MacBook - Second Core

Woodsie · Woodsie #1 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 09:01 PM

Hi,

If you check my previous posts I asked about the dual core processor.

Well, since then I have done many sessions of hard work on all sorts of programs and sometimes the mac justs grinds to a standstill.
During these I checked to see if it was using both cores and I have never seen it running both.
Is it possible to have deactivated it somehow?
Thanks

Derek McNelly · Derek McNelly #2 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 09:51 PM

Okay, nevermind. I just read up on it and the gist of what the dual core does is it splits up the processes evenly between the two cores.

The overall performance is somewhere around 1.6 times the listed clock speed, so a 2GHz Dual Core runs like a 3.2 GHz single core.

One of the reasons for the multiple cores is because it's getting harder to fit all the transistors onto a chip, and as such, it's easier to just make multiple cores that work together on a single die.

The best way to keep your Mac running fast is to add more RAM if you can, and if you can't, look and see what processes are running in the background and try and kill some of them.

dtravis7 · dtravis7 #3 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 09:58 PM

What are you using to view the activity of CPU cores?

Activity Monitor in Utilities and the CPU tab will show you both cores and how much they are being used. On my Core Duo Mini both are always in use when I am doing work.

bobtomay · bobtomay #4 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 10:01 PM

Don't believe I've ever seen only a single CPU in use in Activity Monitor.

Derek McNelly · Derek McNelly #5 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 10:07 PM

So, the two graphs highlighted in red each represent a core?

bobtomay · bobtomay #6 (**permalink**)

02-05-2008, 10:33 PM

Yes, and you can get the same on the dock icon which represents CPU history or have the dock icon set to CPU usage to show the current use only.

theonegod · theonegod #7 (**permalink**)

02-06-2008, 05:42 PM

You can deactivate a single core in power management. Otherwise no.

bryphotoguy · bryphotoguy #8 (**permalink**)

02-06-2008, 07:40 PM

When I was at the Apple store last Saturday, they had a little video about the C2D processor. The cores run independently. As for deactivating a core, I've never heard of such a thing, so I can't comment.

Woodsie · Woodsie #9 (**permalink**)

02-06-2008, 08:43 PM

Thanks guys, just checked activity monitor and there are 2 graphs working so it must be happening!

Thinking of ordering 4GB ram from macsales, that should speed things up!

Derek McNelly #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 04, 2008 Location: Center Line, Michigan Posts: 1,574 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.0 GHz C2D - iPod Classic 80GB - iPhone 3GS 8GB	02-05-2008, 09:51 PM Okay, nevermind. I just read up on it and the gist of what the dual core does is it splits up the processes evenly between the two cores. The overall performance is somewhere around 1.6 times the listed clock speed, so a 2GHz Dual Core runs like a 3.2 GHz single core. One of the reasons for the multiple cores is because it's getting harder to fit all the transistors onto a chip, and as such, it's easier to just make multiple cores that work together on a single die. The best way to keep your Mac running fast is to add more RAM if you can, and if you can't, look and see what processes are running in the background and try and kill some of them. MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo - 4 GB RAM - 320 GB HDD - OS X 10.6 80 GB iPod Classic - "fredPod II" 8 GB iPhone 3GS - "fredPhone" MoTM February 2009 Last edited by Derek McNelly; 02-05-2008 at 09:59 PM. Reason: Asked an expert!
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,820 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	02-05-2008, 10:01 PM Don't believe I've ever seen only a single CPU in use in Activity Monitor. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
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Derek McNelly #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 04, 2008 Location: Center Line, Michigan Posts: 1,574 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.0 GHz C2D - iPod Classic 80GB - iPhone 3GS 8GB	02-05-2008, 10:07 PM So, the two graphs highlighted in red each represent a core? MacBook 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo - 4 GB RAM - 320 GB HDD - OS X 10.6 80 GB iPod Classic - "fredPod II" 8 GB iPhone 3GS - "fredPhone" MoTM February 2009
	QUOTE Thanks

bobtomay #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 22, 2006 Location: Texas, where else? Posts: 21,820 Mac Specs: 15" MBP 2.33 C2D 256 4GB, MBA 13" i7 1.8, MB 2.0 2GB, Nano 4th, 3GS, iPad 1	02-05-2008, 10:33 PM Yes, and you can get the same on the dock icon which represents CPU history or have the dock icon set to CPU usage to show the current use only. I cannot be held responsible for the things that come out of my mouth. In the Windows world, most everything folks don't understand is called a virus. Place your vote for our Member of the Month
	QUOTE Thanks

bryphotoguy #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 02, 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 3,978 Mac Specs: Quad 2.8GHz Mac Pro, Edge iPhone	02-06-2008, 07:40 PM When I was at the Apple store last Saturday, they had a little video about the C2D processor. The cores run independently. As for deactivating a core, I've never heard of such a thing, so I can't comment. January 2008 Member of the Month
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Woodsie #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 24, 2007 Posts: 12	02-05-2008, 09:01 PM Hi, If you check my previous posts I asked about the dual core processor. Well, since then I have done many sessions of hard work on all sorts of programs and sometimes the mac justs grinds to a standstill. During these I checked to see if it was using both cores and I have never seen it running both. Is it possible to have deactivated it somehow? Thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

theonegod #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 476 Mac Specs: 24" 2.8ghz IMAC, MB Pro	02-06-2008, 05:42 PM You can deactivate a single core in power management. Otherwise no.
	QUOTE Thanks

Woodsie #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 24, 2007 Posts: 12	02-06-2008, 08:43 PM Thanks guys, just checked activity monitor and there are 2 graphs working so it must be happening! Thinking of ordering 4GB ram from macsales, that should speed things up!
	QUOTE Thanks

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