How to enable all cores. Using multithreading in games Which games support multithreading

How do I enable all kernels on Windows 7? This question is often asked by users, and periodically freezes.

Even on multi-core devices, braking may appear. Let's consider in more detail, how to effectively speed up your PC and "force" the system to use all available kernels to their fullest.

Modern computers are multi-core devices. However, no operating system uses all cores to their full capacity.

Such a limitation is necessary to save resources of PCs and laptops.

Modern hardware technology allows "Load" the required number of cores in the process of working with certain programs that require more performance.

If your PC does not start to run faster even when a powerful photo editor, game or editing program is running, you need to configure the processor mode yourself.

Method 1 - Configuring multitasking in OS startup mode

This setting is one of the simplest and most effective. The bottom line is that the processor is overclocked immediately.

The user can always change the settings and return the original parameters.

Follow the instructions:

• Open the command execution window using the Win and R keyboard shortcuts;
• In the text field of the window that opens, type the command for setting the system configuration msconfig;

Figure: 1 - call the Windows configuration window

• Now go to the downloads tab. Here you can view the version of the installed OS, configure safe mode and other boot parameters;
• Press additional parameters key;

Figure: 2 - Windows configuration window

• In the tab that opens, the mode of using the available computing characteristics of your PC is put down. Check the boxes next to the number of processors and the maximum amount of memory. These lines were previously inactive because the computer was in the resource-saving mode;
• Choose the largest number of cores and the maximum amount of available memory;

Figure: 3 - configuring boot parameters

After turning on the computer again, multitasking mode is activated. The user can also choose fewer processors and memory.

The optimal number for fast work is 5-6 cores and 1024 MB of memory for each processor.

Read also:

Method 2 - BIOS setup

Another option for adjusting the operating speed of the OS is putting down new settings in the BIOS.

This option allows you not only to increase the efficiency of tasks, but also prevents crashes that have occurred in the OS and the regular appearance of a blue screen.

The program allows you to carry out a comprehensive configuration of hardware and software components:

• Processor;
• Cache;
• Motherboard;
• Memory;
• System module parameters (Serial Presence Detect).

To enable all cores, we need the CPU tab. The figure below shows the configuration display window in the CPU-Z application.

At the bottom there is a Cores field, its value is the number of PC cores that operate at the same frequency. Write in the field the maximum number of processors.

The Threads field must be equal to Cores.

Figure: 5 - the main window of the CPU-Z application

After making changes, press the "OK" button. Turn off the program and restart the device.

Method 4 - AIDA64 program

Another good program for tweaking the number of cores used is this. Application features:

• The ability to view the hardware characteristics of a PC or laptop;
• Generation of reports on device operation;
• Displaying the characteristics of the installed OS;
• The ability to change the parameters of the processor use;
• PC speed test function.

First, look at how many cores are available on your PC. The information is located in the Multi CPU tab (in the left part of the window, select "Motherboard"- "CPU"):

Figure: 6 - the main window of the AIDA64 utility

Turn on each of the cores. Restart the program and check if the activation of processors is not lost. This can happen due to a conflict between the program and the hardware components of the PC.

The setting should be repeated again. The only thing left is to reapply and enjoy its fast work.

It is advisable to activate all cores if there is an urgent need to perform complex operations in the process of editing videos or to speed up the work of video games.

If your computer is too slow without using all the cores, this may indicate a malfunction in the OS.

A set of actions should be taken to optimize the operation of the operating system.

OS optimization

Optimizing your computer is actions that result in fewer errors occurring.

How do I optimize Windows? This procedure is carried out in the same way, regardless of the system version.

To speed up your browser and other programs, close unnecessary processes in the Device Manager window.

And also clean the tab of unwanted software that starts with the OS turned on and runs in the background.

Cleaning your hard drive from unnecessary files and other debris will help improve overall system performance.

Go to the "My Computer" tab, click on the data carrier icon and open the properties window.

Select "Disk Cleanup" and wait until the report on excessive files is generated. Clear all data by checking unnecessary fields.

