Thread: Making use of 64 bit/multi core processers?

Resent processers seem to mostly all have 64 bit support. Some also have more than one processer in one packege. Core 2 duo processers for example. There is even a core 2 duo with four processors in one.
I am wondering does windows spread resources over multiple core and use "64 bit" when it is available or do you use c++ to make for efficient use of these technologies.

Any help is appreciated.

It's up to the compiler. I'm not running 64 bits yet, but there should be an option in Visual Studio to compile for the 64-bit Windows OS.

I am wondering does windows spread resources over multiple core.

To some extent, yes, the operating system takes care of it. Windows will automatically split the various running processes/programs between the available processors. If you write a program that hogs the processor in a "tight loop", it will only hog a single processor/core and the other processors will be available for other tasks. (In fact, Windows won't allow a user-mode program to totally hog the processor.)

If you want your program to take advantage of multiple processors, you need to write a multi-threaded program. Then Windows can divide the threads among the available processors. It's actually rather difficult to "balance" the threads in order to run multiple cores at 100%.

I found a article and some books on multithreading.

. It's actually rather difficult to "balance" the threads in order to run multiple cores at 100%

As I read, what you are saying comes more true after every sentence.