Does upgrading to a HyperThreaded CPU require a reinstall of Windo

[cement_head]

Hello,

I have a P4 2.4 GHz non-HyperThreaded CPU on a machine running WindowsXP
(SP3; all updates). I am planning on putting in a 3.06 GHz HyperThreaded CPU
into the machine (all other hardware will remain identical).

I have read that to maximise usuage of the HT CPU, I should re-install
WindowsXP to have the MicroSoft WindowsXP Pro SP3 install the proper
multithreading kernel.

Is this true? Or can I just put the CPU in and reboot? Or...Although the
current install wil recognise the HT CPU, to truly maximise the usuage of it,
I should in fact do a fresh install so that the multithreading kernel will be
promperly complied on install?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
CH

 

[Rich Barry]

Ch, I think you are getting WinXP and Linux mixed up.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810231

 

[Paul]

Hello,

I have a P4 2.4 GHz non-HyperThreaded CPU on a machine running WindowsXP
(SP3; all updates). I am planning on putting in a 3.06 GHz HyperThreaded CPU
into the machine (all other hardware will remain identical).

I have read that to maximise usuage of the HT CPU, I should re-install
WindowsXP to have the MicroSoft WindowsXP Pro SP3 install the proper
multithreading kernel.

Is this true? Or can I just put the CPU in and reboot? Or...Although the
current install wil recognise the HT CPU, to truly maximise the usuage of it,
I should in fact do a fresh install so that the multithreading kernel will be
promperly complied on install?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
CH

You can change the HAL, via the "Computer" entry in Device Manager.

For example, if you had a single core processor, the "Computer" entry in
Device Manager should say "ACPI Uniprocessor PC". Changing the driver
to using "ACPI Multiprocessor PC", changes the HAL (hardware abstraction layer)
to handling multiprocessor cases. That involves a different set of files,
which are already on your C: drive somewhere. You could make that
change, after the new processor is installed, and Hyperthreading is
enabled in the BIOS.

"HAL options after Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 Setup"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/309283

(Some of the files involved are mentioned on this page)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/237556

Some HAL changes are easy, such as the one described above. If
the "Computer" entry had a name of "Standard PC", you'd be in for
a lot more trouble, but you'd already have hints of that,
because of the lack of power management features (no soft-off).

Paul

 

[John John - MVP]

Hello,

I have a P4 2.4 GHz non-HyperThreaded CPU on a machine running WindowsXP
(SP3; all updates). I am planning on putting in a 3.06 GHz HyperThreaded CPU
into the machine (all other hardware will remain identical).

I have read that to maximise usuage of the HT CPU, I should re-install
WindowsXP to have the MicroSoft WindowsXP Pro SP3 install the proper
multithreading kernel.

Is this true? Or can I just put the CPU in and reboot? Or...Although the
current install wil recognise the HT CPU, to truly maximise the usuage of it,
I should in fact do a fresh install so that the multithreading kernel will be
promperly complied on install?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

All you need to do is enable Hyper-Threading in the BIOS and Windows XP
will recognize it without you needing to do anything else.

Certainly none of my business but I have to ask what do you intend to
gain performance wise by doing this upgrade? With all due respect I
submit to you that at best the gains (if any) will be negligible and
that at worse your machine might be slower and that you may end up
disabling HT to improve performance of the machine! Unless a particular
application vendor instructed you to do this to improve performance with
their application this upgrade is probably just a waste of time and money.

John

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]]

Hello,

I have a P4 2.4 GHz non-HyperThreaded CPU on a machine running WindowsXP
(SP3; all updates). I am planning on putting in a 3.06 GHz HyperThreaded CPU
into the machine (all other hardware will remain identical).

I have read that to maximise usuage of the HT CPU, I should re-install
WindowsXP to have the MicroSoft WindowsXP Pro SP3 install the proper
multithreading kernel.

Is this true? Or can I just put the CPU in and reboot? Or...Although the
current install wil recognise the HT CPU, to truly maximise the usuage of it,
I should in fact do a fresh install so that the multithreading kernel will be
promperly complied on install?

Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
CH

Nope, put it in, some thermal compound if you have it, A BIOS update
to whatever is the most current for the motherboard is highly
recommended before you put the CPU in. An out of date BIOS could
potentially cause the motherboard to not properly recognize the CPU.
You may also encounter down the road a WGA warning that the system
changed (CPU) and to re-validate. I've not had any issues so long as a
machine was connected to the Internet. Let us know how it goes.

- Thee Chicago Wolf [MVP]

 

[cement_head]

Thanks Guys, that answers my question.

Cheers,
CH

 

[cement_head]

Multi-threading, multitasking, video processing, gaming, and being able to do
heavey computational loads and still being able to access my system.

 

[Bob I]

Unfortunately the only part of HyperThreading that that was effective in
the real world was the "Hype". In controlled bench marking using
software that was designed to take advantage of that feature they could
improve performance by 25%. Real world use shows otherwise.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/107492/two_cpus_in_one.html

So go ahead and plug the new chip. The jump from 2.4 to 3.0 will get you
a nice bump. Toggle HT off if you don't see a performance increase.