Game Company- Java Server Thread Priority

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there
are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first
sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual
xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the
CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a turn, for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),
did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual Xeon, but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed the threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning
it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no
impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's on different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and it's not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect it's a combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and now crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption that something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there
are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first
sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual
xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the
CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a turn, for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),
did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual Xeon, but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed the threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning
it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no
impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's on different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and it's not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect it's a combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and now crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption that something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there
are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first
sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual
xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the
CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a turn, for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),
did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual Xeon, but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed the threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning
it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no
impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's on different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and it's not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect it's a combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and now crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption that something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there
are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first
sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual
xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the
CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a turn, for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),
did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual Xeon, but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed the threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning
it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no
impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's on different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and it's not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect it's a combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and now crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption that something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It
is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server
Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It
is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum.
Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will
never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself),

If all of the underlying system and setup of Windows is identical to the
first system (with the exception of the hardware changes to faster
components). Then unless it is a hardware issue (some setting in the BIOS
to incorrectly set up the mother board or CPUs); then your statement about
"revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself)," -
would lead you to possibly retest the system using the original code base
for the application that was running on the old server. This will help
eliminate your code changes as being the source of the error. (alternative
path is to put your new code version on the old server and retest)

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"BlackHawke" <bl********@legacygames.net> wrote in message
news:C_*****************@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for

thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a

turn,

for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself), did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual

Xeon,

but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed

the

threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn.

It

is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's

on

different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and

it's

not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect

it's a

combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and

now

crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption

that

something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

If all of the underlying system and setup of Windows is identical to the
first system (with the exception of the hardware changes to faster
components). Then unless it is a hardware issue (some setting in the BIOS
to incorrectly set up the mother board or CPUs); then your statement about
"revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself)," -
would lead you to possibly retest the system using the original code base
for the application that was running on the old server. This will help
eliminate your code changes as being the source of the error. (alternative
path is to put your new code version on the old server and retest)

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

"BlackHawke" <bl********@legacygames.net> wrote in message
news:C_*****************@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for

thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a

turn,

for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself), did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual

Xeon,

but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed

the

threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn.

It

is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's

on

different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and

it's

not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect

it's a

combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and

now

crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption

that

something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

What is the JDK you are running this Java program on?
Have you considered running this application on a Linux system?

Roman.

"BlackHawke" <bl********@legacygames.net> wrote in message
news:C_*****************@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for

thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a

turn,

for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself), did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual

Xeon,

but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed

the

threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn.

It

is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's

on

different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and

it's

not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect

it's a

combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and

now

crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption

that

something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

What is the JDK you are running this Java program on?
Have you considered running this application on a Linux system?

Roman.

"BlackHawke" <bl********@legacygames.net> wrote in message
news:C_*****************@newsread2.news.pas.earthl ink.net...

Hello!

This is my second post. Ppl really helped me with the first. I hope there are answers for this one as well

I own a game company (www.aepoxgames.net) releasing the beta for our first sci-fi space game in about 2 weeks (www.andromedaonline.net)

We have multiple servers, but the game engine (Game Server Program) is a
Java program (don't ask why) on a windows 2003 enterprise system with dual xeon p4 processors and 4GB of RAM. This program needs to process orders for

thousands of ships as fast as possible.

When we first set this up, the Game Server Program took exactly 50% of the CPU cycles when idle, and up to 80% or 90% when working (processing a

turn,

for example) and could process a turn of 10,000 ships in 15 seconds.

We revamped some of the major systems (the code and the computer itself), did a fresh install of Windows 2003 on a different system (still dual

Xeon,

but faster MB and CPU), migrated the Game Server Program there, changed

the

threadpool priorities in the code, etc.

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn.

It

is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

This is extremely serious.

We've tried increasing the priority of Java, but
a) The only way I know to do this is through the Task manager, meaning it would have to be done every time we run the server
b) I increased the priority to "Real Time" and this had absolutely no impact on the server process. The CPU load didn't change.

This is the only program intended to run on this computer. We need it
hogging as many resources as it can. Database, development, everything's

on

different systems. This machine has one job, run this Java program, and

it's

not taking that job seriously.

We don't know if it's a Windows issue, or a Java issue, but I suspect

it's a

combination of the two. All we know is it used to run fast as hell, and

now

crawls.

This post is going to Java groups and Windows groups on the assumption

that

something can be done on each end to improve things (perhaps there's a
command line parameter to tell java to run at a higher priority, perhaps
there's a windows issue not giving proper time to the Java App).

Any thoughts?

Thank you for your time.
Nick Soutter

Sounds like deadlock. Turn on logging. If you don't have logging
then add it so you can solve these kinds of dynamic problems.
Deadlock can be in your communication protocols or threading.

