Dual core problems

[BetaSword]

Ok. So. My computer's got an Intel Centrino Duo processer. 1.83 ghz each. My problem is, though, that whenever I'm running a game or something like that, I've noticed the CPU usage never goes over 50%, something I'm taking to mean that the games are only working off of one processor, even though I have them all set to use both under the affinity settings in the task manager.

So my question is as follows, and is in multiple parts:

A) Are they really only using one core? Or is it just limiting the amount of CPU usage it can do?
B) If they are only using one processor, is there any way I can force them to use both, to get better performance?
C) Would a game using more than 50% of the CPU power necessarily make it run better?

[steelcobra]

Most games aren't designed to multithread right now, so don't worry about it. It's the program, not the proc or OS.

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Ok. So. My computer's got an Intel Centrino Duo processer. 1.83 ghz each. My problem is, though, that whenever I'm running a game or something like that, I've noticed the CPU usage never goes over 50%, something I'm taking to mean that the games are only working off of one processor, even though I have them all set to use both under the affinity settings in the task manager.

So my question is as follows, and is in multiple parts:

A) Are they really only using one core? Or is it just limiting the amount of CPU usage it can do?
B) If they are only using one processor, is there any way I can force them to use both, to get better performance?
C) Would a game using more than 50% of the CPU power necessarily make it run better?

I want to say that this could be one of two things. first, most games do not use any advantages for multiprocessing currently (not just multithreading, which could be single-core) and could be using simply one core.

Second, I have heard that the intel processors and the AMD processors handle this problem differently, and the AMD processors tend to be smarter about concurrency operations than the Intel ones in this particular area -- meaning that dual-core AMD's tend to work in such a way that games will use both cores, while the Intel method doesn't. It has to do with what the main goal for using the multiple cores has been -- Intel has been trying to expand to multiple applications operating concurrently, while AMD has been focusing on a single application dividing up its threads across multiple processors.

What does that mean? Intel chips tend to favor operating where you have several applications open simultaneously -- they don't tend to automatically attempt to divide threads for a single application up between the two cores, unless the application explicitly orders this. AMD chips tend to split up threads, without accounting for application, so a single application would effectively be divided between the two processor cores. There are positives and negatives for either attempt, but in the end, from what I remember reading, AMD chips tend to be better for running a single application (like playing a game), while Intel chips tend to be better for running multiple applications (like in a business environment).

[steelcobra]

In other words, Intel is closer to how most people use their systems.

[ZippyDSMlee]

perhaps the real problem is you are running a older buggy dual core cpu?
intels first and 2nd line of of dual cores was pretty flaky.... more slaping to dieson 1 normal single core base and not polishing the design and such,they have gotten better and the core 2 duos are some of the best on the market.