I think it depends on the compiler used to write the code.
TMPEGEnc and VirtualDub will use it to effect, don't know about Vegas. Even if it doesn't support it where it should help is if your running two instances of it. I also believe you need to be running XP for Hyperthreading to work, Win2K just doesn't get it.

You need XP to run hyperthreading. What it does (from what I have read) is take the HT CPU and act as a duel processor setup which lets you do multiple tasks at one time; for instance, burn a CD or DVD while editing on Vegas or platying a video game online. I am assuming that vegas is built for HT since they pushed the HT concept in the last 8 catalogs I have gotten from them (either that or intel paid some money for this).. Can anyone add to this?

Hmmm that sounds nice to be able to run 2 programs at once. Also do you have the ability to switch hyperthreading on and of if you wish to do so ?

I'd go for 3.06 GHz with 1GB of memory ;^)

Seriously, laptops do not cut it as a NLE workhorse platform. Higher rated speed of a processor in a laptop is not indicative of how fast/well the system as a whole actually works.

Hyperthreading does not help much with rendering. Dual-Processor does. You'd need to run Windows XP Pro to take advantage of the DP configuration.

Since retail prices of 2 x 512 MB PC2100 DIMMs go for about $120 or less, i'd spend on the memory since having more memory will help with Vegas Preview, thus possibly reducing the needs to render for review. My system is a solid performer with an Athlon XP 2600+ (2 GHz) and 1.5GB memory.

--svb

Win2k supports dual processors. Just as NT did.

Sorry, "Windows XP Pro" instead of "Windows XP Home".

--svb

YES, very simple. This option is in the BIOS of the PC motherboard. I was playing with my new system last night, and it works pretty good. With Hyperthreading enabled, when you look at the Device manager and look at processors, it shows (2) Pentium 4 3.06 processors (there is only one in the PC, but it is showing two because of the hyperthreading technique being enabled). The HT technology will only work with Windows XP right now though, Windows 2k does not recognize duel processors.

FWIW, I think it helps to think of hyperthreading the same way as SSE or MMX or whatever CPU enhancements have come our way over the years.

What these do is kind of like the effect of Direct X (or ASIO drivers) in windows - they try to work with windows' strengths, and cut through some of the BS, though with CPUs it gets much more involved of course, with shortcuts built in and so on.

My understanding is that with earlier enhancements like MMX, 3D now and SSE, at the CPU programming/engineering level, they added sort of a special path thru the CPU for certain instructions coming from your software. Software developers that figured out how to best use these special instructions in their code sometimes got significant boosts in their software's performance.

As all these instructions from your software have to pass through the CPU, kind of like the lines at a theme park, I think of hyperthreading as kind of adding a second line at another entrance - but one requiring some sort of VIP card to get in. If the software sends instructions that meet the requirements (most stuff still goes in single file), and if the software can take advantage of it (like the theme park, don't split up groups or families), then you can get a speed boost.

I think you can still find a short discussion on this at the V/Dub site & forums... Avery Lee found that he could take advantage of hyperthreading, but the result was not compatible with everything else, all the other CPUs without it, so you can download 2 versions of V/Dub.

FWIW anyway...

SVB,

You said:
> Hyperthreading does not help much with rendering.
> Dual-Processor does. You'd need to run Windows
> XP Pro to take advantage of the DP configuration.

I disagree. I have two DP computers and when I render a big project, one CPU gets buried and the other is completely idle. (or nearly so)

The only time I see an advantage to DP is that I can render two projects at the same time, or continue on with other things without drastic slowdowns when a single project is rendering.

So there is improvement, but to simply say that DP improves rendering speed (with Vegas) is simplistic and not completely accurate.

Not to say that I would give up my Duallies. I have rendered a project in Vegas, burnt multiple DVD's with Nero, and scanned and corrected photos in Photoshop at the same time. Try that without a Duallie.

Kirk

Win2k doesn't support hyper-threading but DOES support dual processors - multiple processors, actually. Am I wrong, here?

You are correct.

With all respect Win2k recognizes Dual processors, i.e., if you actually have 2 of them installed on the mobo, e.g., AMD processors. Of course this is different than HT.