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

Yes the Zalman cooler and max fan toggle will help.

But it is your responsibility to take care of your notebook... no one else's.

So make sure to monitor the temps so that you can notice any RED flags when they occur.

 

Did the hotfix i install raise the temp of the CPU??? Now im worried =(((

 

No the hotfix does not affect your CPU temps.

I am just adamant about temps because I do not want to hear people whining [about their notebook overheating] months to a year from now after getting their beast notebooks.... just because they were careless and did not notice the temp fluxes do to blocked air vents (usually from dust clogs).

So dont worry about the hotfix.

Just make sure you take care of your notebook... or I'll be very annoyed.

And make sure to always clean out your system [mainly the fans and vents] occasionally (once every month or so) with Q-tips and compressed air [cans or from compressor].

 

what is boot.ini for? i didnt do that step but i dont see why i should since you said that intel core 2 duos ussually dont need it? Is this true?

 

Dont ask, its pretty technical.... its just going to confuse you if you dont get programming.

the Core 2 Duo's dont show any performance difference with this modification.

 

good enough for me lol! ill work with what i did then. thanks for the quick reply!

 

Hi everybody,
now I have to admit that I'm not so much on the smart side of computer-world... but I tried all the above mentioned (REGEDIT/Hotfix) and still CPU-Z is still telling me this:


Processor 1 (ID = 0)
Number of cores 2 (1 core(s) disabled)
Number of threads 1 (max 2)
Name Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T5600
Codename Merom
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T5600 @ 1.83GHz
Package Socket 479 mPGA (platform ID = 5h)

Core Speed 1000.1 MHz (6.0 x 166.7 MHz)
Rated Bus speed 666.7 MHz
Stock frequency 1833 MHz


I dont get it... Why? Shouldn't there be both cores enabled? I checked my bios and I dont find a setting to enable something like two processors. It's a beautiful 6 months old Sony Vaio SZ 340 (and I think I noticed the fans blowing more often than in the beginning but I guess that's more of a physical issues then a software one, no?)

Please help me...

 

if one core is disabled, then that means:
1) you do not have Windows XP with Service Pack 2
2) or your notebook has disabled one of the cores within the BIOS.

When you hit CTRL+ALT+DEL, and go the the Performance tab, do you see 1 or 2 CPU Usage History charts?

 

I only see one... and supposedly i have sp2 with this...

 

Go to Control Panel > System (Properties)

it will tell you your Service Pack version... like this:
System:
__Microsoft Windows XP
__Professional
__Version 2002
__Service Pack 2

 

yes, that says that...

 

Ok if you have Service Pack 2.... then....

- you installed the hotfix
- did the registry modification ( Throttle key, PerfEnablePackageIdle DWORD with value of 1.

then its definitely your system that is not enabling the second core... more than likely within the BIOS.

 

yes, all that done (although the "older" version of the hotfix was there already - i still updated it and the throttle key was there already also)

in the bios i dont find a setting to change anything like that...

sony doesnt help me either... i dont get it

 

whats your system model, maybe I can find out for you.

 

hmmmmm... does that help? http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=211275

if not, it's a sony vaio sz340p...

thanks for all that help!

 

I would recommend to switch everything on your notebook to Max performance....
because it seems that the issue you might be having is due to a software restricting the CPU performance to save batterylife.

1) Performance Mode switch... change to SPEED


2) Go into your VAIO Central software
- look at the Power Management & Power Schemes options... and anything that has to do with power saving or performance... set to Max Performance.

3) Go into the Nvidia Control Panel
- Under PowerMizer, set everything to Max Performance.

 

okay.... thanks.... the SPEED mode is on, the power management turned off (i think; a windows message poped up telling me that the application "run dll as an app" needs to close after i changed the power management off)

but the powermizer i dont have in the nvidia control thingy...

 

If you have a Sony SZ notebook, it should have a Nvidia 7400.... which comes with the Nvidia drivers and the Powermizer.

