Something tells me my system isn't detecting or using both cores of my Athlon X2.

Or maybe just not using them as good as they can. I've heard there's stuff from AMD's official site that is supposed to be used to get the most out of your Athlon.

Also CPU-Z doesn't let me see the status of both cores, just one.

Have you downloaded the AMD Dual-Core Optimizer? I dont know if this will help both cores showing up : But should improve stability and performance.

And the: AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16?

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html

The MS and AMD Hot fix?


This is how you install them for best performance:


1 - Install the amd drivers, download it from here... http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html

2 - read this website and download the hotfix....READ here http://support.microsoft.com/?id=896256 ........Download here http://www.amdzone.com/files/WinXPdualcorehotfix.exe

3 - Edit your registry to enable the HOTFIX, follow these steps.
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Right-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager, point to New, and then click Key.
3. Type Throttle for the new key name.
4. Right-click Throttle, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type PerfEnablePackageIdle for the value name.
6. Right-click PerfEnablePackageIdle, and then click Modify.
7. In the Edit DWORD Value box, type 1. In the Value data box, make sure that Hexadecimal is selected, and then click OK.
8. Quit Registry Editor.

4 - Make sure your BOOT.ini has this command in it, /usepmtimer to check, right click on My Computer go to properties, click on the ADVANCE tab, then under startup and recovery click on settings, then click on EDIT....

5 - Install the NEW AMD Dual Core Optimizer


It also seems, like CPU Z have some problems detecting the second core on the X2 with some mobos / bioses. Have read, that a bios update or resetting the CMOS Jumper(JP1) can help sometimes.

But what does the bios screen say about your cores when you boot?

Actually, upon boot, it doesn't say anything about my CPU. From what I can tell, it only lists the commands to go into different BIOS places, my memory and my IDE channels.

Anyways, I installed the Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Server 2003, I installed the HOTFIX, I put the Throttle folder containing PerfEnablePackageIdle with a value of 1 in Hexadecimal into the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Session Manager folder, I checked my boot.ini and it does have the /usepmtimer in it. And now I'm installing the Dual-Core optimizer.

O.k.

You could also try AMD Power Monitor Version 1.0.2 Or the AMD Dashboard Demo Software, Rev 2.0.0.

And see what they show?

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html

this thread is very helpful for people who are not familiar with dual core. Like me