Can I enable two processors all the time

[jraju]

Hi, Normally windows by default run only one processor by design.
I have done a memory test with memtest 86, the config menu of which has selection of processors. I selected two and it runs then.
Once closed, the mem test.
I just google it and find that if you want to run dual processors , then you have to go to msconfig and boot option , advanced option and then tick enable processor box and select the number of processors in there.
I just gone and did likewise and I hope that I have enabled the two processors always.
Or am I wrong in doing so.
please tell me.
will not power on the pc, the processors , if dual would automatically choose the two processors.
I am new to this issue, please say.
what will happen if my both processors are made to run.
Is that process not automatic of any other connected hardware devices?
how do i check if my two processors are working right now

 

[torchwood]

Hi

Have a look at this thread>...

Processors - Limit Number Used by Windows 7 | Tutorials

 

[flavallee]

jraju:

Your computer has an Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 processor - which is 1 processor which has 2 cores.
It will use one or both cores as needed.

The "Number of processors" box in MSCONFIG should remain unchecked and greyed out.
You risk making your computer unbootable if you change it.

 

[LMiller7]

Hi, Normally windows by default run only one processor by design.

No. By default Windows will use however number of cores you have up to the OS limit, which for Windows 7 I believe is 256. There is a limit on the number of physical CPU packages which for your OS is 2. Most systems only have 1 anyway. Each physical CPU can have many cores. This behavior goes all the way back to the introduction of NT in 1993.

In MSConfig, advanced BOOT options, the "number of processors" checkbox is by default unchecked. In this configuration the OS will use all CPU cores available. The display shows only 1 but with the checkbox unchecked that is of no consequence.

The advanced boot options were provided to restrict the number of CPU cores used. This might be of use for developers and for testing purposes. Checking the checkbox and setting the actual number of cores serves no useful purpose. Just leave the checkbox unchecked and all cores will be used.

Many Internet articles have this wrong.

 

[jraju]

Hi, Thanks Lmiller and others.
Lmiller is valid in that nothing should be done to the default in boot options.
and if i power on the pc, then both the cores are run.
today also i read an article that one processor would be just idlling, until that time it is asked to wake.The default core would do the working and the other would be idling with power on position.
I do not know, thy there was a clear cut answer to this query.
In the second post link, by torchwood, the link discusses the brinks tutorial, but seems that nothing is clear in the discussion.
Then why the dual core processors are recommended by the technician is not known.

 

[LMiller7]

Dual core processors are recommended because they are useful.

today also i read an article that one processor would be just idlling, until that time it is asked to wake.The default core would do the working and the other would be idling with power on position.

That, at least as would be understood by most people, is mostly wrong. There are times when 1 core is active while the other is idling. There will be other times when both are idling. There will be times when both cores are running. But these times are very short, typically measured in milliseconds. All 3 of those conditions may occur multiple times in a second. It all depends on the nature of the workload.

At system level there is no default processor. All cores are equals and all work equally. Of course that may not be true in the short term.

Core scheduling even with a single core is very complex. With multiple cores this becomes even more so. Many things are done to maximize performance and they are far from obvious. Some of the things may seem wrong. Put that down to the Windows designers understanding this better than you do. They certainly understand it better than I do.