Windows XP Multi Core config - Does your OEM do it for you?

yup.

just install the hotfix and add in the registry setting

and you should be good to go.

 

Hi all

Is it ok i have completed 3 step, 4 for my is too risky is it ok to stay this way (just 3) Thnx

 

if you have a Core 2 Duo, you just need to:
- install hotfix
- add registry key and value

thats it.

If you have an AMD X2, then you will need to do the BOOT.ini step.

 

AMD changed the driver installer, added a list that shows the supported processors (phenom was included). I think the driver itself is the same one that is on first page, they just added a new installer to it.
The new link is: http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/utilities/setup.zip

PS: I found this because my system crashed (and trashed ) and I had to download the drivers again.

Cheers.

 

ok. nice find.

 

Hi Gophn,
It's strange. I have Intel Core 2 Duo T5500. I did all you described (downloaded patch, installed it on SP2, changed the boot.ini, created the registry key & DWORD value, restarted) I've checked everything hundred times but I still see just one CPU in TaskManager.
Nobody has the same prob? What I did wrong?

 

you are not the first, there is some that had the same exact issue.

I believe that it could be low-level (motherboard) that needs to fully detect and support the particular CPU.

There has been some that fixed the issue by seeing that there was a BIOS option that had the CPU setting to single-core mode.

 

Sorry, I haven't read every post... I've read almost everything until page 25 but then it was 2:30 am already...

My configuration is HP Compaq nc6400 with T5500 with Win XP Pro SP2. Dual Core CPU is enabled in BIOS. So it's not my case. BIOS was the first I'd checked before I started seek for a solution on the internet.

OS was installed from image in my company. Many special settings are disabled in the OS because of security but these you suggest to change/upgrade are ok.

Does anybody have any clue?

 

try this:

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsuppor...sId=1847703&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1093

its the latest BIOS (Sept 7 2007) for your notebook:
Enhancements
* Updates microcode to support new factory-installed processors.

 

wow! do you sleep sometimes?
thanks for fast reply. I'll give it a try tonight.

 

Hi Gophn again...
i reinstalled win xp sp2 (from our company) image...i did the BIOS update ..i installed the win fix.. i added the registry... but it doesn't help. maybe it's something with our company WinXP image installed there...? do you have any clue what could be wrong there? thanks.

 

your system still does not see two cores in the Device Manger or Task Manager?

 

it seems like this fix doesnt work for me.

i have compal el80 laptop. it came with core duo t2400 . i did this fix and everything was fine. week ago i upgraded to core 2 duo t7400 and bought new hdd also . so i installed new win xp pro with sp2. now , i did this fix again but it doesnt work.

with t2400 the 3dmark06 cpu score was 1497 Marks , but now with t7400 it is 905 Marks . So twice lower.

not cool ..

it doesnt matter will i use the boot.ini or now. just wont work.

 

Sounds more like a driver problem. Are you sure you're video drivers are the latest and it's not set to power saving?

 

videocard has nvidia's official mobile drivers ( same as i used with t2400 ) . powermizer has set to max performance. NHC has set to maximum performance (CPU) . and every other driver and bios is newest version also.

when i launch wprime ( 32mb time is 43sec) or UT3 demo , or whatever else what uses multicores then both core usage goes to 100% . so everything should be fine. but its not normal when 3dmark06 score goes from 1660 to 1560 and CPU score is 900 tho it used to be 1500 with way weaker cpu ...

3dmark also has latest patch...

 

Both cores are showing up?

That's strange.

 

http://m8lll.com/3dmark06.jpg

first test went out of window anyway , everything seems OK but CPU score is 2x lower :S

 

i would not worry about synthetic benchmarks too much.

As for the CPU, if it wPrime scores compare well to the other CPUs near it, then you should not worry.

 

can that "v4 patch" of the KB896256 hotfix work with Intel now? I notice the older link to KB896256 is shown for the Intel chips, and newer link under AMD.

 

both AMD and Intel can use either patch versions.

