My dual-core e1505...Do I need XP Pro to utilize the two CPUs?

Hey guys, I've been doing some reading on the differences between XP Home and XP Pro, and it SOUNDS like only XP Pro utilizes dual core systems (not hyperthreading, but multithreading).

Is this right? From this thread, it appears so:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/archive/index.php?t-681.html

So...is my dual-core e1505 coming in the mail useless unless it's got XP Pro on it? And if so, does anyone know if MS will send you a free XP install disc if you have your original license #? I have XP Pro installed on my current laptop, but never had an actual disc for it. And the dual-core laptop that's coming in the mail just has XP Home on it.

If someone could clear this crap up for me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

 

No, that is incorrect. That is related to hyperthreading which was available on some P4s with XP Pro. The Core Duo is not dependent on XP Pro.

 

Yeah I got a e1505 with XP home on it. And XP Home recognizes the dual-cores for sure, as you can click ctrl+alt+dlt, and click on the "performance" tab, and notice that there are two CPU History graphs, one for each core. And if you look at it, the graphs are different, but both still running, showing that XP is utilizing the two cores. However there has been talk that XP will slow down the dual cores when not under heavy loads, but then, not quite speed them up fast enough after for intensive applications. XP home supports and utilizes dual-cores, but I do believe XP Pro, utilizes them better, since there isn't that little bug on the XP Pro I talked about. You can get a patch for that bug, I haven't yet, but you have to call M$ and tell them the serial number for the patch.

 

Thanks for the quick replies, guys, but what I'm referring to isn't whether Home recognizes a dual-core system, but UTILIZES it. On the XP Home/Pro comparison page, it specifically lists XP Home as not supporting multi threaded CPUs (note: not hyper-threaded).

Im not trying to argue with anyone...just seems like a vague subject... there's conflicting info everywhere. I guess I could just not be lazy and call MS tomorrow, but Im just trying to get a quick response.

So MICH43L, you're saying that you know for sure your e1505 is utilizing both cores with XP Home?

Thanks

 

good point there, anarky.. I agree that this is somewhat a vague subject..
I just can't imagine of any windows xp version not -utilizing- the Core Duo CPUs.. but it could be, that windows xp pro does a better job.. would be -very- interesting to find out. Shouldn't benchmark tests (on both plattforms) unveil this?

 

XP Home supports dual core processors to the same level as Pro. It is not necessary to run Pro if you want to use dual core processors...
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/cs-022060.htm

 

Yes absolutely positive, XP utilizes two cores. Here is a history graph showing how XP designated different tasks to different cores , each top square represents a core. [img=http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/1894/utlzprocjpgnf3.th.jpg] Also to get that hotfix for XP home and Dual Procs, you have to contact Microsoft and specifically request the hotfix associated with issue "896256."

Once you get the hotfix open regedit, then right click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager, then go to new and select Key.

Next type Throttle for the new key name

Right-click Throttle, go to New, and then select DWORD Value.

Type PerfEnablePackageIdle for the value name.

Right Click PerfEnablePackageIdle, and then choose Modify.

In the Edit DWORD Value box, type 1. In the Value data box, make sure that Hexadecimal is selected, and then click OK.

Quit the registry editor.

Reboot the machine and the hotfix will be in effect.

Again, the point of the hotfix is for the issue I mentioned in my earlier thread. Instructions courtesy of Maximum PC.

You can also find the hotfix at AMDzone.com and search for "hotfix." If something goes wrong, don't sue me, I haven't tried this hotfix, I'm satisfied with the way my dual cores perform.

Also, you can even make a application run on one core, by selecting the processes tab, and then right clicking on a process, and scrolling down to "set affinity," and then removing a checkmark from either CPU 0 or CPU 1. This is a sure way to see if a problem is dual core related.

 

You need XP pro to use two CPUs or HT, however dual-core cpu is a single cpu with two cores in it so there is no problem with Home, pro, or MCE. If you want to use two cpus like quad opteron and quad xeon(2 dual cores) then you need XP pro.