Dual Core showing as 1 CPU in WinXP Pro

Question

I have a XPS400 with dual core proccesor. I have Windows XP Pro SP2 installed. It seems like windows is only seeing one processor. Shouldn't I see 2 CPU's in taskmanager? How can I get it to show up as 2 seperate processors. Thanks.

davidgrisez2 · Answer

Here is how to enable dual core mode. During bootup you need to enter the bios setup program. Most likely this is done by pushing F2 as the computer is starting up. After you are in the setup program look for a selection marked 'performance' and select it. Then look for a selection marked ' Multiple CPU Core' and select this. Then select multiple CPU core 'on'. After making the 'on' selection press 'Esc'. When you see the screen 'save changes and exit' select this and exit the setup program. After this windows XP pro should see 2 CPU's in the task manager. You can refer to your owner's manual about entering the setup program and enabling dual core operation.

uvabigm · Answer

I checked in the BIOS and it was already set to be on. I ended up turning it off and then back on to get it to work. But now windows is showing idle CPU usage at 40%, whereas with it showing up as only one processor it was less then 6%. It used to be stable, but now it jumps all over the place. 40% to 75% and then back down. Any idea why? Thanks.

davidgrisez2 · Answer

It sounds like one or more processes are using CPU cycles. With the task manager running click on processes and check to see which processes are using CPU cycles. This brings up another subject. These processes are associated either with windows services that are running in the background or with programs that run at start up to load themselves in to memory and often show up as an icon in the lower right system tray. Not all these processes are necessary. The more there are, the more system memory they use, and all also they can use CPU cycles, and cause the computer to slow down, also they can increase the boot up time. There is book named 'Hacking Windows XP' that is available at www.amazon.com ,  this book gives information on which of these services are necessary and which services can be turned off. Also some unneeded startup programs can be stopped using using the MSCONFIG program to disable them.

GMAN117NJ · Answer

If you right click my computer, two CPU's should be listed.  For my XPS 400, I have 2.80 GHz, 2.79 GHz.

uvabigm · Answer

I don't think it is a process. If it were wouldn't the idle usage be the same for dual core on and off? When dual core is off it stabalizes at 6%. With it on it fluctuates all over the place.

odorfreedk · Answer

how did you make 2 cores appear on taskmanager. Did you turn duo core support off then back on?

uvabigm · Answer

Yes. I turned it off and then back on in the BIOS. This worked except for erratic CPU usage. It would fluctuate from 6% all the way up to 50%, whereas with just single core it was stable at 4%. I ultimately ended up re-imaging the machine.

tphillips63 · Answer

The default view of the Task Manager is one graph for all CPU's so you probably just need to check the View options and tell it to show One Graph Per CPU under CPU history.

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Dual Core showing as 1 CPU in WinXP Pro

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