Xeon - How to tell dual or single core?

[Andy]

Hi all,

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

All information/help muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

 

[PS]

Hi all,

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

All information/help muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

Right click my computer select properties. The page that comes up will tell
you what the processor(s) are.

 

[Paul]

Hi all,

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

All information/help muchly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Andy.

The Precision 670 uses a 7525 Northbridge. (You should verify I got the right one.)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ws470/en/ug_en/about.htm#wp1053318

Tyan makes a motherboard using that Northbridge, and the processor support
list for that Tyan board is here. I'm using this as a way to approximate
the support for the Dell box (since I cannot find any advice for the 670).

http://www.tyan.com/archive/support/html/cpu_xeon_p4.html

If you scroll down to "Thunder i7525", the supported processors are:

S604 FSB800 2MB L2 cache = 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6, 3.8 GHz
S604 FSB800 1MB L2 cache = 2.8, 2.8^, 3.0, 3.2, 3.4, 3.6 GHz

^ = Low power Xeon.

Those would be single core. They probably have Hyperthreading
(but the Intel processorfinder.intel.com site shows blanks for
the information section of those processors, so I cannot verify
that).

This is an Intel provided utility. I don't know whether it
handles multiple socket motherboards or not. Another utility
you can use, is CPUZ from cpuid.com .

http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/sb/CS-014921.htm

HTH,
Paul

 

[Benjamin Gawert]

* Andy:

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

These information is wrong. The 670 is a dual socket604 system, and only
can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.6GHz (there was a dual core
2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision 670!). All of them
support HyperThreading, that means every processor shows two logical
CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are visible in Windows
is just useless.

These XEON are based on the P4 Netburst architecture, that means they
run very hot, and the faster variants can't keep up with even a single
faster Core2 Duo processor. The Precision 670 uses the intel E7525
chipset which has a shared 800MHz FSB and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC
memory.

Compared with a modern Core2 Duo E6600 or faster, you're probably way
better with the Core2.

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

It doesn't exist. Saldy, a lots of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not "dual core", or probably want to pull
people over the table by knwoingly describing it as "dual core" when in
fact it isn't.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

 

[Benjamin Gawert]

* Andy:

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old and slow now.
We still have some around at work, though, as they are very reliable.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.6GHz (there
was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
visible in Windows is just useless.

These XEON are based on the old Pentium4 Netburst architecture, that
means they run very hot, and even two of the faster variants (3.6GHz)
can't keep up with one of the faster single Core2 Duo processors. The
Precision 670 uses the intel E7525 chipset which has a shared 800MHz FSB
and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC memory.

Comparing a dual processor Precision 670 with a modern Core2 Duo E6600
or faster, you're probably way better with the Core2 Duo system.

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

It just doesn't exist. Sadly, a lot of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not really "dual core", or probably just
want to pull people over the table by knowingly describing it as "dual
core" when in fact it isn't.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

 

[Benjamin Gawert]

* Andy:

I have a chance to buy a Dell Precision 670 workstation (3.0Ghz) at what
seems to be a pretty good price.

Hopefully the price is really good. The 670s are quite old and slow now.
We still have some around at work, though, as they are very reliable.

The information I've found online suggests that these were available
with both dual-core and single-core Xeon processors (one or two of
each)

These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.8GHz (there
was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
visible in Windows is just useless.

These XEON are based on the old Pentium4 Netburst architecture, that
means they run very hot, and even two of the faster variants
(3.6GHz/2MB) can't keep up with one of the faster single Core2 Duo
processors like an E6650. The Precision 670 uses the intel E7525 chipset
which has a shared 800MHz FSB and needs DDR2-400 Registered ECC memory.

Comparing a dual processor Precision 670 with a modern Core2 Duo E6650
or faster, you're probably way better with the Core2 Duo system. Not
only it's faster, it also consumes less power.

I'm probably only interested if it's got the dual-core CPU
configuration.

It just doesn't exist. Sadly, a lot of sellers are either too naive to
realize that HyperThreading is not really "dual core", or probably just
want to pull people over the table by knowingly describing it as "dual
core" when in fact it isn't.

The machine is running XP - is there a simple method of determining if
it's single or dual core?

As I said, a Precision 670 with dual core processors doesn't exist. Period.

Benjamin

 

[Andy]

* Andy:


These information is just wrong. The Precision 670 is a dual socket604
system, and only can take single core XEON DP from 2.8 to 3.8GHz (there
was a dual core 2.8GHz version but they don't work in the Precision
670!). All of them support HyperThreading, that means every processor
shows two logical CPUs to the OS. So looking at how many processors are
visible in Windows is just useless.

....

Thankyou Benjamin, Paul and PS for your speedy and helpful responses.

Looks like I'll give it a miss. It won't be much (if any) kind of
'upgrade' from what I'm running now - Sounds like I'll need to save
for an extra week or two and build my own box based on a Core2 Duo
(can't imagine I'll see much extra benefit from going quad-core). I
have enough heat issues here as it is!

Cheers, and thanks again,
Andy.

 

[Sjouke Burry]

I have two precisions 670's and I have found that some of the systems
support dual core SL8MA cpu's. I have one of each. Inspection of my
motherboards in each systems does not indicate that there is a
difference. I have attempted to install dual core cpu's, ones from the
dual core system and others that I have purchased. No matter what I
have tried on the other system I cannot install the dual core cpu's. I
get a message that says that the system has detected an unsupported
processor.

Would anyone out there happen to know why some 670 motherboards support
dual core SL8MA's and some do not?

Different age in flash bios software?
Check whether an update is available for the
particular board.

 

[Brian Cryer]

As this thread seems to still be alive I guess someone might want the
answer to the original question, or though probably no longer the
enquirer of 2009.

In XP type alt-ctl-del to bring up Windows Task Manager and click the
'Performance' tab. The 'CPU Usage History' will have a separate graph
for each core, so two processors and four windows = dual core
processors.

I know I'm splitting hairs here, but it depends:

one graph = single core
two graphs = two processors, dual core or single core with hyperthreading
four graphs = quad core, dual core with hyperthreading or two dual core
processors
eight graphs = quad core with hyperhreading, etc etc

also, this is only if View > CPU History > One graph per CPU is selected,
otherwise you only get one combined graph.