Setting the number of enabled processor cores (2024)

FAQs

How many processor cores should I use? ›

When buying a new computer, whether a desktop PC or laptop, it's important to know the number of cores in the processor. Most users are well served with 2 or 4 cores, but video editors, engineers, data analysts, and others in similar fields will want at least 6 cores.

The number of cores in a system will determine how many programs and tasks it can execute at once. For instance, a single-core processor may be able to handle one task at a time. By contrast, a quad-core processor could handle up to four simultaneous tasks.

Open Task Manager (right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc) On the Processes tab, click the CPU column to sort processes by usage. Right-click on the Taskbar and select Task Manager or press Ctrl + Shift + Esc. On the Performance tab, select the number of cores you want to use.

If you think that your computer is performing slow and can do better, you can manually enable all cores so the workload between them is divided, resulting in faster performance.

There have been some major developments when it comes to the processing power of laptops. Many are even available with quad-core processors, which can handle several demanding applications at once. And for most users, 4 cores should be more than enough.

A quad core CPU is 4 individual CPU cores etched into a single slab of silicon, or at the very least on the same processor package. A quad CPU machine is comprised of 4 individual processors on a single motherboard. The CPUs themselves may or may not have multiple cores each.

More computer cores can boost your Windows 10 computer's performance because they allow your operating system to run different tasks simultaneously. So, instead of lining up different high-priority tasks for the CPU to handle one by one, the OS can distribute them across multiple cores and process them faster.

In general, a faster clock speed means applications can load and run faster, but a high core count means that a computer can run multiple programs and/or switch between programs at the same with little trouble.

CPUs with multiple cores have more power to run multiple programs at the same time. However, doubling the number of cores will not simply double a computer's speed. CPU cores have to communicate with each other through channels and this uses up some of the extra speed.

The short answer is no, because the number of processors value in MSConfig is used only for debugging, and it should remain disabled. Changing it will not improve your performance, and it may cause stability issues.

How do I change the number of processors? ›

Enabling all CPU cores is not inherently harmful or damaging to the processor. In fact, modern processors are designed to take advantage of multiple cores and threads in order to improve performance.

The Number of Processors setting in msconfig is used for debugging Windows and should not be enabled by standard users. Enabling it tells Windows to only allocate for use the specified number of processor threads. When this checkbox is unchecked, Windows automatically allocates all available processor threads for use.

We tested a number of different configurations and found that with two Performance Cores and all Efficient-cores disabled, the remaining four Performance-cores were able to boost to higher clock speeds, leading to higher performance in certain situations.

A CPU with a higher single-core/per-core performance will yield better gaming performance. This doesn't mean that less cores is better, or that you must only focus on Single-Core/per-core performance, more cores can also improve the experience. So 12 cores will be overkill for just gaming.

A current-gen 6-core processor should perform well for another four to five years, which is when most PC gamers begin to think about an upgrade. On the flip side, if you plan to get serious mileage out of your processor, an 8-core chip hedges your bets.

A 4-core CPU is adequate for single-threaded applications such as internet browsers, older games, basic image editing, and most office work; however, a 6-core CPU performs much better in complex applications such as rendering, modeling, high framerate gaming, and elaborate productivity programs such as Microsoft Excel.

Enabling all CPU cores is not inherently harmful or damaging to the processor. In fact, modern processors are designed to take advantage of multiple cores and threads in order to improve performance.