Utility to limit CPU cores from 4 to 2?

[thinkpadcollection]

Is there one that exist for that job? Just wondering that all.

Cheers, thinkpadcollection

[600X]

I only know of a way to limit them from 4 to 1, which can be done in the BIOS by disabling multi core processing. (If you leave HT on, you will have an additional core show up under Windows) If your goal is to reduce power consumption and/or heat output, them limiting the frequency will do the job as well, since every frequency has a voltage assigned to it, so choosing something in between the minimum and maximum frequency should provide noticeable power savings while retaining decent performance levels. You can do this in the Windows power manager or with the Frequency Scaling Indicator under Linux.

[hhhd1]

start > run > msconfig > Boot (tab) > advanced options > number of processors

you will need to restart after that to take effect.

[calvinb]

The threads/cores will still be running though - just that Windows will pretend they don't exist.

If you want to disable threads/cores, go to the BIOS to do it. If you want, on the other hand, restrict cores to a program, set the affinity.

[dr_st]

The threads/cores will still be running though - just that Windows will pretend they don't exist.

If Windows pretends they don't exist and does not use them - then what's running on them, and why should one care?

[hhhd1]

The threads/cores will still be running though - just that Windows will pretend they don't exist.

which is usually enough for processor power saving to kick in, so that they will use almost no power and will not affect the performance.

[calvinb]

The threads/cores will still be running though - just that Windows will pretend they don't exist.

If Windows pretends they don't exist and does not use them - then what's running on them, and why should one care?

If they aren't turned on at all, they won't use any power at all.

(I don't know why you'd do this anyways - disabling threads can improve perf in some workloads, but cores?)

[hhhd1]

for forcing more constant turbo boost when less cores are active. for better single core performance.

or, testing/benchmarking software and games with less cores