Dual Core CPU Affinity

[sierrabravobravo]

I am using an Intel core 2 duo processor.

When I use the task manager to view the affinity of the number
processes it appears that all have only CPU 0 Checked. Further, when
I have two CPU intensive processes executing simultaneously there
seems to be very little activity on CPU 1 and CPU 0 is fully
saturated.

I fear that there is some setting that enables the task scheduler use
both CPUs that is not set correctly. What, if anything, can I do to
get some sort load-balancing between the two processors?

 

[Andrew E.]

Go to intel.com/downloads/processor/software,get the processor id utility,
it'll show whats running.

 

[Ian D]

I am using an Intel core 2 duo processor.

When I use the task manager to view the affinity of the number
processes it appears that all have only CPU 0 Checked. Further, when
I have two CPU intensive processes executing simultaneously there
seems to be very little activity on CPU 1 and CPU 0 is fully
saturated.

I fear that there is some setting that enables the task scheduler use
both CPUs that is not set correctly. What, if anything, can I do to
get some sort load-balancing between the two processors?

The task scheduler's job is to run applications at predetermined
times. It has nothing to do with scheduling CPU affinity. Only
XP/Vista and multithreaded software will make simultaneous use of
both CPUs. However in Task Manager you can set the affinities
of your two processes so that one will run on CPU1 and the other
on CPU2. You will have to do this each time you start those
processes. By default, applications have the affinity set to both
CPUs. If the bar graph to the right of the individual CPU graphs
goes beyond 50%, then both CPUs are being used.

 

[Steve Behman]

Thanks for the replies.

Every process that I have examined in task manager has its affinity set only
CPU 0 and, since I have never (knowingly) altered the default behavior, this
might contradict your assertion.

I think I would be happy if the affinity of all processes were set to both
processors. This leaves me with two questions:
How can it be accomplished (i.e. restoring the default behavior)?
Is there a downside to having done this?

It would also be nice to know how the default behavior was altered so that,
in the future, I can avoid it happening again.

 

[Steve Behman]

The undersigned is the same person who initiated this thread! I'm sorry
about that.

 

[Ian D]

Thanks for the replies.

Every process that I have examined in task manager has its affinity set
only
CPU 0 and, since I have never (knowingly) altered the default behavior,
this
might contradict your assertion.

I think I would be happy if the affinity of all processes were set to
both
processors. This leaves me with two questions:
How can it be accomplished (i.e. restoring the default behavior)?
Is there a downside to having done this?

It would also be nice to know how the default behavior was altered so
that,
in the future, I can avoid it happening again.

There's something not quite right there. On my desktop with a Core 2 Duo,
and my laptop with an HT P4, all applications I run have affinity with both
CPU1 and CPU2. When you look at Computer in Device Manager does
it say, 'ACPI Multiprocessor PC'?

 

[Steve Behman]

Ian, that is exactly what it says!

There's something not quite right there. On my desktop with a Core 2 Duo,
and my laptop with an HT P4, all applications I run have affinity with both
CPU1 and CPU2. When you look at Computer in Device Manager does
it say, 'ACPI Multiprocessor PC'?

 

[Ian D]

Ian, that is exactly what it says!

What happens if you set affinity to both CPUs in Task Manager,
for running applications?

The utility mentioned here is supposed to enable you to preassign CPU
affinity to specific applications.

http://forums.tweaktown.com/f60/how-set-cpu-affinity-25932/

 

[January]

Yeah I totally agree with you.
Maybe there's something wrong with your computer