS, and I get completely different results. Both machines are identical to specifications only with different OS installed. I would expect the .NET memory model to guarantee the writing and reading of BOTH of 32-bit and 64-bit words, which will be atomic in a 64-bit OS. I find results that completely contradict the BOTH assumptions. 32-bit reads and writes are not shown as atomic in this OS.
Can someone explain to me why this fails on a 64-bit OS?
Tool Code:
using System;
using System.Threading;
namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
var th = new Thread(new ThreadStart(RunThread));
var th2 = new Thread(new ThreadStart(RunThread));
int lastRecordedInt = 0;
long lastRecordedLong = 0L;
th.Start();
th2.Start();
while (!done)
{
int newIntValue = intValue;
long newLongValue = longValue;
if (lastRecordedInt > newIntValue) Console.WriteLine("BING(int)! {0} > {1}, {2}", lastRecordedInt, newIntValue, (lastRecordedInt - newIntValue));
if (lastRecordedLong > newLongValue) Console.WriteLine("BING(long)! {0} > {1}, {2}", lastRecordedLong, newLongValue, (lastRecordedLong - newLongValue));
lastRecordedInt = newIntValue;
lastRecordedLong = newLongValue;
}
th.Join();
th2.Join();
Console.WriteLine("{0} =? {2}, {1} =? {3}", intValue, longValue, Int32.MaxValue / 2, (long)Int32.MaxValue + (Int32.MaxValue / 2));
}
private static long longValue = Int32.MaxValue;
private static int intValue;
private static bool done = false;
static void RunThread()
{
for (int i = 0; i < Int32.MaxValue / 4; ++i)
{
++longValue;
++intValue;
}
done = true;
}
}
}
Results of a 32-bit version of Windows XP:
Windows XP 32-bit
Intel Core2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
BING(long)! 2161093208 > 2161092246, 962
BING(long)! 2162448397 > 2161273312, 1175085
BING(long)! 2270110050 > 2270109040, 1010
BING(long)! 2270115061 > 2270110059, 5002
BING(long)! 2558052223 > 2557528157, 524066
BING(long)! 2571660540 > 2571659563, 977
BING(long)! 2646433569 > 2646432557, 1012
BING(long)! 2660841714 > 2660840732, 982
BING(long)! 2661795522 > 2660841715, 953807
BING(long)! 2712855281 > 2712854239, 1042
BING(long)! 2737627472 > 2735210929, 2416543
1025780885 =? 1073741823, 3168207035 =? 3221225470
Note that BING (int) is never written and demonstrates that 32-bit reads / writes are atomic in this 32-bit OS.
Results on a 64-bit version of Windows 7 Enterprise:
Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit
Intel Core2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
BING(long)! 2208482159 > 2208121217, 360942
BING(int)! 280292777 > 279704627, 588150
BING(int)! 308158865 > 308131694, 27171
BING(long)! 2549116628 > 2548884894, 231734
BING(int)! 534815527 > 534708027, 107500
BING(int)! 545113548 > 544270063, 843485
BING(long)! 2710030799 > 2709941968, 88831
BING(int)! 668662394 > 667539649, 1122745
1006355562 =? 1073741823, 3154727581 =? 3221225470
, BING (long) AND BING (int)! 32- , 64-?