Sometimes PC manufacturers limit the number of CPU cores an system can use.
This can limit the maximum performance that a computer can provide you.
But this is not a fixed limitation.
you’re able to easily bypass it and get more performance from the same computer.
In this article, I will show you three ways how you could unpark your processor cores easily.
So, lets start.
What is CPU Core Parking?
Core Parking is a feature that disables some processing cores on a CPU.
The rest of the active cores are used whenever any instructions are executed.
The disabled cores lay in a low-power state and are not used actively by the operating system.
This is mostly done to save energy.
As lesser cores are used, less heat will be generated by the CPU.
You will need smaller cooling solutions, and your fans will not spin hard to dissipate more heat.
Thin and light laptops which focus on getting the longest battery life use this optimization.
But desktops do not need such power-saving measures, as they are plugged in all day long.
So, how do you know if your processor has some cores parked?
TheResource Monitorprogram can show which cores are in hibernate state.
These will appear as Parked as shown below.
But the good news is you’re free to easily remove theCPU coresfrom the parking state.
And the method shown in the next section will definitely work for both desktops and laptops.
Here are the methods to disable parked cores in Windows:
1.
When theHigh-PerformanceMode is selected, all battery-saving optimizations are turned off.
That means no more parked cores, and you get the full performance benefits.
This is how you could set your rig to High Performance on Windows:
Now open Task Manager.
You will see that all parked cores are now available to use.
Sometimes manufacturers deliberately lock up physical processing cores right from the BIOS.
But it’s possible for you to unlock them easily.
Check our separate guides forWindows 10andWindows 11.
Lets take a look at how.
This method works for Windows 7,8,10, and 11.
This allows all CPU cores to be available for utilization by an software.
As you would have guessed, you are gaining performance by sacrificingpower draw.
So, keep that in mind if you are on a laptop.
Now, if you kick off the Resource Manager, you wont see any cores marked as parked.
Using a 6-core processor is common among PCs today.
Butdo more cores give you better performance?
Read our separate article, where we explore this scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I disable core parking?
Yes, you’re able to disable core parking.
This will make all the CPU cores available, and you will see an uplift in performance.
An easy way to disable core parking is by selectingHigh Performancefrom your computersPower Plan.
Does disabling core parking improve performance?
Yes, if you disable core parking, this frees the parked cores from a sleep state.
Then they can initiate the applications, and your overall system performance will improve.
Just ensure you are okay with loud fan noises.
For additional queries, feel free to comment below.
