Mutiple Processors?


aapje89

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I have a bootble linux cd and when I load it it says: error only 1 processor found.
Is it possible to have multiple processors running at the same time?
 
You need a special multi processor motherboard to support more than one cpu. If you don't know whether you have one or not... then you don't! :)

High end systems use more than one cpu to distribute load and programs so that the system does not become unresponsive when running more and more programs. If code is written correctly ('threaded') then a single program can also take advantage of multiple processors and run faster than it would on a single processor.

Recent operating systems like NT, 2K and XP Pro can also split the work of running applications across cpu's ... eg. winamp running on cpu 1, firefox on cpu 2... an explorer search window on cpu 1... etc... so that one cpu does not become bogged down when you are running a cpu intensive program... the system will still be smooth respond quickly as the second cpu will be relatively lightly loaded.

I've got several multi cpu systems (and run systems at work with *many* processors - generally database systems and high end web servers)... they are good... but the cost of building one is generally a fair chunk more than an equivalent single processor machine - ie the motherboard is more expensive... you need to buy 2x processors... and often need more expensive error correcting memory. The average home user doesnt need multi cpus and will not see any advantage from having them.
 
Indeed... Intel's 'Hyperthreading' is a stab at multiple processors in a single core, albeit merely sharing the different execution pipelines, rather than dedicated seperate hardware and registers - but it's bringing it to the desktop....

Sun have the new UltraSparc processors coming out shortly with 2, 4 or more processors on a single die - I don't think it will be mass market for a while though. It won't be long before AMD and Intel have consumer hardware out either.

I think IBM are heading the same way with a version of the PowerPC architecture, too...
 
well hyperthreding dont helps much, intel cpu's are still inevektive as hell
but amd will bring a multi core cpu next year, i bet it will rock (and be unpayable first)
 
no big one, it simulates a second cpu but let 1 cpu do the work to decrase ideling of it, it works kind of good, but it dosnt bring the p4 near the effectivity of a amd cpu.
but espacialy under windows it helps against "hanging" it all feels a bit faster, but its no real diffrence.
 
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