Stata/MP is the fastest and largest version of Stata. Most computers purchased since mid-2006 can take advantage of the advanced multiprocessing 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 multiple-processor 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. Stata/MP runs even faster on industrial-grade multiprocessor servers. Stata/MP supports up to 32 processors.

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 processors, four times as fast on four processors, eight times as fast on eight processors, and so on. Across all commands, Stata/MP runs 1.4 times faster on two processors, 2 times faster on four processors, and 2.5 times faster on eight processors. These values are median speed improvements.

Half the commands run even faster, and a few achieve performance even beyond what might be considered theoretically possible (more than twice as fast on two processors, etc.) because multiprocessor systems have multiple caches, too.

On the other side of the distribution, a few commands do not run faster, often because they are inherently sequential (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 1.7 times faster on dual-core computers, 2.8 times faster on quad-core computers, and over 5 times faster on computers with eight processors.

For a complete assessment of Stata/MP’s performance, including command-by-command statistics, see the white paper Stata/MP Performance Report.

Stata/MP is 100% compatible with 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)
Macintosh OS X (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 means that Stata/MP will run faster.

For more advice on hardware, see our discussion of hardware for Stata/MP.

You can order Stata/MP online, or upgrade online. Please contact us or read the complete Stata/MP Performance Report for more information.