Changing the number of processors on an Intel i3

[Anak]

Hi! Everyone,

I just finished reading a post on processors, and it showed me how to check to see how many processors I have running...

• Start> run> msconfig> Boot tab> Advance options>.

In the upper left corner it shows I have one (1) selected.
I can click on the Number of processors box, open the drop down menu, and select up to four (4).

My processor stats:

• 2.93 gigahertz Intel Core i3 530 DX4831
• 32 kilobyte primary memory cache
• 64-bit ready
• Multi-core (2 total)
• Hyper-threaded (4 total)
• Other stats are listed in my System Specs

Some benchmarks I can share are:

• Cold start to desktop ready: 1minute 20.82secs
• Warm restart to desktop ready: 1minute 11.74secs
• Shutdown 19.42secs
• American Megatrends Bios 11-17-2009
• CPU temp 32°C - 90° F
• System temp 45°C – 113° F
• CPU fan speed 1056rpm
• No system fan
• Smart fan enabled

CPU Voltages:

• CPU Core 1.136V
• +1.1V – 1.088V
• +3.30 – 3.360V
• +5.00 – 5.026V
• +12.0 – Fluctuates from 11.968 to 12.032V
• 5 VSB – 5.026V
• VBAT – 3.248V
• Not absolutely sure, but I think the + values are the settings, and the figure to the right is the reading.

This is our first multi-core processor, and being new at this I would rather ask questions first....My DW always asks me if I have read the instructions first!

For now I am not looking to Overclock (though, that may come later), but I paid for multi-core, and I would like to use it.


My questions are....

• What is the best way to experiment with this setting, go up one at a time, and observe the reaction?
• Watch the temps, right?
• Since I only have two am I committed to setting the advance tab number to two or will the hyper-threading allow four?
• Can my experimenting cause any damage?
• The most obvious tip-off that something is wrong would be that the machine won't boot, can you foresee any others?
• If that would happen, how would I get the machine to boot?
• Can you suggest any in-depth links on processors, and how they operate?
• Can you think of anything I may have overlooked?

Until I return I will be doing a google search on the title of my post....Among other things.

Thank You for reading, and any help you may have to offer.

Anak

 

[Petey7]

That is the setting for the number of processors used during boot, as in when you see the fancy windows animation. Once the computer is up and running you have four (technically two with hyper threading) running. Usually only one is used during boot-up. Only difference you'd see is a faster boot time.

 

[logicearth]

The setting does nothing but disable processors (or cores). It is for testing and debugging. You should leave the checkbox unchecked. Let me say this one more time. This setting has NEVER increased performance of anything in any version of Windows, period.

 

[Petey7]

The setting does nothing but disable processors (or cores). It is for testing and debugging. You should leave the checkbox unchecked. Let me say this one more time. This setting has NEVER increased performance of anything in any version of Windows, period.

When 7 RC first came out everything I read said exactly what I posted earlier. When changing the setting on my computer the boot-up definitely was a bit faster. Many people report the same thing. I suppose the placebo effect could play a role in it, but everything I've seen on any other site suggest otherwise.

 

[logicearth]

When 7 RC first came out everything I read said exactly what I posted earlier. When changing the setting on my computer the boot-up definitely was a bit faster. Many people report the same thing. I suppose the placebo effect could play a role in it, but everything I've seen on any other site suggest otherwise.

This setting is not the cause. Windows 7 caches the previous boot up. Every time you boot it it gets a little faster. This setting has nothing to do with it. No matter what setting you pick, Windows must get the processor information and must count how many processors there are. Then it proceeds to validate and check the value and turns off processors. The whole setting is nothing but a myth and has been for several years.

 

[Petey7]

Took me a while but I found the original article I read: 10 Simple Ways To Speedup Windows 7 | Connected Internet

Windows 7 only uses one core to boot out of the box. By increasing the number of cores used you can decrease the boot time:

Click on Start and then ‘Run’
Search for Run and type ‘msconfig’
Click on the tab ‘Boot’ and click on ‘Advanced options…’
Check ‘Number of processors’ and enter how many your PC has (usually 2,4 or 8)
Click ‘OK’ and ‘Apply’
Reboot

 

[logicearth]

Took me a while but I found the original article I read: 10 Simple Ways To Speedup Windows 7 | Connected Internet

Windows 7 only uses one core to boot out of the box. By increasing the number of cores used you can decrease the boot time:

Click on Start and then ‘Run’
Search for Run and type ‘msconfig’
Click on the tab ‘Boot’ and click on ‘Advanced options…’
Check ‘Number of processors’ and enter how many your PC has (usually 2,4 or 8)
Click ‘OK’ and ‘Apply’
Reboot

And that is the myth. It doesn't do any such thing. The only thing it is ever used for is disabling processors. If you pick the same amount of processors that you have, it does nothing.

