Setting Up and Using Your Computer 25
Hyper-Threading
Hyper-Threading is an Intel® technology that can enhance overall computer performance by allowing
one physical processor to function as two logical processors, capable of performing certain tasks
simultaneously. It is recommended that you use the Microsoft® Windows® XP Service Pack 1 (SP1) or
later operating system because Windows XP is optimized to take advantage of
Hyper-Threading technology. While many programs can benefit from Hyper-Threading, some programs
have not been optimized for Hyper-Threading and may require an update from the software
manufacturer. Contact the software manufacturer for updates and information about using
Hyper-Threading with your software.
To determine if your computer is using Hyper-Threading technology:
1
Click the
Start
button, right-click
My Computer
, and then click
Properties
.
2
Click
Hardware
and click
Device Manager
.
3
In the
Device Manager
window, click the plus (+) sign next to
Processors
. If Hyper-Threading is
enabled, the processor is listed twice.
You can enable or disable Hyper-Threading through system setup. For more information on accessing
system setup, see page103. For more information on Hyper-Threading, search the Knowledge Base on
the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.