using both cores?

Question

Level 1

5 points

using both cores?

i have an early 2008 MBP, obviously they have 1 processor and 2 cores, what program can i get that shows that an application is using both cores? or do they always use all cores? and just (if i had multiple processors) only use the amount of processors they were designed to use?

thanks for reading

MB Pro, 2.4, 4gb ram, Mac OS X (10.5.6), XH-A1

Posted on Mar 3, 2009 12:17 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Best reply

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:30 PM in response to JansonW

Activity monitor shows the two cores in the little window. Some applications use both, any time you see CPU over 100% you know how that is happening. Toast will exceed 100% encoding a DVD for example.

Reply

Answer 2

JansonW Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Ricktoronto

i constantly watch the activity monitor, especially when using motion, when you say i can see both cores under my CPU tab in activity monitor, both cores are showed separately?

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 3, 2009 12:37 PM in response to JansonW

Activity is generally distributed across both cores (different 'threads' running on each core). Install iStat Menus - that can show a graphic in your menu bar with 'thermometer' or history graphs showing the two cores separately.

http://www.islayer.com/apps/istatmenus/

Reply

Answer 4

JansonW Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Ricktoronto

ohh, after rereading your post, i think i get it, when you say that a process is over 100%, that says that both cores are being used up.

Reply

Answer 5

JansonW Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:43 PM in response to neuroanatomist

i have istat pro as a widget, not the same thing as you are talking about?

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 3, 2009 12:43 PM in response to JansonW

When a process is over 100% that process is using both cores, yes. But, even when you're using only a small fraction of your total (200%) CPU power, both cores are in use, since processes and their threads are distributed across both cores.

Reply

Answer 7

JansonW Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 3, 2009 12:43 PM in response to neuroanatomist

thank you for the infos

Reply