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    Process only uses one core

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by Jeff91, Jan 17, 2009.

  1. Jeff91

    Jeff91 Notebook Guru

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    BEFORE YOU JUDGE ME AS AN IDIOT, I HAVE THE AFFINITY SET TO BOTH CORES!

    Hi, I was just wondering why some (most) processes only run on one core or if they do run on both the average usage is basically 50 percent.

    Ex: I am running Microsoft FSX and it runs fine. But it only runs on core 0 and basally maxes out that core--not entirely but... And there is little or no usage on the other core. Why doesn't it use both cores.

    Another Example: I am a slight Rubik's cube nerd and I have a program on my computer called Cube Explorer. It finds the optimal solution (least number of moves possible) and other things. When I use it to optimize one cube it only uses 50 percent of the processor (all on one core--and it seems it could go faster if it used both cores :confused:), but when I start to optimize multiple cubes then it goes all out and uses the entire processor.

    I have other programs as well that follow this pattern. Is this normal? And is there a way to fix it?

    See my signature for computer specs.

    Thanks,
    Jeff
     
    Jeff91, Jan 17, 2009
    #1
  2. Jlbrightbill

    Jlbrightbill Notebook Deity

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    Not all programs are designed to be multi-threaded, and even fewer do it with an even spread.
     
    Jlbrightbill, Jan 17, 2009
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  3. mobius1aic

    mobius1aic Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Do you have FSX patched?
     
    mobius1aic, Jan 18, 2009
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  4. Jeff91

    Jeff91 Notebook Guru

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    Meaning...???...
     
    Jeff91, Jan 18, 2009
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  5. Gophn

    Gophn NBR Resident Assistant

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    meaning this:
    http://www.fsinsider.com/downloads/Pages/FlightSimulatorXServicePack1.aspx

    Service Pack 1 will:
    * Provide a 20 to 50 percent performance increase
    * Optimize for multi-core CPUs and improve draw times for faster loading
    * Address multiplayer and backwards compatibility issues
    * Offer improved realism of key geographical locations, landmarks and airports
     
    Gophn, Jan 18, 2009
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  6. Jeff91

    Jeff91 Notebook Guru

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    OK, so that is supposed to fix FSX (I'm downloading it now). But what about the other programs:
    Are they just not designed to run that way?
    Thanks
     
    Jeff91, Jan 18, 2009
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  7. Gophn

    Gophn NBR Resident Assistant

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    most of the old programs are single-threaded.

    the new and upcoming programs and games are multi-threaded.
     
    Gophn, Jan 18, 2009
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  8. ntsan

    ntsan Notebook Consultant

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    Having multi-core doesn't automatically mean "magic" use of multi-core by programs unless the program themself are programed to take use of multithreading
     
    ntsan, Jan 18, 2009
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  9. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

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    most programs created before multicore cpu's came out were single threaded.

    your rubik's cube program: each cube solve is a single thread.

    so if you run one cube and it takes 1 minute to get the solution, you could also run 2 cubes and get the solutions in approximately 1 minute. but you can't run one cube in 30 seconds, because you can't dedicated two processors to one thread.
     
    masterchef341, Jan 18, 2009
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  10. scythie

    scythie I died for your sins.

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    Yup. As everyone's already mentioned, it also depends on the program itself. Hence why superPi was superseded by wPrime for CPU benchmarking purposes. ;)
     
    scythie, Jan 18, 2009
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