My I5 3230M does not have hyperthreading enabled? Help?

WoWFishmonger

Prominent
Apr 6, 2017
11
0
510
My laptop info is below.

Problem is, I can't seem to get the laptop to recognize the hyperthreading on the CPU.

Windows Task Manager and every piece of software I run for analysis shows 2 cores, 2 threads, when all signs point to this being a 2 core 4 thread CPU. I see NO option in the BIOS to enable Hyperthreading or anything like it. I can post pics if needed.

Help?
This is a Dell Inspiron 14R 7420

CPU-Z reports:
Intel I5 3230M
Family: 6 Model A Ext Model 3A Rev E1/L1
Cores 2, Threads 2

MOBO:
Dell Model 03C38H
Ivy Bridge Chipset Rev 09
HM77 Southbridge Rev 04
Bios A19 8/22/13
 
Solution
Yep, sorry - that is either my Acer or HP that has that option. The Dell only has Speedstep and Turbo Boost options. That's a first gen i5 and it's been retired.

Very strange that they'd disable HT on it though. I can't think of a good reason why they would.


Its a 2 core 2 thread CPU, a total of 4 threads (this includes the 2 cores), a pict of task manager would be good if you can post one.

I can see how it can be confusing by the way they word it, but in task manager it should look like this, if it does, then its running fine. http://imgur.com/yUTzgMa



 
Yea well unfortunately it's not that easy...
Pics of the computer running. You can see it is showing a 2C2T processor, and intel calls it a 2C4T proc.
Updated to show BIOS as well
Task Manager and CPU-Z: http://imgur.com/a/UzQYD
https://ark.intel.com/products/72056/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-BGA
BIOS: http://imgur.com/a/nLmYV

And when I check MSCONFIG and look at "# of Processors" it lists up to 2 - and when I force 2 nothing changes.
 




Here is my BIOS, and what is currently enabled.
Nothing for Hyperthreading... and from what I can see from the dell site this is the most current BIOS.
http://imgur.com/a/nLmYV
 
This disclaimer is from the spec sheet for your processor with respect to hyperthreading:

"‡ This feature may not be available on all computing systems. Please check with the system vendor to determine if your system delivers this feature, or reference the system specifications (motherboard, processor, chipset, power supply, HDD, graphics controller, memory, BIOS, drivers, virtual machine monitor-VMM, platform software, and/or operating system) for feature compatibility. Functionality, performance, and other benefits of this feature may vary depending on system configuration."

Here is the link to the spec sheet I found:

http://ark.intel.com/products/72164/Intel-Core-i5-3230M-Processor-3M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz-rPGA

So it may be Dell has disabled hyperthreading for your laptop (who knows why?)
 
That is unfortunately what I have almost concluded.... since their can really be no other reason why.
I have posted on the Dell forums thinking I can get an answer there but no one seems to even care. *shrug*
I was thinking of just buying another processor on ebay for like $35 and putting it in to try, maybe even step up to a slightly faster model. Sell the old one and I'd only lose like $15 in the transaction, however I have no guarantee it would work.
Meh... :|
 
Yep, sorry - that is either my Acer or HP that has that option. The Dell only has Speedstep and Turbo Boost options. That's a first gen i5 and it's been retired.

Very strange that they'd disable HT on it though. I can't think of a good reason why they would.
 
Solution