It also sounds like you need spend some time with a profiler.
BlackHawke wrote:

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

Sounds like deadlock. Turn on logging. If you don't have logging
then add it so you can solve these kinds of dynamic problems.
Deadlock can be in your communication protocols or threading.

It also sounds like you need spend some time with a profiler.
BlackHawke wrote:

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to
3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a turn. It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

You know, this started RIGHT AFTER a revamp of all of the communications
protocols (and some threading issues too)....

Can you explain deadlock to me a bit more?

Thank you.

Nick
"thoff" <tm*@possibility.com> wrote in message
news:10*************@news.supernews.com...

Sounds like deadlock. Turn on logging. If you don't have logging
then add it so you can solve these kinds of dynamic problems.
Deadlock can be in your communication protocols or threading.

It also sounds like you need spend some time with a profiler.
BlackHawke wrote:

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to 3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a

turn.

It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

You know, this started RIGHT AFTER a revamp of all of the communications
protocols (and some threading issues too)....

Can you explain deadlock to me a bit more?

Thank you.

Nick
"thoff" <tm*@possibility.com> wrote in message
news:10*************@news.supernews.com...

Sounds like deadlock. Turn on logging. If you don't have logging
then add it so you can solve these kinds of dynamic problems.
Deadlock can be in your communication protocols or threading.

It also sounds like you need spend some time with a profiler.
BlackHawke wrote:

We've now noticed that on idle (IE not processing turns), the Game Server Program takes 0% of the CPU load, and when processing a turn goes up to 3-7%. It never exceeds 7%, and takes FOREVER now when processing a

turn.

It is the only program running on the machine, and services are at a minimum. Even with 99% of the CPU resources free (IE on System Idle), the game will never take more than about 7% of the processor time.

I know that there is CPU Throttling in Windows 2003... Is that only for IIS?

We found a way to compile this into native code... It's now revved up to 25%
of the CPU cycles during intense work... I notice that in the "performance"
section of the task manager it lists 4 CPU's (we only have 2)... It's
letting us max out one of the "4" to 100%.... Any way to let it max them
all?

Again, I increased the priority, but no luck....

Nick

I know that there is CPU Throttling in Windows 2003... Is that only for IIS?

We found a way to compile this into native code... It's now revved up to 25%
of the CPU cycles during intense work... I notice that in the "performance"
section of the task manager it lists 4 CPU's (we only have 2)... It's
letting us max out one of the "4" to 100%.... Any way to let it max them
all?

Again, I increased the priority, but no luck....

Nick

Nevermind, looked it up!

I think maybe in an attempt to avoid deadlock the programmers added some
random element to the timing of threads... Perhaps that is the issue....

Nevermind, looked it up!

I think maybe in an attempt to avoid deadlock the programmers added some
random element to the timing of threads... Perhaps that is the issue....

BlackHawke wrote:

I know that there is CPU Throttling in Windows 2003... Is that only for IIS?
We found a way to compile this into native code... It's now revved up to 25% of the CPU cycles during intense work... I notice that in the "performance" section of the task manager it lists 4 CPU's (we only have 2)... It's
letting us max out one of the "4" to 100%.... Any way to let it max them
all?

Again, I increased the priority, but no luck....

Nick

That implies you've got dual Xeon processors with Hyperthreading enabled.
That might be confusing Windows into thinking you've got 4 processors. How
many processors is the verion of w3k on that system licensed for? It could
be ignoring processors for which you don't have a license. Of course, this
is pure speculation on my part...

Try disabling Hyperthreading in the BIOS so Windows only sees the 2
processors you actually have, and see what happens.
--
Nigel Wade, System Administrator, Space Plasma Physics Group,
University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
E-mail : nm*@ion.le.ac.uk
Phone : +44 (0)116 2523548, Fax : +44 (0)116 2523555

We do have dual Xeon processors...

Out of curiosity, is there a problem with hyperthreading?
Not that I know of.
Will we run faster
if we disable it?

We do have dual Xeon processors...

Out of curiosity, is there a problem with hyperthreading? Will we run faster
if we disable it?

Nick

"Nigel Wade" <nm*@ion.le.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:bv**********@south.jnrs.ja.net...

BlackHawke wrote:

I know that there is CPU Throttling in Windows 2003... Is that only for IIS?
We found a way to compile this into native code... It's now revved up to 25% of the CPU cycles during intense work... I notice that in the "performance" section of the task manager it lists 4 CPU's (we only have 2)... It's
letting us max out one of the "4" to 100%.... Any way to let it max them
all?

Again, I increased the priority, but no luck....

Nick

That implies you've got dual Xeon processors with Hyperthreading enabled.
That might be confusing Windows into thinking you've got 4 processors. How
many processors is the verion of w3k on that system licensed for? It could
be ignoring processors for which you don't have a license. Of course, this
is pure speculation on my part...

Try disabling Hyperthreading in the BIOS so Windows only sees the 2
processors you actually have, and see what happens.