excel and Hyperthreading (multi-processor)

[Christophe Niel]

Hello

We upgraded our workstation to Intel P4 with hyperthreading and now Windows
XP is seeing 2 processors.

Now Excel 2003 is working slower than before because it works only on 1
processor and it's stuck at 50% of the global CPU speed.
Big macros or spreadsheet with lots (thousands) of formulas which we
calculated manually (with F9) are taking about 40-50% more time (15 min
instead of 10 minutes)

So we disabled the HT functionnality in the bios and excel takes 100% of CPU
Time. But now, other software which were advantaged by the multi-processor
environment are not working as well.

Is there a way for excel to use the multi-processor ability?

Thanks in advance
Christophe Niel

 

[Harlan Grove]

We upgraded our workstation to Intel P4 with hyperthreading and now Windows
XP is seeing 2 processors.

Now Excel 2003 is working slower than before because it works only on 1
processor and it's stuck at 50% of the global CPU speed.
Big macros or spreadsheet with lots (thousands) of formulas which we
calculated manually (with F9) are taking about 40-50% more time (15 min
instead of 10 minutes)

So we disabled the HT functionnality in the bios and excel takes 100% of
CPU >Time. But now, other software which were advantaged by the
multi-processor environment are not working as well.

Is there a way for excel to use the multi-processor ability?

Software must be written specifically to take advantage of multiple
processors or hyperthreading. Excel isn't. So, no, there's no way for Excel
to use multiple processor hardware except by using just one of the multiple
processors.

When in doubt, check the vendor's support site, in this case

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;265361