Pentium 4 Hyperthreading issues

coolkul · Jun 21, 2015

I had a Dell Optiplex 210L with a 3.0 ghz Pentium 4 running windows xp lying around so I decided to tinker with it. I enabled hyperthreading on it which was disabled by default. Once I enabled it and started the computer I noticed that two "cores" weren't enabled, it was the same as before. But shortly later I was prompted with a window telling me that new hardware has been installed and to restart the computer and I noticed something in the tray about a dual core processor being installed. I restarted the computer and then I noticed two core windows in the task manager and I thought everything was working. However, none of my programs would start up. I would click on chrome or IE and nothing would open. It happened with everything I tried to open. I restarted the computer a couple times and the same issue reoccurred. Finally, I disabled the hyperthreading and my computer is working fine again. So what happened? Is my computer incapable of HT. I know my processor has HT capabilities, but is there an issue with the motherboard or some other hardware?

Darkbreeze · Jun 21, 2015

The P4 only supports Hyperthreading if you have a very late version. Early versions did not support hyperthreading. Check your CPU ID against the Intel database or check Wikipedia to verify YOUR Pentium is actually HT capable.

coolkul · Jun 21, 2015

Darkbreeze :

I've confirmed that it's hyperthreading capable using the Intel scanner that checks what CPU I have. Would I even be able to have an option for hyperthreading in the bios if it wasn't hyperthreading?

Darkbreeze · Jun 21, 2015

BIOS contain LOTS of options that may not be applicable to the attached hardware. Often, for example, there are settings to disable or enable the integrated graphics, which may not be applicable using a CPU that does not have integrated graphics.

coolkul · Jun 21, 2015

Darkbreeze :

Interesting, I just assumed that that functionality wouldn't appear in the bios if the hardware was not compatible with it.

Anyway, would you happen to know any reason hyperthreading could be messing with my computer? I know the processor supports it and I see two cores windows in task manager, so it should theoretically be working. I've searched the internet, but I can't seem to find anyone with a similar problem.

Darkbreeze · Jun 21, 2015

Download and run CPU-Z, take a screenshot of the main window and post it here.

coolkul · Jun 22, 2015

Here's what I got

edit: that's obviously with the HT disabled in the bios

Darkbreeze · Jun 22, 2015

What is your exact motherboard model and revision number? Yes, your Pentium IS a HT model, which of course you already knew. I just needed to verify as a lot of people think they are all the same, which they are not.

coolkul · Jun 28, 2015

Sorry for the late response.

From CPU-Z:

Darkbreeze · Jun 28, 2015

Honestly, that system is so old, I'm surprised it still runs at all. 10 years is an exceptionally long time for a motherboard and CPU to still be serviceable. Since that's an OEM Dell motherboard, with very limited BIOS options, I'm not sure there's much you can even do to affect the default behavior of the hyperthreading aside from enabling and disabling, which should actually happen automatically depending on the chip that's installed if you set the bios to optimal default settings. If hyperthreading isn't working correctly, there's either an OS installed that doesn't support it, or a hardware issue, unless it's disabled in the BIOS.

Darkbreeze · Jun 28, 2015

Make sure hyperthreading is enabled in the BIOS. Then boot into windows and download Core Temp from here: http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

Install and run core temp and take a screenshot of the main window and post it here.

nikita787 · Jun 29, 2015

coolkul :

The CPU could've degraded so much overtime that the current voltages are not enough to support the excess strain put on the CPU. So hyperthreading just doesn't work. maybe a pipe dream though lol

nikita787 · Jun 29, 2015

Your BIOS would only present the hyperthreading option if your CPU is capable of it. Might aswell add yours is a Prescott, so we can safely say it supports hyperthreading.

Darkbreeze · Jun 29, 2015

nikita787 :

That's ridiculous and entirely unfounded. It has no relevance. A "degraded" CPU would either be stable, or not, at whatever voltage, and entirely independent of whether or not HT was enabled. Sorry, but that answer is full of fail and has no place in a conversation based on actual behavior of processors or their core functions. Any hyperthreading CPU damaged enough for there to be a problem with the hyperthreading features, should simply not work at all or be entirely unstable. Nice try though.

nikita787 · Jun 29, 2015

Darkbreeze :

nikita787 :

That's ridiculous and entirely unfounded. It has no relevance. A "degraded" CPU would either be stable, or not, at whatever voltage, and entirely independent of whether or not HT was enabled. Sorry, but that answer is full of fail and has no place in a conversation based on actual behavior of processors or their core functions. Any hyperthreading CPU damaged enough for there to be a problem with the hyperthreading features, should simply not work at all or be entirely unstable. Nice try though.

yeah in hindsight it sounds ridiculous, that's why i said maybe a pipedream.

Darkbreeze · Jun 29, 2015

nikita787 :

Heh. A big pipe, dream. Heh. No worries though. Windows is notorious for misreporting memory and core functions on some older systems. Running Core Temp or HWinfo should tell us exactly what we need to know and whether or not there are in fact the correct number of cores and hyperthreads being utilized.

nikita787 · Jun 29, 2015

I will say however, one time I overvolted an i7 2600k too much to the point that it wouldn't stay stable at stock clocks at stock voltages.

Darkbreeze · Jun 29, 2015

Well, that's because it was damaged, or the motherboard was damaged. Staying or having stability is much different than having an otherwise normally functioning CPU that simply doesn't show HT function though.

Moonstick2 · Jun 29, 2015

Have a read of this and especially the page and comments that it links to.

It seems that Dells had hyperthreading off as default and had WinXP installed in that way, and that with WinXP it's not as simple as simply turning it on. You need to ensure that you have WinXP SP2 installed too, by the way.

Go through the given instructions and see if that gets things working for you.

Darkbreeze · Jun 29, 2015

Which is why I said several posts up that it could be related to having an OS installed that doesn't support it. Go to Control Panel, System, and see what version of Windows XP is installed.

Moonstick2 · Jun 29, 2015

From the second article and associated comments, it's not the version of XP installed that might be at issue (so checking the Windows version in Control Panel is of no use), it's whether XP was originally installed onto a hyperthreaded system or not and what Hardware Abstraction Layer it chooses to install as a result. It's also discussed in this thread and this one too.

As a Dell system it appears the OP's machine was configured with HT disabled. When the OP enabled HT in the BIOS, WinXP appears to have tried to fix itself to use it but failed.

If the steps in the article don't fix the problem then the answer would be to reinstall WinXP with HT enabled in the BIOS.

Darkbreeze · Jun 29, 2015

Yeah, I would probably agree and recommend that you just reinstall XP anyhow with HT enabled to eliminate any chance of issues with the abstraction layer or registry settings.

coolkul · Jul 11, 2015

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I was out of town so I couldn't get back to guys. I am planning on installing Linux Mint on the machine so I don't think I'll bother with reinstalling Windows XP. I don't have the reinstall disc anyway, so it's not worth doing IMO. Will linux have any issues with HT?

I'll do the core temp thing later as I don't have the computer in front of me right now. Honestly, this computer isn't even worth using at this point. I'm just going to keep this as a back up in case one of our computers fail.

edit: The computer is running Windows XP Pro. I'm pretty sure it's SP2, but I'll have to verify later.

Darkbreeze · Jul 11, 2015

I think you'll find the answer to you question about the Linux Mint support for HT is yes. Since way back.

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=46925

Pentium 4 Hyperthreading issues

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Retired Mod

Honorable

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Honorable

Retired Mod

Share this page