winXP and multi core processors

[Jeff]

Hey

A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores a processor
have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core

Is this true? And how are Vista on this subject?

Jeff

 

[Timothy Daniels]

"Jeff" wrote:
> Hey
>
> A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores
> a processor have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core.
> Is this true?

No.
A quick search at Groups.Google.com raised this:
"In point of fact, XP Pro and XP Pro x64 support dual processors,
dual-core or quad-core. XP Home only supports one processor,
but that can be multi-core also. For workstations with four or more
processors you would have to install an appropriate edition of
Windows Server. Windows 2000 Professional always supported
dual procs. That was one of the reasons there was no upgrade path
from Windows 2000 to XP Home, it had to be W2k to XP Pro.

--
Colin Barnhorst [MVP Windows - Virtual Machine]"


> And how are Vista on this subject?


Try that question in a Vista NG.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Wed, 4 Jul 2007 20:43:54 +0200, "Jeff"
<it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote:


> A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores a processor
> have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core
>
> Is this true?


No. It's completely false.

He may be thinking of two separate processors, but even there he's not
correct. Windows XP Home will only use one, even if you have two.
However XP Professional will use both.


> And how are Vista on this subject?


Exactly the same.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

 

[philo]

"Jeff" <it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:O6zUGtmvHHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hey
>
> A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores a processor
> have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core
>
> Is this true? And how are Vista on this subject?
>
> Jeff
>
>


XP does handle the dual core cpu quite nicely

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2005/dual_core.asp

 

[Patrick Keenan]

"Jeff" <it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:O6zUGtmvHHA.412@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hey
>
> A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores a processor
> have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core
>
> Is this true?

No, it is not true. XP Home supports only one physical processor, but the
processor can have multiple cores. XP Pro supports two physical
processors. For more, you require a Server OS.

HTH
-pk

> And how are Vista on this subject?
>
> Jeff
>

 

[Rock]

"Jeff" wrote
> Hey
>
> A chap at work told me that it doesn't matter how many cores a processor
> have, windowsXP wil use only 1 core
>
> Is this true?

No.

XP Home can support a single processor with multiple cores. XP Pro can
supports two processor chips and multiple cores on each.

> And how are Vista on this subject?

Vista is the same: for the home versions - only one processor with
multiple core support. Business versions support two processors and
multiple cores on each.

Vista specific newsgroups:

microsoft.public.windows.vista.administration_accounts_password
microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management
microsoft.public.windows.vista.games
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_assessment
microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
microsoft.public.windows.vista.mail
microsoft.public.windows.vista.music_pictures_video
microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing
microsoft.public.windows.vista.performance_maintenance
microsoft.public.windows.vista.print_fax_scan
microsoft.public.windows.vista.security

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]