Figure: 7 - Windows 7 optimization

Owners of powerful PCs with multi-core processors usually want to tune the system to deliver full power to get the best performance, but often they don't know how. In this article, we will look at instructions on how to enable all cores.

What result can you expect

There is a fairly common misconception that a multi-core processor has the same performance as a multi-processor PC. As an example, you can imagine an analogy with loading material into a container for processing. Several workers can bring the product instead of one, if we imagine that the workers are processor cores. The transmission and reading of information is faster. Instructions with screenshots on how to overclock the processor.

Configuring kernels in BIOS

Sometimes, due to a dead battery on the motherboard or for some other reason, the parameters are reset to the default settings. In this case, it is usually necessary to check and set the parameters manually. To do this you will need:

Enabling Kernels in the Configuration Utility

If the BIOS parameters are set correctly, but the kernels are still not active, you can try to change the settings in a special Windows configuration program. For this you will need:

After the performed operations, we reboot the system.

Configuring kernels for a specific process

Using the task manager, you can enable the required number of cores for a specific program. This is done as follows:

Note: in the task manager, on the performance tab, you can see if all cores are currently running. A different diagram is displayed for each of them.

Power settings

Sometimes, due to power options, the computer does not use all the processor cores. Most often, this situation occurs in laptops. To check the settings and set the correct value, you need to do the following:

Despite the fact that Windows is considered the operating system for ordinary users, unlike numerous Linux distributions, it still allows you to perform some operations for which advanced users still prefer the latter. In particular, this refers to access to hardware components. The OS itself and the installed drivers do this (or at least try to) so that they work to their maximum and provide the best user experience. First you need to know how to enable all processor cores on Windows 10 and we will analyze this issue in detail in this article.

Find out the quantity

If suddenly you do not know how many of them there are in total and want to know the version of the kernel in Windows 10 in your processor, then you should start with this. The easiest way to do this is using the tools of Windows itself. Right click on Start Menu\u003e Computer Management. In the left menu turn on "Device Manager"\u003e "Processor".
The number of points and will indicate the number of processor cores that can be used when you know how to activate all processor cores in Windows 10.
Similar information can be obtained using third-party programs:

• CPU-Z;
• AIDA64;
• Everest.

The first one is free, the rest cost money, but, of course, in addition to the quantity, they suggest how to view a huge amount of information about the computer and the system, from the list of components to the end. Of course, they only provide information, and do not know how to enable and start all processor cores in Windows 10.

How kernels generally work and how to enable them

There is a common misconception that not everyone works on a computer. This is not true. At any time other than enabling, all of them are involved, so of course, you will never know how to disable the processor core, because that is not possible. But there is another nuance - they can work at different frequencies, being responsible for different tasks. Modern processors are often equipped with several powerful ones that will run during games, editing and other complex tasks; and more simple - for elementary processes. Thus, a balance of performance and energy efficiency is achieved, which is especially important for laptops. But there is no answer to the question of how to enable the second processor core in Windows 10, because they all work the same way.
You also need to pay attention to the fact that in some cases it is impossible to turn on and direct the power of everyone to process a specific task. It depends solely on the software developer. It alone decides whether to unblock the kernels and whether to support multithreading or not. If not, the greatest load and all the work will be done by only one, while the rest work in a sparing mode.

How to enable all processor cores on Windows 10 at startup?

There is one moment in the operation of the operating system when in fact only one thing can be active - this is the process of turning on the computer. But even in this case, the situation can be changed and you can find out how to enable 4 cores on Windows 10. Using the built-in system tools and BIOS.

In the first case, you need to enable the "Run" dialog box or use the hot keys "Windows + R". Then enter "msconfig" and click OK.
A window with basic system settings will open.

BIOS option

The second option, how to use and configure all processor cores to work in Windows 10, is to use the BIOS. It starts when you turn on the computer using the F2 or Del keys, depending on the type of device.

In the BIOS itself, again, depending on its version, you need to find the item "Advanced Clock Calibration" or similar, and there enable the value "All cores" or "Auto".

Again, it should be noted that these settings will only affect the computer startup process and will not work that way. The operation of the operating system as a whole or of individual programs depends entirely on the developers. Did they add this feature to enable, and how well they optimized it.

