Dual Core and Plus

[Mir96TA]

Please educate me, does OS support more then 2 CPU ?
I know the physical Processor is ONE but it has more then 2 CPU
So does XP and above software support that ?
or is it wastage ?
or OS have a number of Phyiscal CPU limitions?

 

[SexyK]

The OS is limited to a number of sockets, not cores.

 

[AllGamer]

(NT, 2K, XP , Vista) workstation is 2 sockets as mentioned

(NT, 2K, 2K3) servers softwares are up to as high as you paid for your license, then Microshaft will mail you the correct CD/DVD for install


Linux you can compile as many CPU support as you see necessary

 

[aceO07]

So, 2 sockets can be 8 cores?

a bit off topic, how many cores does Linux (any distro) support by default?

 

[AllGamer]

1 or 2 depending on the distro you pick

 

[KayGee]

at the risk of sounding stupid (i'm a n00b), would i be undermining my hardware's capabilities, if i ran windows XP 32-bit OS on a system with a q6600, ddr2 800 MHz, etc? also, if i understand correctly, XP 32-bit won't be "compatible" with 8 gigs of ram, right?

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: AllGamer
(NT, 2K, XP , Vista) workstation is 2 sockets as mentioned

Not correct. XP Home only supports 1 socket; you have to have XP Pro, for two socket support. And I would have sworn that the cheaper versions of Vista also only support one socket.

Originally posted by: KayGee
at the risk of sounding stupid (i'm a n00b), would i be undermining my hardware's capabilities, if i ran windows XP 32-bit OS on a system with a q6600, ddr2 800 MHz, etc?

XP Home supports one socket. It makes no difference how many cores that socket contains, they will all be utilized.

also, if i understand correctly, XP 32-bit won't be "compatible" with 8 gigs of ram, right?

Correct, any 32-bit OS can only "access" (use) up to 4 GB of RAM, although anything at all in your system that has it's own memory, like video cards, hard drives, etc., will be subtracted from that 4 GB.

 

[swtethan]

Originally posted by: KayGee
at the risk of sounding stupid (i'm a n00b), would i be undermining my hardware's capabilities, if i ran windows XP 32-bit OS on a system with a q6600, ddr2 800 MHz, etc? also, if i understand correctly, XP 32-bit won't be "compatible" with 8 gigs of ram, right?

Youre not holding your system back by using a 32 bit system, but if you had 8GB of ram, you will only be able to use about 3 GB of that 8. Windows vista 32bit can handle up to 4GB for all editions, but the 64 bit is much more diffrent: Basic 8GB, Premium 16GB, all others support over 128GB.

Originally posted by: myocardia
cheaper versions of Vista also only support one socket.

yes, basic and premium only support one cpu. all others support two.

 

[KayGee]

myocardia, and swtethan, thanks for clearing that up! thanks guys!