i7 + Bootcamp + Win7 = Only 4 cores???

I also have a i7 MBP with 64 bit win 7, so if you will tell me how to determine the number of cores that are running I will check it out. I get the following scores on the performance information test:

Processor 6.9
Memory 4GB 5.9
Graphics 6.4
Gaming graphics 6.4
Primary HD 5.9

for a base score of 5.9 determined by the lowest subscore

4 physical cores is what a "Bloomfield" Core i7 is, and you can't count virtual or logical cores.

In msconfig there are advanced boot options to enable all cores. I assume you checked there also?

Also, to reduce power and heat, some of the Core i3/i5/i7 have some cores disabled and HT disabled. And that is what 620Ms have done. And obviously not 9xx as found on desktop PCs.

Processor and memory
2.53GHz Intel Core i5 processor with 3MB shared L3 cache; or optional 2.66GHz Intel Core i7 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP581

Still doesn't say WHICH Core i7 family model. And I don't know laptops, nor does Apple really like to get into all the technical side of things. So I turned to Wikipedia, I strongly recommend looking there.... it is very useful!

2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 (620M) with 4 MB on-chip L3 cache (15" and 17" only)

Then you can look up what the Intel Core i7 620M features.
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=43560

There is a lot you can do for yourself on your own to answer basic questions.

.... and there you see just how Apple and marketing may seemingly short-change the unsuspecting that assumed their 4-cores were physical and not logical threads...

Launch Date Q1'10
Processor Number i7-620M
# of Cores 2
# of Threads 4

You would need a desktop (iMac Core i7) to get 4 physical cores. Not only would it eat battery time to nothing, they require large cpu cooler heatsinks to dissipitate all that heat.

Intel Mobile Family of Core i7s
http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection.aspx?familyId=43402

In my book, that 620M is a dual-core. Afterall, the 4-core Mac Pro Nehalem would otherwise be called "8-core" which it is not. And the dual processor 8-core would be a 16-core (but those are THREADS annd VIRTUAL CORES or can also be called LOGICAL processor cores).

Sleigh of hand, anyone?

OK I got the same window in task manager as you shoe. The difference is that I have 4 boxes under the cpu usage history title instead of two as your picture shows. I have a physical memory of 3957 MB while you show 1011MB. Maybe the number of boxes has to do with this difference.

Like The hatter have posted, the i7 processor in the macbook pro have half of the cores compared the desktop i7 in the imac. so you will only see 4 total threads (boxes) in task manager on the macbook pro, there are no 6 threads version of the mobile i7 sold by Apple.

Don't forget the mobile version of the i7 used different manufacture process and also have integrated graphic card on the chip, so you'll be hard pressed to fit 4 cores in there and keep the power and heat output to an acceptable level.

If you want a program to see all the cores been utilised, than search prime95 and run it on your macbook. This is the programme people use to test for stability of overclocked processor in PC. It will stress your i7 to 100% load. Don't run it for to long or you risk overheat processor.