Upgrade from dual core to quad core

Jove

New member
First, some keywords to help searchers:

QX9650, quad core, task manager, cpu-z, cpu-id, shows showing only 2 two cores.

I recently upgraded an Intel E8500 to a QX9650 and had the problem of Windows 7 only showing 2 of the 4 cores.

It took a few frustrating hours to find the solution, but I got there in the end without the need for a Windows re-install. I hope that this little post may help others to resolve the problem quicker than I.

1st: You must have Windows 7 Professional. Home Premium does not support more than 2 cores. Upgrade to Pro.

2nd: If Task manager and CPU-Z are only showing 2 cores, you'll be feeling pretty confused, right?

Go to Start-->Run, type MSCONFIG.
Under the BOOT tab, click 'Advanced Options'.
In the top left corner it says "Number of Processors" (you'll have been here already and it says '2').

Uncheck this and do a reboot.

This solved my hours of confusion. Now I have 4 cores in Task Manager, CPU-Z and all is well.

If all this fails, then get yourself set up for an OS reinstall; that should get you where you want to be.

I hope this helps folks a little as I had a hard time resolving this quickly.

I'm no expert but my sketchy understanding is that if you tell Windows you have no processors, it re-evaluates this at boot and discovers that you've changed from a 2 core to a 4 core.

Well, it worked for me and I hope it helps others out there.

Jove.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7
Windows 7 Quad cores

Any Ver of windows 7 will run any Quad core CPU .
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
BigBob Built
OS
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
CPU
Xeon X3380, OC to 3.30
Motherboard
Intel DX48BT2
Memory
DDR3-1333-10600, OC to 1400Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
Two HD5770
Sound Card
IDT
Monitor(s) Displays
Hanns-G 28"
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1200
Hard Drives
Intel SSD 160 GB / WD RE4 1 TB
PSU
SeaSonic Gold 850
Case
Rosewell Windnight
Cooling
Coursair H-70 H2O
Keyboard
Logitech Wave
Mouse
Revalution VX-1
Internet Speed
25MB download 5MB upload
Other Info
Hand built SYS. Built by Me.

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
homegrown
OS
Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core I7-3930k
Motherboard
Asus P9X79 Pro
Memory
16 GB Gskill DDR3-2133
Graphics Card(s)
eVGA GTX680
Sound Card
Creative X-Fi Titanium
Monitor(s) Displays
As PA246Q
Screen Resolution
1920 X 1200
Hard Drives
Corsair Force GT, 120 GB
WDC 1.5TB Caviar Black
PSU
PCP&C Silencer 750 Crossfire
Case
Silverstone FT02
Cooling
Noctua NH-D14
Keyboard
cheap Logitech USB
Mouse
Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer (old optical) USB
Internet Speed
6Mb cable
Other Info
Pioneer BDR-205
Samsung SH-203B
Monsoon 5.1 speakers
jesus......... 24 threads at once? take over the world much?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
My First Build
OS
Windows 7 64-bit Home
CPU
Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93 Ghz
Motherboard
Asus P7P55D-E Pro
Memory
8GB 4x2 A-Data 1333 Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
HIS Radeon HD 5850 1GB
Sound Card
Onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell S2440L 24"
Screen Resolution
1080p
Hard Drives
120 GB Intel X25-M SATA Solid State Drive ///
1 TB Western Digital Caviar Black SATA 6gb/s 7200rpm Drive
PSU
Corsair 650TX 650 Watt
Case
Antec Three Hundred
Cooling
Stock Intel /// 4 Antec Case Fans /// NZXT Sentry-2
Keyboard
Logitech LX 710
Mouse
Logitech LX 710
Other Info
LG Blu-Ray Drive
First, some keywords to help searchers:

QX9650, quad core, task manager, cpu-z, cpu-id, shows showing only 2 two cores.

I recently upgraded an Intel E8500 to a QX9650 and had the problem of Windows 7 only showing 2 of the 4 cores.

It took a few frustrating hours to find the solution, but I got there in the end without the need for a Windows re-install. I hope that this little post may help others to resolve the problem quicker than I.

1st: You must have Windows 7 Professional. Home Premium does not support more than 2 cores. Upgrade to Pro.

2nd: If Task manager and CPU-Z are only showing 2 cores, you'll be feeling pretty confused, right?

Go to Start-->Run, type MSCONFIG.
Under the BOOT tab, click 'Advanced Options'.
In the top left corner it says "Number of Processors" (you'll have been here already and it says '2').

Uncheck this and do a reboot.

This solved my hours of confusion. Now I have 4 cores in Task Manager, CPU-Z and all is well.

If all this fails, then get yourself set up for an OS reinstall; that should get you where you want to be.

I hope this helps folks a little as I had a hard time resolving this quickly.

I'm no expert but my sketchy understanding is that if you tell Windows you have no processors, it re-evaluates this at boot and discovers that you've changed from a 2 core to a 4 core.

Well, it worked for me and I hope it helps others out there.

Jove.

Thanks, this worked for me :geek:
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom Box
OS
Windows 7 Professional x64
CPU
AMD Phenom II X4 980 Black Edition @ 4.1Ghz
Motherboard
ECS Elite Group IC780M-A V2.0
Memory
8GB Crucial DDR2 PC5300
Graphics Card(s)
Asus Radeon HD 5450
Sound Card
On Board
Monitor(s) Displays
Dual Monitor Setup
Hard Drives
60GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD,
320GB, 250GB, & Dual 160GB HDD's
PSU
Cooler Master eXtreme Power Plus 500w
Case
Cooler Master Elite 310
Cooling
Dual 120mm Cooler Master Case Fans
Keyboard
Logitech...
Mouse
Microsoft Mouse 4000
Internet Speed
Super Fast
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