 

You're kidding yourself if having your system produce a lower score in a synthetic benchmark than it did previously before a patch/fix does not constitute an issue.

 

Here is a neat little trick you can do if device manger is still showing a single core ACPI instead of the ACPI Multiprocessor PC entry that should be under the Computer section. (You'd also know your dual core / multi core isn't functioning if task manager's performance section only shows a single CPU usage history graph instead of the split dual graphs it will show with multi-processor enabled).

first download devcon from http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311272

Extract devcon (there are two versions - one for 32-bit OS and the other for 64-bit OS) to a directory you can get to easy from a dos window

then go to start -> run -> type cmd

In the dos window type:
devcon setwid @ROOT\ACPI_HAL\0000 := +acpiapic_mp !acpiapic_up
devcon update C:\windows\inf\hal.inf acpiapic_mp

after it has said that each update is successful reboot your system. When Windows XP starts up the next time it will say it found new hardware, install the new hardware, and then report that the new hardware may not work until the system is restarted. Then a window should pop up asking you if you'd like to restart. Select yes and restart your system one more time. Then next time you enter Windows you'll be in Dual Processor mode!

 

Nice tip AVID, i'll point people to it now.

 

Hi all

just finished installing a copy of my orig xp pro sp2 on my new acer aspire laptop that came preloaded with vista premium.

managed to install xp pro sp2 and drivers for it fine via acers website, also updated fine from microsoft website.

i believe that there is a problem between xp and dualcore-s so i am a bit confused in what to do..

processor is: AMD Turion X2 TL-50
Processor Speed: 1.6 GHz

i have downloaded and installed :

(AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology Driver Version 1.3.2.0053 for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 (x86 and x64) - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination to match the instantaneous user performance need. This package is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology on Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP2 x86 and x64 Editions) from amd website released september 07.

this is the only cpu drivers i've installed, question is is this the right one for me or do i need to add or modify more ?


please advice me..



thnx,
kannanni

 

Thats the correct driver for your AMD CPU.

Then all you need to do is the Registry add-on.

Thats it.

 

Thnx m8

job done


rgds,
kannanni

 

Greetings Gentlemen! I was googling to see if I needed any special patches for my new Quad core Q6600 rig I just built and this thread came up.

I've made a note of the the two hotfixs listed on page one but I would like Gophn to confirm for me if he will that these hotfixes are also required for a Quad core Q6600 cpu running on Win XP 32 sp2.

Gophn, Will these two hotfixes help on a desktop Q6600 cpu running Win xp 32 sp2. Thanks in advance

regards

Bcc335

 

Welcome to the NBR forums.

I would recommend this hotfix for any multi-core CPU when using WinXP 32-bit.

It will guarantee that the OS will utilize all the cores more efficiently.

 

Do I understand it well that the procedure (you described) starts the second core or it just switch on the monitoring of the second core?

 

it makes the OS see both cores.

But the new Service Pack 3 will optimize XP with multi-core... to even outperform Vista... as initial reviews have reflected.

 

Thanks a lot Gophn and Avid Gamer!
It seems your advices helped. I haven't done benchmarks yet but I just tried to burn a cd. It used to take almost 100% of processor and now I can comfortably work during burning without blocking. SATISFIED!

 

Hi Gophn,

I just bought a new T61 with Windows XP Pro(32-bit) and I see split dual graphs in CPU usage history graph.

Please advice if I still need to apply MS hot fix and devcon changes as Avid Gamer suggested to make sure my OS is using dual cores.

Thanks,
Kcnu

 

if you see two charts in your "task manager" or see two CPUs in you "device manager"... then your Windows as detected your dual core.

As for the hotfix, you can just install it and do the registry add-on.

You can do a CPU benchmark (wPrime) before and after.... but from previous experiences, Core 2 Duo's do not have a significant difference in performance after this hotfix.... but it does not hurt either.

 

just tried it, windows seems to load much much faster, and when i minimise games browsing windows is't as slow as it usually is. great tip
(PC specs as in my sig)

 

nice.

glad that you got some more performance out of your gaming rig.

