8-core PC but only 4 processors being used

Thanks pparks1 I get it now. Nice to know information for next build.

Sorry, I'm a little confused the OP's answer here....

ECS1 said:

Maybe I have two of them?

Not sure about the tech details - 8 of them show up under "processors" in Device Manager, and under Windows XP when I ran task manager, under "performances" you could see all 8 working. Now it's only 4.

Is the OP asking the question, or giving the answer???

I "assume" the OP has two based on the other info given, but...

Just my way of thinking :)

sygnus21, pparks1 hit the answer,

pparks1 said:

In the case of this user, he has 2 physical CPU's with 4 logical cores on each one. Windows Home Premium is limited to 1 physical CPU socket...thus only 1 of his CPU's can be used.

You will need to move to Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate.

he just needed to go a little further with what the OP said about all 8 cores showing up and active in XP. Don't forget that XP Pro supported up to 2 sockets as well (and was a never ending source of confusion and debate with regards to XP Home when dual cores started coming out, which Home supported no problem).

@stormy13,

That I understood, and given the info as a whole, I agree. It's just that question he posed

Thanks :)