 

[Petey7]

Okay. To be honest, since I've seen it in multiple locations, but only heard anything to the contrary here, I'm going to remain undecided on it. I'm not saying your wrong or anything, just that when you have a thousand people telling onething, and one person telling you different, who would you believe?

 

[Anak]

This is where I saw the information:
Multicore CPU: how to disable a core

The page title should say it all. “How to disable a core”, but when I saw 1 in my settings I jumped to the conclusion that It should have been at least 2, maybe 4.

I'm happy with the way things are, and if all changing the setting does is a minute difference in performance then I shall leave it where it is.

Though, I wonder if there is information available to make a definitive answer.
If I find anything I'll post back here.

My desire to change processors comes from the first sentence under the images.
I underlined enabling and disabling for emphasis.

•In the second window that appear, you should be provide with an option for enabling and disabling the number of processors you want to use.

 

[Petey7]

even if what I read is true, and what logicearth (who I respect enough to begin doubting everything I have read) says is wrong, you'd only notice about a 5-10 second decrease in start time at the most.

 

[pparks1]

I've never once been able to prove that changing this setting has ever increased performance. I've tested on Vista and Windows 7 on several different computers and with a stopwatch and taking an average...the boot up time was within 1% on each machine. Sometimes it was a bit faster, other times it was a bit slower. The overall average was the same.

NO DIFFERENCE. This tweak for me is a myth and I've tested enough myself to know that it's not just my opinion..but rather fact based on my situations and configurations.

 

[Petey7]

No offense pparks, but results for one person don't prove anything. It's still nice to hear your take on the matter and what your results were, but from a scientific stand point, it doesn't make anything fact or fiction.

 

[pparks1]

No offense pparks, but results for one person don't prove anything. It's still nice to hear your take on the matter and what your results were, but from a scientific stand point, it doesn't make anything fact or fiction.

No offense taken. But most people don't put in the time or effort to test with stopwatches as I do...instead they go off a gut feeling and somehow declare that it made a big difference to them on their machine. So, I'm still 100% confident in my assertions that changing this setting will amount to no tangible performance benefit. If you can prove me otherwise with quantitative testing, I'd love to see it.

 

[Petey7]

I was just makin' my point. You said that since you tested it, then it being a myth was fact, not opinion, and I was nitpicking. Its kind of like N-rays. One persons claims can't be immediately taken as fact.

Besides, as I said before, even if it does do something, you won't get any benefit from it 99% of the time so its pretty pointless either way.

 

[Anak]

• Cold start to desktop ready: 1minute 20.82secs
• Warm restart to desktop ready: 1minute 11.74secs
• Shutdown 19.42secs

But most people don't put in the time or effort to test with stopwatches as I do...instead they go off a gut feeling and somehow declare that it made a big difference to them on their machine.

I can agree with that.


Would you accept the average times I OP'd, that I made on my cell phone timer over the course of four days?

• Four cold starts
• Four shutdowns
• Seven restarts

Do they seem high, low or average?
Searching, I have found systems, times, and performance all over the place. It is difficult to find a machine like mine that I can make a comparison.

 

[logicearth]

The page title should say it all. “How to disable a core”, but when I saw 1 in my settings I jumped to the conclusion that It should have been at least 2, maybe 4.

As long as the checkbox above is unchecked whatever value is in the box below is ignored. If it was really set to "1" you would have only ever been able to set "1". because the other three would have been disabled in such a way that while in Windows you could not see them...anywhere.

 

[Anak]

As long as the checkbox above is unchecked whatever value is in the box below is ignored. If it was really set to "1" you would have only ever been able to set "1". because the other three would have been disabled in such a way that while in Windows you could not see them...anywhere.

If I understand what your saying, then there would not even be an advance button to click on, on the boot tab.