Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Dual Processing

0 helpful
5 replies

by darksheer

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I am running Windows 2000 professional, on a dual 1 ghz machine.

How do I confirm it recognizes there are two processors and utilizes them?

Also, do programs need to be specifically programmed to use the two processors or is having the OS do it enough?

5 replies

by littlepunk

Run Task Manager (right click on Task Bar) and go to the performance tab. You will see a CPU graph for each processor if it is working correctly. One otherwise.

by leon_guerrero

Another way to check besides answer 1 is:

Go to device manager and expand computer and look for it to say 'multiprocessor PC'

or

1. Select Start|run
2. Enter "regedt32.exe" in the open field and click OK.
3. Select HK_LOCAL_MACHINE on local machine window.
4. Navaigate to HARDWARE\DESCRIPTIONS\System\CentralProcessor.
5. Expand this key. Each processor has its own key. So with a dual-processor system, you'll have a 0 and 1 key.

Although Win2K Pro supports dual-CPU systems, some applications can't take advantage of the second processor. Make sure to verify that your applications can support a dual-processor workstation. Applications that don't currently benefit from an additional processor can benefit in the future if the application's upgrade includes SMP support.

You can also start task manager and assign some of the processes to a CPU. To do this start task manager > processes. Right Click and choose set affinity. You can choose if the process should run on CPU 0,CPU 2, or both. Some of the processes though cannot be set using set affinity.

This discussion is closed to new replies.