MP 1,1-5,1 [CPU dual X5690] Is this normal, activity on one Processor only?

[unpapapro]

Hi, I never checked this, but now that I try to debug my GPU lag, I checked also the CPU Usage monitor and it shows like this most of the time... only one on the two processurs is actually doing most of the job. Is it normal?! The computer seems to work perfect anyway, but if that's so, why having two CPU if only the first one is doing all the work???

... and yes, i tested switching the CPUs in their sockets and it's not different.

 

[mikas]

Probably normal. Try running Cinebench from Maxon. You should see every bar at max during CPU benchmark. If not, then you could say something is wrong.

 

[unpapapro]

Probably normal. Try running Cinebench from Maxon. You should see every bar at max during CPU benchmark. If not, then you could say something is wrong.

Thanks for the hint... I made the test... was playing RUST, CS:GO and Cinebench at the same time... that helped me find that it was ok...

 

[h9826790]

Your cMP only has 12 physical cores. The remaining 12 are virtual cores (which allow the remaining resources from the physical core act like another core).

There is no magic, you still only have 12 cores. Virtual core is just a way to make us easier to fully utilise the CPU. It cannot provide extra processing power.

Therefore, whenever your workflow demands less than 12 threads, the computer will assign all physical cores to do the job first. There is no point to active the virtual cores if your workflow can’t benefit from it at all.

 

[unpapapro]

Your cMP only has 12 physical cores. The remaining 12 are virtual cores (which allow the remaining resources from the physical core act like another core).

Thanks for this specific and precise answer....

 

[kohlson]

Totally normal. Creating an application that takes advantage of all cores can be very difficult to implement. Apple has made some "internal" capabilities in the OS to help, but very few apps take advantage of all cores. What Xeons are designed to do is run multiple apps simultaneously. They are server CPUs.
Apple has several apps that take advantage of all cores (and all hardware resources) such as Compressor and FCPX. Handbrake can take advantage of all available threads.
Some people with cMP prefer X5677, which have fewer cores/threads, but have faster single-thread capabilities. If an app is only capable of single-thread execution, it will run faster on these processors.

 

[unpapapro]

Some people with cMP prefer X5677, which have fewer cores/threads, but have faster single-thread capabilities. If an app is only capable of single-thread execution, it will run faster on these processors.

Thanks for the info about the X5677... On Geekbench,. the Single core score for the 5677 is the same as my 5690, and the multi-core is 2/3 the one from the 5690.... so it's not a good win... the price may be decisive, as they sell them 1/3 the price of the 5690....