Dual Core Inquiry

Hello,

I have a Dell e1505 notebook that I just reformatted from standard XP Professional Media Center to Windows Vista. I was checking through the task manager and I noticed that my dual core isn't running as it should. The second core has no activity what so ever.

I was wondering if there was something that Vista doesn't support for the dual core to be running and if there is something I can do to allow the second core to be active?

Thanks.

 

Vista and XP both support dual core cpus. But software isn't usually programmed for multi-cores, so that's why you only see 1 core working. Try multitasking, or using programs that are designed for multiple cores and you will see your second core being used.

 

I've been multitasking for awhile now having a few cpu games up and browsing the internet. I wanted to see if the strain would allow the second core to become active. But all the strain is going to the first core and bringing it up to a 100% maximum. The second core isn't becoming active.

 

I dunno, but it may be this problem but that is for Xp, dunno about Vista, but here is the thread: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=60416

 

Best software to test if you're using both cores is wprime http://www.wprime.net/ ,monitor processor behavior in task manager while running it.
Vista is supposed to have native support for multicore CPU's...does your vista automated update work? Patch download?
Good luck

 

Yeah, everything works on Vista. It is a genuine copy. I'll try the stuff out that was previous stated and get back to you guys. Thanks.

 

Update: So that program wouldn't work. It said something about a runtime error.

That thread that you provided, allan, is for the XP OS only. So it wouldn't help me :x

 

That's weird, it should work on Vista, but you shoud manually setup wprime to use 2 threads. Maybe it's the security thing vista uses that blocks it from running..are you running it as an administrator?

 

For Vista, Read the notes in here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=123570

 

So I ran the program. My second core didn't budge at all. This is the weirdest thing I've ever seen.. How can a second core be inactive?

 

if you have Vista, did you set the advanced settings to 2 threads ??

if you have XP (32-bit), you must have Service Pack 2 and the multi-core hotfix installed.

Also if you only see one core in the task manager, then:
- make sure your BIOS has dual-cores enabled (over single-core)
- or read this

 

Yeah I did. I did notice that when the test is initiated it says that it only detects 1 CPU. I also looked up the specs again.. and I saw that this laptop is a Core Duo.. which I think means it's not duel cored? Right?

 

core duo=2 cores but no 64bit support... what does cpu-z say about your cpu?

 

Opened up CPU-Z and I saw that it said that it said Core Solo. I could've swore I bought a Dou when I purchased this laptop. I never monitored the CPU before to noticed. Sorry about the trouble guys.