2 processors shown

I have only one Intel P4 2.81GHz processor with WindowsXP professional
installed, but it still shows two processors in the task manager window,
why?

Hi,

If your processor supports hyperthreading, then you will see 2 CPUs (one is
a software CPU)

In most cases, it doesn't hurt anything to have it there.  It can still be
disabled in the BIOS though

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server - IIS, Virtual PC]
http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site :-)
http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work on VPC 2004?  Find out
here
Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical support via email.  Any
emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see them.


"Nikhilesh Mehendale" <nikhilmc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:O9yDDHkjEHA.2688@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> I have only one Intel P4 2.81GHz processor with WindowsXP professional
> installed, but it still shows two processors in the task manager window,
> why?
>
>

Thanks for the help, but what is the meaning of software CPU, is that the OS
sees two CPUs or threads on which it can schedule processes simultaneously.
I mean does the processorsor have two completely different execution units.

"Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]" <jmaltz@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:edCAbTkjEHA.2796@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> If your processor supports hyperthreading, then you will see 2 CPUs (one
> is
> a software CPU)
>
> In most cases, it doesn't hurt anything to have it there.  It can still be
> disabled in the BIOS though
>
> --
> --Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server - IIS, Virtual PC]
> http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
> tutorial site :-)
> http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work on VPC 2004?  Find
> out
> here
> Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical support via email.  Any
> emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see them.
>
>
> "Nikhilesh Mehendale" <nikhilmc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:O9yDDHkjEHA.2688@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl... 
>
>

Hi,

The processor has two cores but only one second level cache which is
shared...

http://www.intel.com/techtrends/tec...gy_HyperThread&

--
--Jonathan Maltz [Microsoft MVP - Windows Server - IIS, Virtual PC]
http://www.visualwin.com - A Windows Server 2003 visual, step-by-step
tutorial site :-)
http://vpc.visualwin.com - Does <insert OS name> work on VPC 2004?  Find out
here
Only reply by newsgroup.  I do not do technical support via email.  Any
emails I have not authorized are deleted before I see them.


"Nikhilesh Mehendale" <nikhilmc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eIgX$EljEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the help, but what is the meaning of software CPU, is that the
OS
> sees two CPUs or threads on which it can schedule processes
simultaneously.
> I mean does the processorsor have two completely different execution
units.
>
> "Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]" <jmaltz@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:edCAbTkjEHA.2796@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl... 
be 
window, 
>
>

Jonathan was using the term "software CPU" figuratively. There is nothing in
software which implements the additional CPU. His point was just that there
is no actual second CPU in hardware, but Hyperthreading is a hardware
feature which fools software into seeing multiple CPUs. See:

http://www.intel.com/techtrends/tec...erthreading.htm
http://developer.intel.com/technology/hyperthread/



"Nikhilesh Mehendale" <nikhilmc@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eIgX$EljEHA.2764@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Thanks for the help, but what is the meaning of software CPU, is that the
> OS sees two CPUs or threads on which it can schedule processes
> simultaneously. I mean does the processorsor have two completely different
> execution units.
>
> "Jonathan Maltz [MS-MVP]" <jmaltz@mvps.org> wrote in message
> news:edCAbTkjEHA.2796@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...