Go to Control Panel > Display Properties
- go to Settings tab
- hit the Advanced button
- then look for the Nvidia Geforce tab
(then you should see the details and options for the Nvidia card)
-- look for PowerMizer and set everything to Max Performance.

hit OK.

restart your computer.

and see if your CPU has 2 cores available.

 

i tried to find that, but the only setting i can change in the nvidia mobile settings is the smartdimming... nothing else... and yes, it is a nvidia go 7400...

 

It should be there.

Well I would try to update the drivers, read here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=64910

Then see if the PowerMizer is there with the newer drivers.

Note: remember to restart your computer after installing the new drivers.

So have you restarted and checked the CPU-Z or Task Manager to see if the the 2 cores are at work?

I would also check your Device Manager (in the System Properties) to look under Processors, hopefully you should see two.

 

in the device manager i do see two processors and i do have acpi multiprocessor pc also... i really dont get it... i do have only one cpu performance window in the task manager though...

 

if it shows two processors, then its definitely some setting within your Windows or Sony software.

I would wager its gotta do something with the power management settings with some Sony utility.

Have you called Sony about this?

 

i did and they said they would not deliver a laptop with one core disabled... and they claimed that cpu-z may not support this specific chip t5600...

well, thanks for all your effort, maybe it's for a reason my cores are not all working... thank you though

 

I doubt that its your CPU-Z not reading if your Task Manager also only shows one performance chart.

There has to be some feature or option in the Sony software to toggle the CPU performance to save battery power.

 

well, i guest i'll never find out.... thanks for your support though

 

There was a recent Microsoft update for many Intel Core CPU's I would recommend to try it:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=936357

 

for intel core 2 duos? does it mean better performance?

 

that does indeed sound interesting, but computerdummy as i am i have no idea what it does... what does it do if i may ask? no harm done?
and which one would i need to download? 32-bit or 64-bit (with win xp pro)?

 

you would download the 32-bit version for your Win XP

 

great, thanks... so i downloaded this update... i didnt see or feel or hear any difference... but, who knows... lol... no change in cpu-z either... you have any other suggestions?

 

this update applies for intel core 2 duos only? or intel processors as a whole? And i use regular windows xp pro so that means i get the 32 bit one if it applies to me right?

 

you do not need it if your system is stable.

 

my laptop is wierd sometimes though. there will be times that it will crash and ill see a frozen screen and i would have to press the power button to restart. but it ussually happens if my laptop is unplluggeed and then i plug it in and start up a game like F.E.A.R demo. maybe im not giving the laptop enough time to catch up to speed or something. Well anyways heres hoping the freeze would stop. I have been monitoring the temp its def not that.Heres hoping i find a solution soon.

edit-99% of the time my laptop is on and stable. But that other 1% is weird. Maybe crashes are normal in a system. But its strange because when this happens i cant simply control alt dlete out of there. i have to push the power button! I have a core 2 duo 6420 2.13 ghz 4mb. This message board talks more in depth about that update. Should i give this MS update a shot Gophn?

http://www.rage3d.com/board/showthread.php?threadid=33889730

Id like to know if anyone with a D900C has had any freeze or crash problems lately.

 

To the guy that made this thread: you are a true hero.

 

p.s i got 10-30 fps boosts in most games.

 

my sager9260 just gave me my first BSOD. It happend when i exited Elder Scrolls Oblivion. I didnt know what the message said but i sent it to microsoft and i got to a web page that said this.

Problem type


Windows stop error (a message appears on a blue screen with error code information)

Solution available?


No.

What does this problem mean?


Windows has encountered a problem it cannot recover from and it needs to be restarted

Cause


Unknown

Computer symptoms


A message appears on a blue screen with error code information (for example: 0x0000001E, KMODE_EXCEPTION_NOT_HANDLED)

Additional steps for you to take


Please continue to send problem reports so analysts at Microsoft can study and try to correct the problem as quickly as possible

Should i download and install that intel micro-code reliability update still? I find it very strange that im getting these rare problems on my laptop. Something similar like this happend to me when i was playing Supreme Commander. It just restarted on its on a while into the game. Though that time i didnt get a blue screen. I dont think its a over heating issue as this laptop is very new and i have been monitoring the temps. Im wondering if i should apply that intel microcode update because this is beggining to creep me out a bit...any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Edit: On a side note i decided to reload the game(Elder Scrolls Oblivion) and when i loaded it started with a tottally differnt charecter. I had one of those Lizard men as my charecter and now its a human after i got the BSOD...Im seriously considering that fix now lolz. But yea if you guys have any advice please let me know. Does my system sound unstable? If so that means i should do that micro-code update. But im afraid of it doing more harm than good. What do you guys think?

