Using multi-core CPU's with Windows XP

SmilinDoug

SmilinDoug

Do any of you use a multi core CPU's on your XP computer? I read where you have to change some settings in the BIOS to make it work. I haven't bought one yet, but I'm thinking about it. I'm using a single core AMD Sepron 2.2GHz, socket AM2+ CPU. The rest of the info is in my sig for my desktop.

I'm using onboard video right now, but a friend of mine is sending me an old PCI Express video card. Once I try the video card and I feel that I might upgrade, I'll try another CPU. I'm just trying to get enough information as I can, before I start changing and adding stuff to this computer.

Any help you guys and gals can give me will be much appreciated.

I hope everyone is doing well!
 
Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit runs fine in my Dell OptiPlex 980 minitower which has:
Intel Core i7-860 2.80 GHz quad core processor
NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 2 GB PCI-E graphics card
 
When the first 64 bit CPU became available from AMD, I got one and assembled a machine using a MOBO from Abit. (Now long gone but they did aim their products at enthusiasts rather than the bulk manufacturers.) This was around 2005/2006. I ran 32 bit XP, and 64 bit S.u.S.E. Linux on the machine.

When a dual core version of processor became available from AMD, (around the same clock speed) I replaced my single core with a dual core.

The result was that XP programmes were running about 15% SLOWER on the dual core than they had been on the single core! Linux applications appeared to run neither faster or slower.

I think I also found similar with Intel Core2 processors (different machine) though I have not documented performance data for the Intel machine.
 
Thanks for the help guys! I'm looking at a quad-core AMD running at 3.0GHz that only costs $24.00'

I'm mostly going to be gaming on this computer. I built it for LAN parties back in the early 2000's.
 
Which AMD 3.00 GHz quad core processor are you planning to install?
I'm going to take a wild guess it's the AMD Athlon II X4 640 3.00 GHz quad core processor.

The AMD Sempron LE-1250 2.20 GHz single core processor currently in your computer is a very weak one.
Upgrading to any AMD 3.00 GHz quad core model would definitely be an improvement.

cpu.JPG
 
Last edited by a moderator:
SmilinDoug said:
Do any of you use a multi core CPU's on your XP computer? I read where you have to change some settings in the BIOS to make it work. I haven't bought one yet, but I'm thinking about it. I'm using a single core AMD Sepron 2.2GHz, socket AM2+ CPU. The rest of the info is in my sig for my desktop.

I'm using onboard video right now, but a friend of mine is sending me an old PCI Express video card. Once I try the video card and I feel that I might upgrade, I'll try another CPU. I'm just trying to get enough information as I can, before I start changing and adding stuff to this computer.

Any help you guys and gals can give me will be much appreciated.

I hope everyone is doing well!
Click to expand...

I had the computer shop 'upgrade' the dual core CPU of my OptiPlex 960 to a quad core CPU with no problems, but also with no performance improvement I can see. No idea if they fiddled with the BIOS. Also had the onboard graphics 'upgraded' to a graphics card, again with no noticeable improvement.

https://pcpartpicker.com/forums/top...n-with-hardware-still-supported-by-windows-xp

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/newest-graphics-card-that-supports-windows-xp.256433/

https://www.reddit.com/r/intel/comments/7znd0w/which_cpu_is_best_for_windows_xp/
 
trimis said:
I had the computer shop 'upgrade' the dual core CPU of my OptiPlex 960 to a quad core CPU with no problems, but also with no performance improvement I can see.
Click to expand...
What is the exact description of the original dual core processor?
What is the exact description of the replacement quad core processor?
Once you provide that information, we should be able to determine what their performance scores are and what their single thread ratings are.
 
trimis said:
Also had the onboard graphics 'upgraded' to a graphics card, again with no noticeable improvement.
Click to expand...
What is the exact description of the original on-board graphics?
What is the exact description of the replacement graphics card?
Once you provide that information, we should be able to determine what their performance scores are.
 
flavallee said:
What is the exact description of the original dual core processor?
What is the exact description of the replacement quad core processor?
Once you provide that information, we should be able to determine what their performance scores are and what their single thread ratings are.
Click to expand...

No idea...I'd guess the original onboard graphics & CPU is probably mentioned here:
https://www.dell.com/downloads/glob...sktop-optiplex-960-technical-guidebook-en.pdf
https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-...ter-intel-core-2-duo-e8500-160gb-2gb-bo3zc20/

The card is:
https://www.newegg.com/p/1FT-002U-0...0 mt graphics card-_-9SIA575A9Z1832-_-Product
The so-called upgraded CPU is:
https://www.cpu-world.com/sspec/SL/SLB8V.html
 
This appears to be the original processor and graphics device in your Dell OptiPlex 960:

Before.jpg


This appears to be the processor and graphics card you upgraded to:

After.jpg


Now I'll give you the bad news.

The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 quad core processor has a higher performance score than the Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 dual core processor, but it has a lower single thread rating.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 graphics card has a higher performance score than the Intel Q45 integrated graphics device, but it's still a weak performer.

Because of this, you will likely see very little (if any) improvement in speed and performance.

I hope you didn't pay that very high price of $159.00 for that graphics card.
That same graphics card can be bought for about 1/3 of that price at Newegg.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Windows XP will appropriately use multi-core CPUs, as in my experience. I think that anything less than a dual-core is a mistake.

I'm running an AMD AM3+ FX-8320E "8-core" processor. Now, it does list itself as "8 cores" in Windows, it may technically only be 4-cores with 8 threads, if one considers the AMD lawsuit in which AMD admits nothing, but still pays out (see https://www.amdcpusettlement.com/).

The lawsuit claims that AMD misrepresented the number of cores in certain of its CPUs and that AMD is liable for violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law and California’s False Advertising Law, as well as other laws. AMD denies all claims and that it violated any law.
Click to expand...

Having that many cores "guarantees" I won't have a bogged down system, and I can continue to use my computer reliably without noticeable stalling.

In fact, I've got a surveillance system, viewed from Palemoon, with a 12MP camera pulled up and my processor is around half to 2/3 working. Other cameras are pulled up, but only on substreams until I need to switch. Also, running a mail client, Palemoon v26, NewMoon v27 for XP, Firefox 27 ESR and MyPal all opened at once, among other things.

The only active resource intensive thing going on is that Palemoon with the camera system.

Such things cannot be done on a single core system and still operate smoothly, I'd wager.
 
cpu.JPG


gpu.JPG


secpar:

Your computer is in much better performance shape than the computer trimis has.
 
flavallee said:
This appears to be the original processor and graphics device in your Dell OptiPlex 960:

View attachment 723

This appears to be the processor and graphics card you upgraded to:

View attachment 724

Now I'll give you the bad news.

The Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 quad core processor has a higher performance score than the Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 dual core processor, but it has a lower single thread rating.

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710 graphics card has a higher performance score than the Intel Q45 integrated graphics device, but it's still a weak performer.

Because of this, you will likely see very little (if any) improvement in speed and performance.

I hope you didn't pay that very high price of $159.00 for that graphics card.
That same graphics card can be bought for about 1/3 of that price at Newegg.
Click to expand...

When I bought it the price was $118 at NewEgg. Yeah, a waste of money.
 
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