q9450 using 50% max on multi-thread apps

Hi guys, I just built a 3rd rig, with a q9450 on p5b motherboard. My other 2 systems are q6600 and qx6700, which always utilize 100% of the cpu when rendering in After Effects or XSI.

I've updated the latest Asus chipset drivers, and I can't seem to get my new q9450 to use any more than 50% of the cpu. I've done side by side rendering tests against my q6600, and it's confirmed. In my years of upgrading CPU's I've never had to update the actual graphic software to use new a CPU.

Should I try another board, or am I missing something? Thanks in advance for any help.

Try running the x264 HD Benchmark and watch the CPU usage on the 2nd pass encodes. It should be >99 %.

Hmmm.. which BIOS are you using? My DFI board has an option in there to disable the other two cores but I'm pretty sure that the P5B (at least my old P5B-Deluxe) didn't have such an option. If you're using the latest or a likely a beta BIOS, it might be a problem. Did you try asking in the Asus support forums?