Quad Core CPUs

[Nebzor]

If you had a quad core CPU, and a game only supported dual-core, leaving two of the cores doing nothing, does Vista have the ability to dynamically allocate resources being used in the background, other programs etc to the other cores?

Always wondered.

 

[Stonedofmoo]

Yeah it does, otherwise everything would execute on the first core

 

[reflux]

XP can do this too.

 

[cooljimy84]

Go XP !!!

 

[gareth170]

. he didn't ask what OS to go for...

 

[thegoonden]

I must say that when I first went to a multi-core CPU I was a bit underwhelmed, I was sort of expecting 2x2800=5600MHz.

However, messing you soon notice that your PC still zings along on the desktop while you're unraring that 50GB backup, or encoding a DVD.
By the time you get to 4 cores, life really is a beach.

I'm pretty sure XP, Vista and Linux are all fairly on the ball with the alocation of cores.

 

[Corasik]

I must say that when I first went to a multi-core CPU I was a bit underwhelmed, I was sort of expecting 2x2800=5600MHz.

Quite a common misconception. Personally I think the majority of multicore computer sellers on Ebay should be done for Trade's description. Mhz is never the sum of all cores. Could have a gazillion cores a 1ghz, and it would still be a 1ghz system.

But that said, for multi-tasking, and if you have multithreaded applications, a multicore system really does make windows fly.

 

[Fothsn]

Quite a common misconception. Personally I think the majority of multicore computer sellers on Ebay should be done for Trade's description. Mhz is never the sum of all cores. Could have a gazillion cores a 1ghz, and it would still be a 1ghz system.

But that said, for multi-tasking, and if you have multithreaded applications, a multicore system really does make windows fly.

Yeah

You see a add for a CPU advertised at 6.66GHz and its a P4D CPU its very misleading to an average user as you say the sellers need a good telling off.