Does Parallels use both processing cores?

[daneoni]

Just wondering if Parallels takes advantage of both cores?

[wrldwzrd89]

There's a simple way to test this. While Parallels is running, open Activity Monitor and look at the number of threads listing for Parallels. If it has more than 1, it's taking advantage of both cores.

[gloss]

I don't believe it's multi-threaded at this time.

[uaaerospace]

Yes, it does. I also allows Windows programs to take advantage of both cores as well (given if the programs themselves are written that way)

[psychofreak]

It is not yet, VMWare Fusion does...

[rogersmj]

Yes, it does. I also allows Windows programs to take advantage of both cores as well (given if the programs themselves are written that way)

No, I don't think it does. If you have it working on both cores, would you explain how you do that? Because mine only seems to operate on one.

[Malcster]

No, it doesnt.

From one of the parallels guys on Parallels forum.

1. Current design is very optimal for dual core systems - 1 core for Windows XP, 1 core for Mac OS X - optimal performance for both systems. So I don't see any reason to give Windows XP both cores and left Mac OS X without CPU power.

2. If you take Mac Pro with 4 cores - then it is make sense. We will introduce this feature in next major version - 3.0.

http://forums.parallels.com/showthread.php?t=3987&highlight=dual+core

[islandman]

It doesn't yet. I saw this in their forum before, but I can't find the link. It's supposed to be incorporated into the software at a later date, though.

[uaaerospace]

No, I don't think it does. If you have it working on both cores, would you explain how you do that? Because mine only seems to operate on one.

I could be wrong (HA, wouldn't be the first). However I thought a single core program would top out at 100% CPU usage? See screen shot.

[wrldwzrd89]

I could be wrong (HA, wouldn't be the first). However I thought a single core program would top out at 100% CPU usage? See screen shot.
Look at the number of threads. Parallels has 17. Therefore, at least some of the processing Parallels is doing is going to the other core. Remember, a dual-core CPU has 200% CPU time available to allocate (100% per core).

[daneoni]

I guess that makes sense. One core for each OS, thats fair enough but with 8 core Mac Pros due....will they be able to make 4 cores for each OS. Now that would be something.

Quad core notebooks, one day....

[himansk]

like many programs, parallels is multithreaded. but it gives the win desktop only one thread/cpu to work with. now parallels itself will be doing other things at the same time, like managing network, coherence, virtual harddisk management, etc etc, hence it has multiple threads for these tasks.