i7 970 only using 1 core

martynbez · 24 Mar 2011 at 10:07

Was playing a few games and notice it was lagging so check the task manager and noticed only 1 core being used and the others sitting idle!

Updated all drivers and bios and still no luck. Running Windows 7 64bit and Asus Rampage ROG III.

Any ideas?

Chiribo · 24 Mar 2011 at 10:44

It's down to the game to utilise multiple threads. Having multiple cores is useless if the application doesn't support them.

v3ga · 24 Mar 2011 at 12:52

Chiribo said:
It's down to the game to utilise multiple threads. Having multiple cores is useless if the application doesn't support them.

yes hes right

martynbez · 24 Mar 2011 at 12:55

I understand that but not even windows was using any of the other core's. It was all most as if windows knew they was there but did'nt want to use them.

mothermachine · 24 Mar 2011 at 13:16

Run Prime95 and check which cores are active. They should all be, and maxed out. If that works fine then it's your game that's the issue. If it's still only using 1 core then you have a problem.

martynbez · 24 Mar 2011 at 15:01

Ok i'll give that a try tonight!

paradisiac · 24 Mar 2011 at 15:54

mothermachine said:
Run Prime95 and check which cores are active. They should all be, and maxed out. If that works fine then it's your game that's the issue. If it's still only using 1 core then you have a problem.

+1 check it with something that will stress it, if the cores dont start or dont max out, then something is wrong. might just be you have nothing that is pushing it enough to need the other cores.

MooMoo444 · 24 Mar 2011 at 15:59

Nah something definitely sounds wrong.

Even in windows, I see all 8 threads on mine show some activity, even if its only a 5% rise.

I'd check that for sure.

paradisiac · 24 Mar 2011 at 16:11

MooMoo444 said:
Nah something definitely sounds wrong.

Even in windows, I see all 8 threads on mine show some activity, even if its only a 5% rise.

I'd check that for sure.

agreed it seems unlikely, but its the best way to start. if some of the workers fail to start then its a sure fire bet that the chip or setting is faulty, if they all start and run as expected, then it is a setting/software issue.
doesnt want to go RMA'ing a chip only to be told it works ok and it was a software issue.

Geckovich · 24 Mar 2011 at 16:16

Do you have the latest mobo BIOS? Your PC might be running but maybe it doesn't know how to use everything if you've got a pre 970 BIOS.

matthab · 24 Mar 2011 at 16:18

I see most games load all cores but not 100%. So all my 8 will hover around 25- 50% load on TF2/CSS.

Something sounds amiss.

paradisiac · 24 Mar 2011 at 16:19

Geckovich said:
Do you have the latest mobo BIOS? Your PC might be running but maybe it doesn't know how to use everything if you've got a pre 970 BIOS.

martynbez said:
Was playing a few games and notice it was lagging so check the task manager and noticed only 1 core being used and the others sitting idle!

Updated all drivers and bios and still no luck. Running Windows 7 64bit and Asus Rampage ROG III.

Any ideas?

looks like he tried that already

just out of intrest, has the pc ever run all cores ok, or is this the first time you checked?

martynbez · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:00

The only thing I have done is changed the processor. It start with a i7 920 then i7 950 and now i7 970. The 920 and 950 all worked fine but only noticed an issue with the 970 last night when running settlers 7 and stream audio using windows media player only core 1 was running at 90% and no other cores had activaty. There was the odd 1 or 2% every few min's on other random cores. So there was no load spreading!

Marvin · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:11

Run Intel Burn Test with 12 threads - that'll reveal any load issues...

paradisiac · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:12

martynbez said:
The only thing I have done is changed the processor. It start with a i7 920 then i7 950 and now i7 970. The 920 and 950 all worked fine but only noticed an issue with the 970 last night when running settlers 7 and stream audio using windows media player only core 1 was running at 90% and no other cores had activaty. There was the odd 1 or 2% every few min's on other random cores. So there was no load spreading!

hmmm.........if cpus have been taken in and out then i would have a look for bent pins.
also, have you reset the bios, aswell as upgrading it?

mothermachine · 24 Mar 2011 at 17:37

I presume you've reset the CMOS and loaded default BIOS settings with each install of a new CPU? If not do that (you'll lose your overclock settings if you have any, so backup or make notes first).

And check you have the latest BIOS firmware. 970 is still relatively recent, so many mobos will need updating to take full advantage of the chip, or even allow it to work at all.

teknokid · 24 Mar 2011 at 18:19

Isnt there a way you can assign certain applications to certain cores? Maybe you could try shoving the game over to one of the cores that doesnt seem to do a lot and see how it goes..

Jamiman · 24 Mar 2011 at 19:47

Hit Ctrl + shift+escape.

Then click the processes tab, find the most CPU intensive one, and right click, and select 'set affinity'
Then, select all cores (tick).

Then try the game again!

Hope this helps!

hoppyintheuk · 24 Mar 2011 at 22:18

Jamiman said:
Hit Ctrl + shift+escape.

Then click the processes tab, find the most CPU intensive one, and right click, and select 'set affinity'
Then, select all cores (tick).

Then try the game again!

Hope this helps!

This worked for me!!! :-)

kristmace · 24 Mar 2011 at 22:44

What does CPUZ said under Cores and Threads at the bottom.

My brother had this with an old Core2Duo only showing up as 1 core, but a windows reinstall fixed it.