A dual-core question...
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...here's the back story:
When discussing my wish list for this new computer with the owner/salesman he told me even though my programs didn't support it, a dual-core would allow security software and other windows functions to run in the background without taxing the core my programs were using...?
I have recently talked with his rival across the street about this problem of wgatray.exe sometimes max'ing out one core until I reboot. (I have found ways to successfully disable and/or delete this windows spyware, but after a few boots either explorer.exe or ieplore.exe will start doing the same thing causing the same problems...?) I have also just noticed other windows services and startup programs do run on the other core during this problem...but my programs either don't get to that other core (remains at 0 usage) or max it out immediately and bog down to frozen molasses. They (the owner/tech and another tech there) told me it sounds like a bad chip since windows should/would share between the two (this confirms what the other place told me in the beginning...?).
So I walk across the street to set up another appointment (gotta follow the warranty protocols), this time talking with the tech that actually does the work and built my machine: he tells me windows XP is a lousy core sharing manager...basically doesn't do it at all if the programs don't, so it's working like it should: that can't be it.
WTF!
So if anybody can upgrade my knowledge level before I take this 'chine in next week and maybe save myself another shining, I'd really appreciate it, thanks.
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Also...does this seem right: all the drivers for the devices not marked with a red line are Microsoft, dated 2001 (except for the processor drivers which are Microsoft 2004)??? Guess I should mention the motherboard is Intel Executive Series and the HDs are Raptor Sata 10k and 7.2k.
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I don't recall my XP having so many duplicate things on that list.....unless you acutally 5 monitors running?
Chris
PS and I use vista 64 bit and it seems to be great at managing cores with software that doesn't do it on its own.
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Damn, I wonder why you have so much trouble with your machine? It should be running along quite well as a matter of fact. I have a 2.4GHz quad core, 4x 1GB of RAM, a P35 chipset based DFI motherboard, a FX3500 graphics card, a WD Raptor 36GB HDD for Os and programs and a WD Caviar 250GB for storage all managed by XP SP3 32 bit and it runs along pretty well, wouldn't mind having a higher clocked quad core CPU though.
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Juju, if your keen enough to increase the clock speed of your CPU, its definitely worth having a look at overclocking it.
Most of the intel chips are quite easy to overclock, and often require nothing more than a bigger fan and the right software.
If you do decide to give it a go, make sure you do your reading first, though, as if you mess it up it can be quite costly.
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Chris...I assume it's showing every monitor ever plugged in: the one when it was built, the window's driver one when I plugged it in at home, then the samsung driver install, evidentally the aliens had two plugged in when they beamed it aboard to f... it up, then the one when I took it to the guys across the street.
Julian...ME TOO! It does have it's moments: when installing programs I get the mental image of the Enterprise going into warp...autocad was completely loaded in the time it took to go into the next room and close a window ( :`) Yesterday I did a test (when it was running normally)...opened a 40meg file in PSP and duplicated a couple of layers, opened a 4meg file in SU6, back to PSP hit save (the slowest thing this 'chine does...slower than my 1.6gig Pentium M with its turtle HD for some reason?), then in SU started doing mouse middle button orbits: no hitch in it's get-along and neither processor got max-ed.
So the machine can indeed multitask quite nicely like it's supposed to...why would he tell me XP couldn't do that well?
Anyway, I'm starting another thread listing all my specific problems hoping to get some smarts before I take it back in...hope something dawns on someone! I will surely need some ammo to get them to start down the path of switching out hardware components.
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