Hyperthreading and Windows XP

[tabytha77]

Does Windows XP Home recognize two CPUs with a HT Intel CPU or is XP Pro required?

I'm thinking about getting a 3.0 800 MHz CPU with 875 board in the next few months, as prices come down. I am looking to use Photophop and Premiere and want to make use of the multiple processor optimization. I don't really want to spend another $180 on WinXP Pro.

 

[redstar]

http://www.pcmag.com/print_article/0,3048,a=32002,00.asp

short answer: Yes XP home will support hyperthreading

 

[vk2amv]

I just need to point out they Hyperthreading IS NOT the same as having 2 CPU`s. Far from it. In fact it has been shown that if you use a specificaly dual CPU optimised program on a hyperthreading system instead of a dual CPU system you get a performance loss NOT gain. You NEED hyperthreading optimised software NOT SMP optimised software to get any advantage out of HT.
AREA_51

'It's only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames'

 

[imgod2u]

I just need to point out they Hyperthreading IS NOT the same as having 2 CPU`s. Far from it. In fact it has been shown that if you use a specificaly dual CPU optimised program on a hyperthreading system instead of a dual CPU system you get a performance loss NOT gain. You NEED hyperthreading optimised software NOT SMP optimised software to get any advantage out of HT.

This is sometimes true, sometimes not. 3DSMax and various video encoding programs weren't specifically optimized for SMT yet they received a sizable improvement according to the benchmarks. However, running two thread-intensive programs at the same time (such as two instances of 3DSMax both rendering), both instances will run slower but the combined rendering time will still be improved.

"We are Microsoft, resistance is futile." - Bill Gates, 2015.

 

[tabytha77]

OK, thanks folks!

 

[tabytha77]

Good 'article answer.' They had the same concern as I did!

 

[Mephistopheles]

In fact it has been shown that if you use a specificaly dual CPU optimised program on a hyperthreading system instead of a dual CPU system you get a performance loss NOT gain. You NEED hyperthreading optimised software NOT SMP optimised software to get any advantage out of HT.

Not quite true... Photoshop users widely report big improvements (even in this forum! there was this guy, remember?), and many benchmarks of multi-threaded apps show improvements. There are, however, one or two programs which indeed slow down by a very small notch when HT is enabled, but the benefits outweight the disadvantages. Increases go all the way up to 20% or so, best case scenario, and decreases are only of a very few percent.

 

[juin]

under WIN 2003 Zero lose is see

[-peep-] french