 

I got the BSOD once or twice when I first got my D900C.

I've been running with Fan full speed now, Gophn's tip to press [fn]+1 keys, added some cooling and have not had a problem since. My Games are on the drive located at the battery, so I think that contributed [there's three 160gb 7200rpm drives in the box]. Two 70mm drives blow on the hard drive area, so now it stays cool [and my left wrist too]. But just running with the Laptop fans full makes a huge difference. Thanks again to Gophn for the tip.

I'm running the 1400x1050 mode [system also is SLi], and really getting good performance. I tried the 1600 res, but the Game faulted every time I exited to Windows. Wasn't worth the reboots.

 

kewl! gotta chk this out as soon as i get off work!

 

Hey Gophn, I have Vista32 can I use Multi Core config ? or its just for XP?
Thanks

 

If you have Vista, you do not need to do anything, since Vista is fully configured for multi-core.

Look at the NBR wPrime Hall of Fame, it reflects that very well.

 

Thanks Gophn!

 

This doesn't apply to vista does it? does it already maximize its dual core?

 

If you have Vista, you do not need to do anything, since Vista is fully configured for multi-core.

 

Does this works on desktop pc too??

 

Yes.
Required:
- Windows XP (Home, Pro, MCE) with Service Pack 2 (even when using Apple Bootcamp, NOT Virtual PC)
- Any system (desktop or notebook [even Apple's MacBook's]) with multi-cores, multi-processors, multi-logical processors (Hyper-Threading)
---- Intel: Pentium 4 w/ HT, Pentium D, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad, Multi Core Xeons
---- AMD: Athlon 64 X2, Turion 64 X2, Multi Core Opterons

 

But should I still put the PerfEnablePackageIdle thing in the registry since some people say it's about battery life and as far as I know, desktop has no battery. Maybe this is why there isn't even a folder called throttle in the registry....

 

PerfEnablePackageIdle is not for batterylife only.

It is what makes the hotfix work.

 

Hi, great thread now sorry if i ask something that has bin discussed as i tried to read all pages. anyways.. I have an alienware m9750 Windows xp. shows i have service packed 2 installed under add/remove and system properties. I have bin playing many games like bf2 and bf2142 and i dont see any bad performance no lagg/freezing i got intel core 2 duo 2.0ghz anyways i dont got that hotfix i checked but should i leave it alone like it is or should i try that hotfix and also how can i check to see if multi cpu are working? thanks.
Update: now i dont know if this explains aNYTHing but i did the windows task manager thingy and both of the sqaures witch im guessing those are the multi cpus they both have the same lines like if i open something they both respond now im not sure as ill check with a game but ya/

UPDATE2: OK wel i ran fraps when playing battlefield 2 and i was literlly getting 85 fps and when it did drop it would only go to like 70 the lowest so i assume both cpu are working? this was on all max setting.

 

hi..my dv6500t came with vista but i reformatted the whole drive and installed xp pro. should i follow these steps? thanks!

 

Hi there. I just received my brand-new M570RU (all I can say is "wow") and one of the first things I'm doing is configuring it for dual-core processors.

I have XP-PRO SP2. Now when I went to add/remove programs to look for the specified hotfix, I didn't find any windows drivers installed, but rather, a windows driver package that Eurocom installed when partitioning XP.

The file is:

Windows Driver Package ITE Tech.Inc. (ITECIR) System (12/28/2006 3.05.0003.3)

Nothing new pops up when I click "Show updates". I am not sure what this driver package contains so I cannot see if the hotfix is included or not.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.