Stata/MP is a new version of Stata/SE that runs on multiprocessor computers. Stata/MP provides the most extensive support for multiple-processor computers and dual-core computers of any statistics and data-management package.
Stata/SE continues to be the top-of-the-line product for single-processor computers.
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 of Stata/SE on inexpensive, dual-core desktops. Stata/MP runs even faster on industrial-grade multiprocessor servers. Stata/MP supports up to 32 processors.
In a perfect world, software would run twice as fast on two processors, three times faster on three processors, and so on. Stata/MP achieves 72% efficiency. It runs 1.4 times faster on two processors, 1.75 times faster on three processors, and 2 times faster on four processors. These values are median speed improvements.