Triple core CPU showing ONE in task manager

My AMD triple core 8400 has been struggling lately. Performance is WAY down. I just tried to play an HD video and it just maxed out and kept buffering. It's NOT heat. That's the first thing I checked. In the device manager it still shows 3 CPUs.In the task manager, it has always shown all 3 cores. Now it only shows one. Has anyone seen this? What can I do to fix it.....or is my "cheap" CPU going downhill fast? Thanks for any help.

Also, I have Vista and Windows 7 on this box and they are both showing the same thing and acting sluggish. That's would point to a hardware problem. I have never heard of this before...Is this what a CPU would do if it "broke"

This has always shown 3 cores too...now just one. It's from SIW. I think my CPU is dying...... How about you.....any fix I can do?

Hi Nate,

You might see if this is the issue with a lower amount of cores selected.

Boot Advanced Options - Number of Processors - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Another thing you might want to try (that has worked for me) in Msconfig is try selecting Detect HAL, reboot and see if it finds them, if it does then go back and disable detect HAL and it should be fine after that.

Thanks Brink. This was the second thing I checked after the heat issue. There is just one option now. I have always had the option to choose 1-2-3 in msconfig. Now there is just one option....1. I ran SIW to see if it still said I had 3 cores and it does not. I can't find anything searching the internet but I'm sure it's there. I hope it's not dead.....

Mr GRiM said:

Another thing you might want to try (that has worked for me) in Msconfig is try selecting Detect HAL, reboot and see if it finds them, if it does then go back and disable detect HAL and it should be fine after that.

Thanks for the info Mr GRiM. I cannot find this in the msconfig utility. Where is it? (detect HAL)

Do you mean to "uncheck" the option to use the # of processors? I think that's what you're saying.....

That is a good question, it was there in earlier builds but the option seems to have gone, it used to be here like in Vista.

Okay, I see. I only have two options:

PCI lock and Debug

I'm getting scared now....glad I just built a new computer.....

Anything else? CPUZ should also be showing X3 on all these numbers too...

Is your build info still correct, build 7229 x64, maybe try a newer build, When I had this problem I was using x86 but it's never happened when using x64, anyway I hope you find a solution.

Yep. Detect Hal is gone in Windows 7 RTM builds.




Nate,

You might also check to see if there is a newer BIOS and chipset version available that may address this issue.

Well, thanks guys. I am running the official RC on this machine. I am also running Vista Ultimate. Same situation in both OSs. There is no BIOS update (and it has been fine for a year) so it sounds like my CPU is dead. I only had a 90 day warranty. I guess it's new CPU time or junk it.

If you guys think of anything, please let me know. Thanks for the suggestions.