AMD dual core or single core in use? RESOLVED

[msl]

Hi Folks, compliments of the season.

I'm using 32 bit Edgy and I'm not sure that both of the cores are being used. Can any one advise please?

uname -a gives this;
Linux Lian-Li 2.6.17-10-386 #2 Tue Dec 5 22:26:18 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux

and cpuinfo gives this;
cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 35
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 2211.587
cache size : 1024 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow up pni lahf_lm cmp_legacy ts fid vid ttp
bogomips : 4427.4

Thanks in advance
Mark

[askrieger]

Re: AMD dual core or single core in use?

I suspect that if you're still using the i386 version of the kernel, you're not using both of your cores (not to mention all of the other advances since 1990 that you're not using). You need to get a more sophisticated kernel! I suggest that you install the package "linux-generic". This is really a "pseudo-package" that will always bring in the latest complete linux kernel and the corresponding linux-restricted-modules package.

The latter package gives you what you need to get the most out of your ATI or nVidia video card, your Atheros wifi chipset and the proprietary kernel drivers for a few other things as well. Of course, if you're a purist, just install "linux-image-generic", and you'll be pure with a modern kernel. You will, however, lose Flash. If you want Flash, you can try a 686 kernel, I believe that works with AMD dual core, but I've never tried.

[msl]

Re: AMD dual core or single core in use?

Thanks for the reply askrieger, much appreciated.

I've done as you suggested but the video driver doesn't load. I'll have to reconfigure xserver and hopefully that will get me up and running. I'll post the result!

Regards and happy new year.
Mark

[msl]

Re: AMD dual core or single core in use?

Hi All,
never managed to solve the problem of the dual core. However;
Did a fresh install, generic kernel installed by default, both cores recognised and in use!

uname -a now gives;
2.6.17-10-generic #2 SMP Tue Dec 5 22:28:26 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux

cpuinfo now gives;
processor : 0
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 35
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 2211.588
cache size : 1024 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 0
cpu cores : 2
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni lahf_lm cmp_legacy ts fid vid ttp
bogomips : 4427.64

processor : 1
vendor_id : AuthenticAMD
cpu family : 15
model : 35
model name : AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+
stepping : 2
cpu MHz : 2211.588
cache size : 1024 KB
physical id : 0
siblings : 2
core id : 1
cpu cores : 2
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 1
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht syscall nx mmxext fxsr_opt lm 3dnowext 3dnow pni lahf_lm cmp_legacy ts fid vid ttp
bogomips : 4423.00

The install came from the same cd as I always use, which was downloaded from a Kubuntu mirror site.
Ah the mysteries of computers.

Regards
Mark