Additional boot options number of Windows 10 processors. How to use all processor cores
Many users find Windows operating systems not very flexible in terms of settings, overclocking and optimization. Fortunately, this is not entirely true and the OS can very well help increase computer performance. For example, if by default not all processor cores are used, you can use certain manipulations in the system to enable them all without using additional software.
Important information
Typically, the operating system itself determines the optimal number of cores that need to be used for its operation. Sometimes unused cores are connected automatically during high loads. Windows almost always uses all processor cores when the computer is running, the load is just distributed differently between them.
However, if you decide to use them all in operations such as turning on the computer and starting the OS, it is recommended that you check the temperature of the working cores before and after starting work. If the ball temperature was already high before the start, and after connecting it only increased, then it is recommended to return to the default settings.
Also pay attention to the stability of the system before and after work. Sometimes a computer may start slower, but more stable with one core, and when you connect more additional cores, the information processing speed will speed up, but stability may suffer. In this case, it would also be wiser to roll back to the default settings.
Stage 1: Find out the number of available cores
It is worth understanding that if the processor has only two cores, you will not be able to use four or more cores in the computer’s operation, so it is initially recommended to find out their available number. You can do this using the following instructions:
Similarly, you can view the number of processor cores using third-party software, for example, AIDA64. However, in this case, it would be more correct to use the functionality of Windows itself, since sometimes there are problems of this kind that AIDA64 (or other third-party software) sees only 4 cores, and Windows for some reason only 2.
Stage 2: Connecting all cores at startup
Typically, by default, the system will use all available cores while the computer is running. True, some may have a heavy load, while others may have a smaller load; also, at low loads, some cores may be completely turned off in order to save energy.
However, when you turn on your computer, only a limited amount of the processor's processing power can actually be used, which can make it somewhat slower to turn on. You can activate all the powers of the device when you turn it on directly from the operating system using these instructions:
Alternative method via BIOS
If for some reason you are unable to do everything as in the instructions above, you can use it to increase the number of cores responsible for loading the BIOS OS. In this case, it is advisable to exercise some caution, and if you are on friendly terms with your computer, then it is better not to use this method at all, so as not to accidentally mess up something in the settings.
The step-by-step instructions look like this:
Typically, all processor cores are used in one way or another while the computer is running, the only exception being when it is turned on. But even if you use all the CPU resources in this process, you won’t see much of an increase in performance during normal PC operation, the only thing is that it will load faster when turned on.
When a user wants to increase the performance of their device, most likely they will decide to enable all available processor cores. There are several solutions that will help in this situation on Windows 10.
All processor cores operate at different frequencies (simultaneously), and are used at full capacity when required. For example, for heavy games, video editing, etc. In everyday tasks they work as usual. This makes it possible to achieve a balance of performance, which means that your device or its components will not fail prematurely.
It is also worth considering that not all software manufacturers can decide to unlock all cores and support multi-threading. This means that one core can take on the entire load, and the rest will work normally. Since support for several cores by a certain program depends on its developers, the ability to enable all cores is only available to start the system.
To use cores to start the system, you first need to know their number. This can be done using special programs or in a standard way.
- Launch the application.
- In the tab "CPU" ("CPU") find "cores" ("number of active cores"). The specified number is the number of cores.
You can also use the standard method.
Method 1: Standard system tools
When the system starts, only one core is used. Therefore, below we will describe a method for adding several more cores when turning on the computer.
Remember that there must be 1024 MB of RAM per core. Otherwise, nothing will work. If you have a 32-bit system, then there is a chance that the system will not use more than three gigabytes of RAM.
If you have set the correct settings, but the amount of memory is still off, then:
If nothing has changed, then you need to configure the loading of multiple cores using the BIOS.
Method 2: Using BIOS
This method is used if certain settings have been reset due to an operating system failure. This method is also relevant for those who have unsuccessfully configured "System configuration" and the OS does not want to start. In other cases, it makes no sense to use the BIOS to enable all cores when the system starts.
This is how you can enable all cores in Windows 10. These manipulations only affect startup. In general, they do not increase productivity, since this depends on other factors.
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, Windows 7 or the like. 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 does enabling all processor cores do?
