drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
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Since upgrading from a 4000+ single core to 5000+ dual core and faster ram, i was expecting to see a noticable difference in speed, but im not exactly blown away by it. Is this something to do with only one of the cores being used instead of both on certain programs? Using WinRar to split 700mb video files ready for uploading doesnt seem to be much/any quicker, and i know the Cancer research screensaver program I use can only utilise one of the processor cores (unless you mess around with virtual machine apparently, but i dont know anything about that). Do you really need a 64bit OS to make the best of the processor power?
[Edited on 03-03-2007 by drunkenfool]
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topshot_2k
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these processors really come into their own during multi tasking, since using my dual core athlon for Photshop and dreamweaver and about 3 other progs it really makes the difference.
Dont forget dual core hasnt been out that long really and software companies are still tying to develop programs/drivers for new 64 bit.
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Steve
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Registered: 30th Mar 02
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yep its all about multitasking
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
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So for doing a single CPU intensive task I would have been better off with a single core? 
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Bart
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Registered: 19th Aug 02
Location: Midsomer Norton, Bristol Avon
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yes kinda.
Things where you really notice the difference is rendering etc in 3d modelling programs.
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drunkenfool
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how come that can use both cores but the data crunching thing for cancer research cant? Is it just due to the individual program? Would i find converting DVD to AVI faster now with the right program?
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topshot_2k
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no a same spec single core will be no faster. just when you do need the extra power its there, like VTEC
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PaulW
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Registered: 26th Jan 03
Location: Atherton, Greater Manchester
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what version of windows are you using??
check taskmanager (performance) make sure you see 2 graphs (1 for each core) if not it could need enabling in the BIOS, or if your running XP Home, it wont work properly...
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DarkBahamut
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Registered: 4th Jun 06
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
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If you using UD (for your cancer research program) then there supposedly a dual core supporting version in the works. Decompressing files uses hardly any CPU time at all (completely limited by hard drive speed), compressing files does use alot of cpu though and it much faster with a dual core processing (in winrar at least). Also of up coming games are also planning on using dual core processors, using the second core to things like physics processing and such. Just with every day things you wont notice much difference no, but dual core is the future and you made the right choice buying one.
Also, XP home works 100% fine for dual core processors, Home doesnt support multiple sockets but does supports dual cores in one socket, so thats fine.
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drunkenfool
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quote:
Originally posted by PaulW
what version of windows are you using??
check taskmanager (performance) make sure you see 2 graphs (1 for each core) if not it could need enabling in the BIOS, or if your running XP Home, it wont work properly...
I got two graphs, but strangely it looks like im using 50% of both when running UD cancer research, and not 100% of one and 0 of the other.
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drax
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Registered: 5th Feb 05
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent
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your on a 64bit OS ?
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drunkenfool
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nope, regualr winxp pro. My flatmate has a copy of 64bit xp but i heard there were a few driver issues so i was just goin to wait till SP1 comes out for vista then make the swap!
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drunkenfool
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Nice one, just ripping my first DVD (Compressing it to AVI) and its using 100% of the processor power, seems to be quicker than before!
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Simon
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Registered: 24th Apr 03
Location: Oxfordshire
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Ive got dual core and its ace for me at the moment, i'm writing a technology report and have open, 3dsmax which is rendering most of the time, photoshop, indesign, a couple of word docs few folders full of pics and media player, not noticing any slow down 
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Tim
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Registered: 21st Apr 00
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quote:
Originally posted by drunkenfool
I got two graphs, but strangely it looks like im using 50% of both when running UD cancer research, and not 100% of one and 0 of the other.
It's all to do with how many threads the process spawns. A single threaded application (part of its design) can only use one CPU at a time. The reason you're seeing 50% of both is because the scheduler in Windows that controls multitasking will try and balance the load across the CPUs (so the process moves around).
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Neo
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Registered: 20th Feb 07
Location: Essex
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I got a new dual core pc, dual 2.6's, and the running speed is fk loads faster than my old 3.2 ghz
Burning a dvd takes 8 mins
Dual core for the win...tried burning 2 dvds at once and maxed out my fan though, 1500rpm  fun noises
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DarkBahamut
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Registered: 4th Jun 06
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
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A dual core processor does not making burning DVDs faster.
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
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aye, that would just be dependent on the speed of your drive, unless you had like an old 486 before that was severly limiting it 
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DarkBahamut
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Registered: 4th Jun 06
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
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The ones that get me are the Dell ads. 'With this latest dual core processor you can surf the internet and run a virus scan at the same time!'
Like you cant do those at the same time on a single core one? .
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Steve
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Registered: 30th Mar 02
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pmsl who said it would make burning dvds quicker? cba to read
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