Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86GHz + task manager?

Xee · 27 Apr 2007 at 09:00

OK got some of these CPU's running on XP here, I was just wondering if you're supposed to be able to see 2 CPU graphs in the task manager? Or does it only do that for 2 physically separate CPUs on a mobo?

Could someone clear up my confusion :confused:

*EDIT* Please read my last post

NathanE · 27 Apr 2007 at 09:12

There should be two. If there isn't then you have the uniproc HAL installed...

Xee · 27 Apr 2007 at 09:25

Code:

# Q:What is Hyper Threading?
A:Hyper Threading is a technology that allows you to essentialy clone your processor,
so you fool the system into thinking there are two processors installed.

# Hyper Threading Technology.

Only 33 applications in the world actualy effectively use Hyper Threading.
AutoCad is one of these applications.
It may also be utilized by high-end graphics and video editing applications.
Hyper Threading requires that your processor, motherboard, and operating system support it in
order for it to work properly.
In WindowsXP, you must have Service Pack 1 installed, in order for it to support Hyper Threading.

# If you turn off Hyper Threading support, the WindowsXP HAL will not update itself automaticaly.

You must change the WindowsXP HAL in the device manager to accomidate the change.
-Click Start, point to Settings, point to Control Panel, and then click System.
-Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
-Double-click to expand the Computer branch. Note the type of support that you currently have.
-Double-click the computer type that is listed under the Computer branch, click the Drivers tab, click Update Driver, and then click Next.
-Click Display a list of known drivers for this device, and then click Show all hardware of this device class.
-Choose "ACPI UniProc" and click Next.
-Then click Finish and reboot the system.

Thanks for the quick reply, right so I have found the above (still not sure what it does are what the advantages/cons are), and we are running AutoCAD 2006 on XP with 2GB of memory, but are finding that some tabs and menus are taking ages to come up (much slower then our old PC's), do you know if this "uniproc HAL" is helping or maybe not good for our setup? Or why AutoCAD menus would be running so slow?

Thanks in advance

Margaret · 27 Apr 2007 at 11:49

It's possible that if 2 ain't showing 1 core is dead ain't it?

marc2003 · 27 Apr 2007 at 11:58

Jihad said:
It's possible that if 2 ain't showing 1 core is dead ain't it?

lol

The_KiD · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:05

You may have hyperthreading disabled in the BIOS.

Jleo · 27 Apr 2007 at 12:17

You may have tried this already....

Xee · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:25

Jleo said:
You may have tried this already....

That option is greyed out. One of the other things besides the slow menus in AutoCAD is minimizing programs like MS Powerpoint every now and then it will just sent the cpu to 99% for about 10 secs, and freeze the computer for that time.

Jleo · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:30

What's the manufacturer and model of the motherboard in use?

hp7909 · 27 Apr 2007 at 14:31

The_KiD said:
You may have hyperthreading disabled in the BIOS.

Its a C2D!

OP:

First of, is this a new system? If not is Windows up-2-date & or have u tried a re-install?
Secondly, mobo make?
& thirdly have you been playing with any settings in the BIOS?

Xee · 27 Apr 2007 at 16:42

hp7909 said:
Its a C2D!

OP:

First of, is this a new system? If not is Windows up-2-date & or have u tried a re-install?

Secondly, mobo make?

& thirdly have you been playing with any settings in the BIOS?

New systems (about 15 of them), new install. Cant reinstall as these are office/work PC's
Dell Optiplex 745 C2D 6300 @ 1.86Ghz, 2Gig of Mem, Nvidia Quadro FX 550 Graphics card. Windows XP Pro SP2.
Not touched bios.

Eriedor · 27 Apr 2007 at 17:43

Dell have stealed yer corez!!!!!

Anyway, does the CPU say that in system information panel and bios?

Margaret · 27 Apr 2007 at 18:29

marc2003 said:
lol

Seen that posted around the forum lots of times!

Honest

marc2003 · 27 Apr 2007 at 20:36

Jihad said:
Seen that posted around the forum lots of times!

Honest

hehe. i thought you were taking the mickey.

certainly not something i've ever heard of. but then i'm way behind the times with my 32bit single core cpu.

ROfu · 28 Apr 2007 at 03:05

the First thing you should be looking at is if both cores show up in the bios, someone has already stated this and its kinda important.
You should get 2 Cpus installed on the post screen If you dont then either the bios needs an update Or your motherboard isnt compatible with the Cpu.
Additionaly if these are new Dells.. why dont you just give dell a shout.. as thier customer service especially for buisnesses.. is pretty damn good.