Many users have a rather distorted opinion about the system using all processor cores. Remember, you can enable two or four cores, but this is not the same as using two or four processors! The performance gain will not be as expected.
Transferring or reading data will be faster, but the amount of information processed will remain the same. To understand why and how to enable all cores on Windows 7 (and, in general, whether it’s worth doing), let’s draw an analogy with eating. It goes without saying that you can put food into your mouth with one hand, or with both. In this case, the hands are the processor cores. It is clear that using both hands will make the process much faster. But here’s the problem: when your mouth is full, no hands, even four or six, will help. There will simply be nowhere to put food.
Exactly the same thing is happening with computing capabilities. Here, only the optimization of the number of operations performed in a certain period of time by each core occurs, but the total volume remains the same, and, as they say, you cannot jump higher than this indicator.
How to enable everything on Windows 7 when changing BIOS settings
So, first, let's consider the most unpleasant situation, when for some reason changes were made to the BIOS parameters, settings were reset, or the system simply crashed.
In this case, when deciding how to enable all kernels on Windows 7, you need to rely on specific settings. To do this, use a section called "Advanced Clock Calibration", where the default value should be set to "Auto" or "All Cores" (in different BIOS modifications, the names of the sections may differ or be in tabs with other 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 used 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 used, you can use the operating system’s own tools.
How to enable all kernels on Windows 7 in this situation? Here you need to call the “Run” menu and enter the “msconfig” command there to enter the configuration parameters. Here we have the “Download” tab we need. Just below the main window there is a button for additional parameters. Clicking on it takes us to the settings menu.
On the left we use the line for the number of processors and select the number corresponding to the number of cores. Don’t worry, the system will not display more than there actually are. For example, we need to solve the problem of how to enable 4 cores on Windows 7. As is already clear, we select exactly this number from the list. After the changes have been made, save the configuration and restart 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 RAM levels do not meet the required values, there is no point in trying. This way you can only get the opposite effect. In this case we are talking about hand-assembled stationary computers. This does not threaten laptops (if the equipment has not been changed), since any manufacturer takes into account the possibility of using all 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.
Debugging and PCI blocking items must be disabled.
Instead of an afterword
So we figured out how to enable all processor cores in Windows 7. In general, as is already clear, this process in Windows 7 and higher does not cause any particular difficulties. Another thing is that you need to analyze in advance to see if the number of cores and RAM sticks matches, because as a result, the computer may completely slow down or, in general, fail. So it’s better not to joke with such settings unless you are firmly convinced that enabling absolutely all cores is absolutely necessary.
However, there should be no problems with the BIOS. Most systems, when reset to default settings, intend to make maximum use of the capabilities of modern multi-core processors. This decision was made, so to speak, as a last resort.
Even on a multi-core computer in Windows 7, when the system is turned on, by default only one core is used. This significantly reduces the PC boot speed. Let's figure out how you can enable all of the specified objects to speed up your work.
Unfortunately, in Windows 7 there is only one way to activate kernels. It is executed through the shell "System configuration". We will look at it in detail below.
"System configuration"
First we need to activate the tool "System configuration".
- Click "Start". Let's go to "Control Panel".
- Go to the directory "System and safety".
- Click "Administration".
- In the list of elements of the window that appears, select "System configuration".
There is also a faster way to activate the said tool. But it is less intuitive, since it requires you to remember one command. We are recruiting Win+R and enter into the opened area:
Click "OK".
- The shell of the product needed for our purposes opens. Let's go to the section.
- In the area that opens, click on the element "Extra options…".
- An additional options window will open. This is where the settings we are interested in are made.
- Check the box next to the parameter "Number of processors".
- After this, the drop-down list below becomes active. You should select the option with the maximum number. It is this that reflects the number of cores on a given PC, that is, if you select the largest number, then all cores will be used. Then click "OK".
- Returning to the main window, click "Apply" And "OK".
- A dialog box will open asking you to restart the PC. The point is that the changes that were introduced in the shell "System Configurations", will become relevant only after rebooting the OS. Therefore, save all open documents and close active programs to avoid data loss. Then click .
- The computer will reboot, after which all its cores will be enabled.
As you can judge from the instructions above, activating all cores on a PC is quite simple. But in Windows 7 this can only be done in one way - through a window "System Configurations".
