Multicore CPU: how to disable a core

June 2014
To run certain applications that are not compatible with multi-core operations, it may be necessary to disable a
core in a multi-core CPU. In Windows systems, it is possible to disable a core through the system configuration
window. Choose the number of processors that should be enabled or disabled and restart the computer for the
settings to take effect.Disabling a core in Linux can be done through the grub menu and add parameters to the
kernel entry. These parameters are sent directly to the core when the Linux is starting. The Linux system has to be
restarted after the modifications to disable a core in a multi-core CPU are made.

Multicore CPU: how to disable a core

Procedure when using Windows (Vista, 7 and XP)
Procedure when using Linux
It is sometimes quite useful with a multi-core processor to be able to
determine whether a core is working properly during rise in frequencies
or for testing purposes. This can be done by disabling a core, thereby
isolating the potentially problematic one. Sometimes this procedure is
necessary to run certain applications, which are not compatible with
multi core processing. Note that this procedure will not affect physically
your hardware, but your OS (Windows or Linux) will simply ignore the
core(s) you selected.

Procedure when using Windows (Vista, 7 and XP)

Open the start menu, click on Run, type in msconfig and click on OK
In the System Configuration window click on the Atart sub menu and the on Advanced Options button

In the second window that appears, you should be provided with an option for enabling and disabling the
processors as you wish
Validate your entry by clicking on OK
Restart your PC

Procedure when using Linux

When using Linux the procedure is quite different. When starting up your PC, you should find the Grub menu, which
is responsible for launching Linux. Select the entry you want to use, press the E key and a menu will appear
(depending on the version used).
title
root
kernel
initrd
quiet

Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic

(hd0,5)
/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=a8a39729-9d2a-425b-b84b-ecc5c7dad104 ro quiet splash
/boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

Using the arrow keys, go the line beginning with the word "kernel" and press E again. Be aware that you are
editing the line, which defines the path to your Linux kernel (core). At the end of the line, add the following
command:
maxcpus=1
The end result should be:
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=UUID=a8a39729-9d2a-425b-b84b-ecc5c7dad104 ro quiet maxcpus=1
Note: que ro, quiet and maxcpus are the parameters sent to the core when starting up Linux. Press the B key to
start Linux.
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