 

Is there any reason why this might cause problems for games that are single-threaded? I'm trying to run Tiberian Sun on my Sager NP2090 (C2Duo) and it stutters every half second or so. No idea why - the *other* core is at 1-2%, and I've try the game with both set and unset affinities.

 

it can have issues with single threaded games... but its rare.

If you control the affinity, there so not really be any issues.

I play Red Alert 2 (using Tiberian Sun engine) sometimes, it runs fine on my dual core system.

It might be drivers... or just Tiberian Sun needs to be updated or needs to be ran in Windows 2000 mode or Win98 mode.

 

thx Gophn for spreading the good info. THIS works perfect for me. Installed and CRYSIS slowdowns (like when 5 close enemies shoot at me, and it starts hurting) dissapeared. So I have stable (min. 17FPS) instead of 8-12 during heavy fight. The funny thing is, that this fix started to work for me THIS good ONLY after I edited the boot.ini with /usepmtimer. After this, I started to enjoy playing this game. Now I come to the village and just move fast....aaaaa....enough lol peace to everyone reading this_\|/_

__________________
ROCK XCTX PRO (M570U), C2D 2.0 GHZ, 7950 GTX,
2 GIG RAM, 100 GB HDD (7200 RPM), , 17" 1920x1200, XP MCE SP2

 

I dont think SP3 needs this does it ?

edit, When i check the registry it dosnt have a folder for throttle but i cant install the hotfix so should i leave it as is ?

 

I believe SP3 will update the kernel of XP 32-bit to the level of Vista to fully support multi-core (or multi-CPU)... as far as I can tell with the XP SP3 RC1.

 

I remember that SP3 updates the kernel to the same version as the one used in XP64 just 32-bit so it's same version kernel as used in Vista 32bit just less the bloat. So it has better multi-threading support I believe it also brings better memory management.

 

Sounds like what Vista should have been, instead of what it is.

 

Does Windows XP do this automatically now? I just reinstalled windows XP, installed all updates, and started doing various tweaks. I made it to the Multi core tweak specified in this thread, and it was already done for me. I've had to do it manually every other time besides this time.

 

New Windows XP (32-bit) install discs or slimstream discs have gotten with the program and included the hotfix.

About time... but the upcoming Service Pack 3 will not even need it.

 

So Gophn, if we performed the Hotfix and the boot.ini edit, do we still need to perform what Avid Gamer has suggested here? OR do we only do as Avid Gamer suggested if we've complete the hotfix update and boot.ini edit AND the OS STILL DOES NOT recongize the dual processor configuration in device manager?

I'll post up my pre and post PCMark05, 3DMark06 and wPrime scores after I get from work

 

what Avid Gamer is showing... is a fix for those that only see one core (in Task Manager and Device Manger).

So do not do it if you system sees both cores fine.

 

Before

PCMark05 - 5027
3DMark06 - 4731

After Hotfix

PCMark05 - 5584
3DMark06 - 4742

Not too much of an increase in the 3DMark06, but I hope to get around ~5200s after I overclock this 7900GTX

I'm actually experiencing the 0 or 1 FPS in both CPU tests and the test is very choppy. Is this supposed to happen? My graphics tests are smooth and not choppy.

 

The CPU test is always choppy, unless if you have a quad-core.

Because its using software (CPU) to render each frame.

 

Hi,

I was directed to this post yesterday and seemed to get a nice performance boost when I put this on my Intel 3.4 dc desktop. But I got a bsod after around 10 hours(had made a restore point) - the event viewer says "could not find the specified path". My ini. looks a little different than the picture, how should it look with the additions?

 

Welcome to the NBR forums.

you're system has two lines under [operating systems]
- 1st line is for standard Windows XP
- 2nd line seems to be for Windows Recovery Console

if you want to insert the /usepmtimer, insert it to the end of the first line under [operating systems]

for your case it should look like this (if you have everything shown in your snapshot):

Code:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect [B]/usepmtimer[/B]
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSEC.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Remember to view the notepad without "Word Wrap" (under View > Word Wrap)