Owners of powerful computer systems based on multi-core processors, of course, try to "squeeze" everything possible out of them in terms of increasing the performance of machines running, for example, running Windows 7 or similar. But not everyone knows how to enable kernels on a computer. Windows 7, as well as newer systems, offers a universal solution, which will be discussed below.

What gives the inclusion of all processor cores

Many users have a rather distorted opinion about the use of all processor cores by the system. Remember, you can enable two or four cores, but it is not the same as using two or four processors! The performance gain will not be as expected.

Data transmission or reading will be faster, but the amount of information processed will remain the same. To understand why and how to enable all kernels on Windows 7 (and, in general, whether it is worth doing), let's draw a kind of analogy with eating. It goes without saying that you can put food in your mouth with one hand, or with two. In this case, the hands are the processor cores. Obviously, using both hands will make the process much faster. But here's the trouble: when the mouth is full, no hands, be it at least four or six, will not help. There will simply be nowhere to put food.

Exactly the same thing is happening with the computational capabilities. Here, only the optimization of the number of operations performed in a certain period of time by each core takes place, but the total volume remains the same, and, as they say, you cannot jump above this indicator.

How to enable everything on Windows 7 when changing BIOS settings

So, to begin with, let's consider the most unpleasant situation when, for some reason, parameters were changed in the BIOS, the settings were reset, or the system simply crashed.

In this case, when deciding how to enable all kernels on Windows 7, you need to start from specific settings. For this, a section called "Advanced Clock Calibration" is used, where the default value "Auto" or "All Cores" should be set (in different BIOS modifications, the names of the sections may differ or be in tabs with different parameters).

After applying the changed settings, you only need to reboot the system. In theory, if there are no failures in the BIOS itself, all processor cores will be activated automatically.

How to enable all kernels on Windows 7 using system configuration tools

However, even if the BIOS settings are configured correctly, and the processor cores are still not involved, you can use your own means of the "operating system" itself.

How do I enable all kernels on Windows 7 in this situation? Here you need to call the "Run" menu and write the "msconfig" command there to enter the configuration parameters. Here there is the "Download" tab we need. Below the main window there is a button for additional parameters. By clicking on it, we get to the settings menu.

On the left, we use the line of the number of processors and select the number corresponding to the number of cores. Don't worry, the system will not display more than they actually are. For example, we need to solve the problem of how to enable 4 cores on Windows 7. As it is already clear, we select this number from the list. After the changes made, save the configuration and reboot the computer.

But there are pitfalls here. You need to be very careful with such operations. It is important to know that when enabled, each core must have at least 1 GB (1024 MB) of RAM. If the indicator of the "RAM" slats does not correspond to the required values, there is nothing to try. This can only get the opposite effect. In this case, we are talking about hand-assembled stationary computers. Laptops (if the equipment has not been changed) is not threatened, since any manufacturer takes into account the possibility of using all the cores of the processor system. Please note that for 2-core processors, as a rule, at least 2 GB of "RAM" corresponds, for 4-core processors - at least 4 GB, etc.

The PCI debug and blocking items must be disabled.

Instead of an afterword

So we figured out how to enable all the cores of the Windows 7 processor. In general, as already clear, this process does not cause any particular difficulties in Windows 7 and higher. Another thing is that it is necessary to analyze in advance for the correspondence of the number of cores and strips of RAM, because as a result, a complete slowdown of the computer may appear or, in general, its failure. So it's better not to joke with such settings if you are not sure that the inclusion of absolutely all cores is an absolute necessity.

However, there shouldn't be any problems with the BIOS either. Most systems, when resetting to defaults, are intended to maximize the capabilities of modern multi-core processors. Such a solution was given, so to speak, as a last resort.

Since the original technology of Windows in terms of the computing power of the processor assumes the use of only one processor core, and if there is a shortage of the rest, many owners of computer systems based on multi-core processors naturally wonder how to enable additional cores on Windows 7 or on any other system. ... But the very essence of the question comes down to what performance effect can be obtained by using all the cores, and in general, is it worth doing such things. Let's try to figure it out.

