Knowing My CPU

[s3nate]

hey, sorry to bother you guys about this, but I just ordered a custom computer from a store, and I was wondering if there is a way to tell wether the CPU (intel) is the HT ones. The reason im asking is because im afraid of them ripping me off with just a normal 3.2 CPU instead of the ones with hyper-threading. So if anyone can tell me how to see what type it is it would be great =).

Thanks,
s3nate

[sec_ware]

Hi

The very simplest way is to check the number of CPUs
displayed by the task manager (assuming windows XP). If you
have only 1 CPU, but there are 2 CPUs shown, there is a
good chance that you have HT support (real vs logical CPUs).

Also simple might be to remove the cooler, look at the CPU for
a small HT, and put back the cooler correctly (not recommended)

The second simplest, but safe way would be to use the intel
tool at [1].


For those interested in what the tool is actually doing.
It calls cpuid and obtains information by analysing the
result (in edx) based on the specification[2].
I quickly coded an example (for several compilers)

#include <stdio.h>

#define USE_ATandT 1			// set to 1 if you use gcc

int IsHTSupport = 0;

int main(){

	long int one=1;
	long int test = 0x10000000;


#if USE_ATandT
__asm__ __volatile__( "pushl %%eax\t\n"
				"movl %1,%%eax\t\n" 
			        "cpuid\t\n" 
                      "test %2,%%edx\t\n" 
				 "jz HT_Not_Support\t\n"
				  "movl %1,%%eax\t\n"
				  "movl %%eax,%0\t\n"
				  "HT_Not_Support:\t\n"
				  "popl %%eax"
                      : "=m" (IsHTSupport)
                      : "m" (one),"m" (test)); 
#else
__asm{
	mov			eax,1
	cpuid 
	test        edx,   0x10000000   // Check if bit 28 in EDX is set
	jz			HT_Not_Support
	mov			IsHTSupport,1
	HT_Not_Support:
	}
#endif


	printf("Result: %d (1=yes, 0=no)\n",IsHTSupport);
	return 0;
}

compile with

> gcc -lstdc++ -o test_HT test_HT.cpp

Cheers


[1] http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scri...g/cthenu04.msi
[2] http://bochs.sourceforge.net/techspe...-and-cpuid.pdf

[Und3ertak3r]

it could be a HT cpu but if the MOBO is not HT compatable then you have a plain jane toy with a 533fsb.. and no Hyper Threading..

[s3nate]

Thanks, it really helped...and thankfully they didnt try to rip me off=)