[Dx4win] Are you Hyper-Threading?

[Jim Reisert AD1C]

I found out Wednesday morning that Hyper-Threading was *not* turned on on my
work PC.  When I got home that night, found out it was *not* enabled on my ham
PC either!  What is Hyper-Threading?

    http://www.intel.com/technology/hyperthread
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthreading

NOTE: this applies only to Intel Pentium 4 processors, so you can stop reading
now if you want.

Here's how to check:

1.  Right-click on the Start bar and start the Task Manager.
    Click on the Performance tab.  If your "CPU Usage History"
    graph has a big gray bar down the middle (separating it
    into two halves), then H-T is enabled, and you're done!

2.  Download the "Intel Processor ID Utility from:

    http://support.intel.com/support/processors/sb/CS-015477.htm

    Install and run it. On the "CPU Technologies" tab, it will
    say whether your processor supports Hyper-Threading.

3.  If #2 says you have it, but #1 says you don't, then you have
    to reboot.  During the power-on self test, hit F2 to get into
    the BIOS setup.  Use the down-arrows until you get to an option
    that lets you change the H-T setting.  Make sure it's ON.

    These instructions for for a Dell PC - they may be different for
    other PCs

4.  Save the BIOS change and Exit.  The computer will reboot.

5.  In my case, when Windows restarted, it detected a hardware change
    and installed a driver for it, then suggested rebooting.  Do that.

6.  I tried #1 again, and saw the two halves of the CPU Usage History graph.

73 - Jim AD1C


--
Jim Reisert AD1C, 7 Charlemont Court, North Chelmsford, MA 01863
USA +978-251-9933, <jjreisert at alum.mit.edu>, http://www.ad1c.us