What does the inclusion of all processor cores give?

A processor is a device that has limited computational capabilities. It has limitations or, if you like, a certain ceiling on the number of operations performed. That is, whether it has at least 4, at least 8 cores, it will not jump above its capabilities. It means that no matter how fast the data is transmitted to it, their volume for processing will always remain unchanged. In some ways, this is akin to even loading RAM.

Before deciding how to enable all kernels on Windows 7, you need to be clear about how it all works. This can be compared, for example, with a meal. You can operate with one hand or two. In this example, the mouth (or stomach) can be compared to the processor, and the hands to the nuclei. Putting several pieces of cake in your mouth with one hand will be slower, with two - faster. But this does not mean that more will fit in the mouth than as much as it is designed for. So it is with processors. The acceleration of loading computational operations into the processor does not always contribute to their speedy execution. And processing information can be compared not only with chewing food, but also with swallowing. It is clear after all that more than what is allowed to sip will not work.

However, if you can chew fast enough, by analogy with modern processors that can "swallow" information, why not?

Is it really necessary?

How expedient it is to do this, everyone decides for himself. But when deciding how to enable the second core on Windows 7, provided that you have a 2-core processor, there are several points to consider.

It will hardly be possible to achieve a special increase in performance, 10-15% (although for some systems or resource-intensive programs this is quite a significant indicator). But the problem is that the use of each core is tied to the amount of RAM. And then problems may arise, because when the commands are redirected to each processor core, RAM overflow may occur, and the whole system will simply "freeze".

How to enable all kernels on Windows 7 via BIOS?

But if the decision to enable all cores is made, you should first pay attention to the settings of the primary BIOS. Initially, the activation, regardless of the software environment of the installed operating system, must be done exactly there.

After entering, you should find a section titled like Advanced Clock Calibration. Most systems are set to Auto by default. This means that additional cores will only be used if they are unable to handle the operations of the main core. There is nothing easier than setting the All Cores value, which will correspond to the use of all processor cores, regardless of the number and type of operations performed.

Accessing settings via system configuration

Now let's pay attention to how to enable all kernels on Windows 7 in the software environment of the system itself. Some users are mistaken in thinking that such actions can be performed in the standard "Control Panel". Nothing like this! You will have to use the "Run" console or in the English version of the system - Run (Win + R). In it, you need to enter the msconfig command (a unified tool for accessing Windows configuration for all systems), go to the boot tab, and then click on the button for configuring advanced settings.

Now, in fact, about how to enable all cores on Windows 7. In a new window on the left, the number of cores is set, which corresponds to the number of processors, and on the right, the required amount of RAM is set.

Mandatory conditions and parameters

RAM is not so simple. Although the system itself determines the amount of memory allocated to each core, seemingly automatically, one should not delude ourselves on this score.

It is generally accepted, according to established standards, that for 2 GB of RAM it corresponds to 2-core processors, 4 GB - to 4-core processors, etc. But even here it is not so simple. At least 1 GB of RAM must be allocated for each core. If the configuration of the computer system does not meet the established requirements, you can not even try to make any settings (all the same, nothing will work).

On the other hand, in the question of how to enable all cores on Windows 7, one should not lose sight of the fact that modern processors have more capabilities than stated. For example, second-generation Intel Core i7 processors found in laptops are comparable to 4-core processors in stationary systems in terms of processing. Therefore, it should not be surprising that with 8 GB of RAM, memory will not be allocated in the same way (considering two threads). The number of processors will indicate 4 (although there are actually one with two dual-thread cores) with the appropriate memory allocation.

Instead of a total

Finally, it’s worth asking yourself if you’re worth tinkering with. In general, if a system with a sufficiently large amount of RAM and a powerful processor does not show signs of inhibition, it is better not to touch the system settings in this regard, otherwise it is even possible to achieve the completely opposite effect when, due to too fast data loading, the processor simply will not cope with such the amount of computation, even though all the cores are involved. As you could imagine, fine tuning is needed here, and not everyone can do it. Overlockers can overclock processors, but this is fraught with some negative consequences for processors in terms of physical failure.