"sombody told me..." XP Professional and 2 processors

[leo_junquera]

How does XP Pro deal with two processors. I am asking because a user
here has some heavy spreadsheet work (with addins) that we want run on
multiple processor (2 physical processors) workstation. I know XP pro
supports mutiple processors but one IT resource gave me an explanation
of how this worked:

"XP uses 1.5 of the processors for its programs and o/s workload.
They get used in serial, when the first one goes to 100% it starts
using the second one. The graphical representations in XP don't
really show an accurate picture of what's going on with the
processors. True dual processor operation occurs when you have a real
multi-processor o/s."

Does anybody have any feedback on this statement or further
explanation of how XP deals with multiple processors?

Thanks

 

[Poprivet]

How does XP Pro deal with two processors. I am asking because a user
here has some heavy spreadsheet work (with addins) that we want run on
multiple processor (2 physical processors) workstation. I know XP pro
supports mutiple processors but one IT resource gave me an explanation
of how this worked:

"XP uses 1.5 of the processors for its programs and o/s workload.
They get used in serial, when the first one goes to 100% it starts
using the second one. The graphical representations in XP don't
really show an accurate picture of what's going on with the
processors. True dual processor operation occurs when you have a real
multi-processor o/s."

Does anybody have any feedback on this statement or further
explanation of how XP deals with multiple processors?

Thanks

In general, how dual processors get used is a function of the application,
not the operating system. In other words, 2-processor application programs
are written to take advantage of the two cpu's, and all the os does is put
things where they're asked to be.

There is some validity to what you've been told IFF the applications aren't
written to take advantage of two cpu's. But then, that's logical, too.
The description you were given isn't accurate though, because what goes
to which processor in an app not written for two, is dependent on the
activity being called for.
Task Manager, though not completely accurate, will indeed display
approximations of what's going on. I haven't yet seen one go to 100% before
the other one "kicks" in; it just doeasn't work like that.

If I were you, I'd do further research. Start by asking your source for
where hir got/gets that information so that you can get straight skinny and
not his view of it. And then do some of your own research - lots of info on
the 'net about it; research is easy to do.

Regards,

Pop`

 

[Paul Johnson]

How does XP Pro deal with two processors. I am asking because a user
here has some heavy spreadsheet work (with addins) that we want run on
multiple processor (2 physical processors) workstation. I know XP pro
supports mutiple processors but one IT resource gave me an explanation
of how this worked:

"XP uses 1.5 of the processors for its programs and o/s workload.
They get used in serial, when the first one goes to 100% it starts
using the second one. The graphical representations in XP don't
really show an accurate picture of what's going on with the
processors. True dual processor operation occurs when you have a real
multi-processor o/s."

Does anybody have any feedback on this statement or further
explanation of how XP deals with multiple processors?

Sounds like that hits the nail on the head. You might find some performance
gains to be had running your heavy math SMP workstations on Linux instead,
which runs the processors in parallel instead, whichever processor is least
loaded gets the next thread. Openoffice.org is available for Linux and is
MS Office compatible.