50% CPU Usage w/ AMD X2 3800

[frobro390]

Ok so I've been using this computer for a few months now and I am curious as to why I'm only able to use 50% of the CPU at any given time. This includes times when I am using multi threaded software like Adobe Photoshop CS2. It seems no matter what I do the load is always distributed between the two cores.

Now I am running Win XP Pro, and I am observing the CPU usage through the performance tab of Task Manager. I have in the past used XP 64 and the CPU was reporting better usage all around, including when I was running applications that were only single threaded.

My question... Is this a limitation I will have to live with as long as I use Win XP, will this issue really be solved by using a 64 bit OS? Is this really a not an issue at all???

I just looking for clarification, because if I am really only using half of my CPU I would surely like to do something to speed things up.

Any help is appreciated!

[newbuilder14]

So when you're in task manager do you see two line graphs fluctuating?

I'm not sure how accurate that reading is anyway - I doubt I'm using 19% of my processor right now..

[fleeingpepper]

On dual processors, the task manager CPU graphs show both cpu's at 50% if one core is fully loaded.