Activating my 2nd processor?

Overdose

New Member
Hello, I've been looking everywhere for an answer to this question but couldn't find any answer so I decided to come to a computer forum. I'm not really a noob when it comes to computers but I'm not very familiar with processors and overclocking, etc. Anyway, I have a Intel Pentium Dual Core E2140 Processor. Right now its running @ 1.6 ghz but shouldn't it be 3.2 ghz since its a dual core processor? If so, how would I activate the second processor since I assume only one is running
 
no, that is not how it works...

the good example of a dual core is like this.

a single core is like a one person car going 1.6 MPH now that one car has to go from start to finish and drop that one person off before it picks up the next preson. however a dual core is like haveing 2, 1 person cars each going 1.6 MPH. the speed does not change however you now are able to get 2 people through to the end at the same time
 
So how do I know if both processors are running? I heard Vista doesn't automatically run both processors by default, is this true?
 
no it does, it is the programs that dont usualy take advantage of bothe cores... if you want to see them go to the task manager (ctrl+alt+del)>task manager then click the performance tab
 
processorjh4.png


Are those both processors?
 
its not double the speed, its essentially double the throughput

e.g on a production line there is a converyor belt.
on dual core, rather than speeding up the belt, they simply use two belts.

the downside of this of course is that if you run an application which is not designed to take advantage of threading, it will actually run slower than on a last-generation unicore cpu.

So how do I know if both processors are running? I heard Vista doesn't automatically run both processors by default, is this true?

no, thats just misimformation circulating the internet. Basically, the non-server versions of windows wont use more than 1 CPU, but they WILL use more than 1 core or logical cpu (in the case of a hyperthreading enabled pentium 4, for example)
 
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I think you've heard that certain programs don't use both cores? Dual core is basically putting two processors in one chip. Many programs can only use one core. Some, like Photoshop, can utilize two. When you say Vista doesn't use both cores, do you mean the actual Vista system process, or the Vista computer as a whole?
 
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