Is Excel Multiple Processor Aware

Question

Are Microsoft excel 2010 or 2013 multiprocessor aware? So, if I have dual xeon chips, can excel use both of them to run calculations?

According to the following article: 

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/265361#appliesto

excel 2003 was not. However, this article was never updated. Any answer much appreciated.

Answer 1

The answer appears to be "yes" - all can be used.

Basic System:

Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard (64-bit) w/SP1

Installed memory (RAM) 12.0GB

Intel Xeon CPU E5220 @ 2.27GHz (2 processors)

I installed the 32-bit version of Office 2010 Professional Plus and after completion checked the setting in Excel, and it had automatically chosen "Use all..." and showed that 16 processors would be used.  8 processors per CPU x 2 CPUs = 16 processors!

Answer 2

Both Excel 2010 and 2013 can use multiple cores during calculation. This multi-threaded calculation can produce significant speed increases, but its efficiency depends on the extent to which the calculation chain can be processed in parallel. Also note that VBA is single-threaded so will not gain from multiple processors.

Answer 3

One setting in Excel 2010/2013 is labeled as "Use all processors on this computer".  I think that the definition of "processor" could play into it.  I would personally take that to mean all physical processors and their cores.  For example, with my system, with a single i7 physical CPU, it shows 8 for a count of total processors.

I don't have a multi-CPU system readily available to test with, but just might try to get to one to try to get a firmer answer.  However, the system I have in mind, an HP dual-Xeon server, does split the 12 GB installed RAM between the two physical CPUs, so I'm not sure how that fits into the equation; especially when it gets into the single-threaded world of VBA.

Answer 4

Thanks Charles. I recognize that excel can use the multiple cores, but I still can't get a straight answer on whether or not excel can use multiple processors.

So, if I get a computer with two xeon chips or two i7 chips, will it be able to use the cores from both chips or just a single chip? Said differently, running excel using a single i7 3960x chip allows for the use of 12 processors or cores. Now, if i had two (2) i7 3960x processors on the same computer, could excel use both chips simultaneously and access 24 cores?