Anyway - if 2cpus DO show up on the post screen you then need to check how windows was installed. Load windows up goto the device manager and under Processors .. how many are listed - if you have 2, then check under Computer to see what setup you have. on XP you should have ACPI Multiprocessor PC. If you have ACPI Uniprocessor PC, then the wrong setup for windows was installed - and you need to reinstall windows (You can Update this from Uni to Multi, but this can cause a lot of random issues, and would highly recommend a clean install)

Cheers
ROfu

Xee · 1 May 2007 at 11:20

Under device manager it lists 2 CPU's, under processors.

In bios:

Processor Type = Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 CPU
Processor Clock Speed = 1.86Ghz
Processor Bus Speed = 1066 Mhz
Processor L2 cache = 2MB
Multiple Core Capable = yes (Dual)
Hyperthreading Capable = no <--- that good? :confused:

64-Bit technology = yes (Intel EM64T)

Memory is 1GB in Dim1 and Dim2 667MHz

Performance:
Multiple CPU Core = ON
Speedstep = OFF (now changed to ON)
IDE was set to the slowest setting. (now changed to suggested speed)

Not had a chance to see if the 2 new setting in bios make any difference, but before I went to bios the PC I was on was damn slow imo, and AutoCAD menus were taking about 5 seconds to appear! :eek:

Contacting Dell would have to go through our IT dept which would take weeks, plus I don't think they really have a clue what they are doing. I do know that they ghosted all of these PC's from one that they had setup themselves.

Any ideas now?

*EDIT* Speedstep setting in bios made no difference. Could it be graphics card/driver related?

ROfu · 1 May 2007 at 13:27

Well it sounds like you have both Cpus working normaly.

Hyperthreading doesnt exist in Core 2 Duos, this technology was for the old Pentium4s, so dont worry about this not being enabled (it was a clever way to optimise the p4 making the OS think it had 2 cpus when it didnt)

speedstep, shouldnt be turned on, thats all this does is allow the CPU to run "Slower" when idle, its for laptops mainly to conserve battery power as it uses less voltage.
So turn that option back off.

heres a few questions for you .. which might help us work out your problem
What version of XP are you running ? 32bit or 64bit?
Do you now have both cores showing up in the task manager?
In the device manager where you looked before, under "computer" what does it say?
do you have any other problems on other applications?
Have you tried an educational Copy of something like Maya - i suggest this as its a full 3d production application, which uses all the same components as AutoCad - therefore would be a good comparison for speed, and a good check to see if its AutoCad thats playing up or just your system.

One final note the Quadro 550 is a pretty old/slow workstation card, AudoCad can be pretty demanding sometimes, have you used these gfx cards before? and what size scene are you using with them? (might be a graphic card option if the menus are having troubles - testing the system with Maya will answer this question).

Cheers
ROfu

Stelly · 1 May 2007 at 13:31

Have you made sure that you computer is not running as a Uniprocessor??

Stelly

Xee · 1 May 2007 at 14:20

How do I check that the computer is not running as a Uniprocessor?

32bit XP Pro SP2
Only one CPU graph shows up in task manager and the option under view to show 2 is greyed out.
In the device manager where you looked before, under "computer" what does it say?
Advanced Configuration and power Interface (ACPI) PC.
MS Powerpoint was sticking and refusing to minimize and maximize.
Not really allowed to install extra software on the PC's, but we have full version of Sketchup 6 Pro on them, and it works fine

ROfu · 1 May 2007 at 15:47

ok you were looking in the right place.
"Computer" should be the top option in the device list. the one you found saying ACPI PC this should say ACPI Multiprocessor PC
if it does not then its likely that your system has been installed as a Uniprocessor system (another words single CPU)

This could happen if the systems were built before a bios update allowing the motherboard to use or see both cpus on the Core 2 Duo processor.

If this is the case then ALL OS on the machines you bought need to be either updated or reinstalled - Personally i would reinstall from scratch, as there are numerous things that can go wrong when swapping the setup for the entire computer.

If you have 15 computers available, give one to your IT department and get them to reinstall the system from scratch - shouldnt take more than an hour or so. remember you dont need to install any new drivers just get into a clean installed windows and see if the "Computer" device is showing as multiprocessor. If even after the reinstall. your system Still doesnt show up as a multiprocessor, then you need a Bios update (bizzarely your showing up 2cpus in the device manager so a bios update shouldnt be needed).

from listening to your problems im guessing its just a bad/wrong install of windows. If you got all these systems at the same time from dell, then im guessing as thier all the same the first machine was installed (wrongly) and then ghosted to all the other machines - meaning thier all setup wrong.

Give the above a try and see what happens

Cheers
ROfu