CPU utilization

All:

I have probably an old question that has been asked.. but
here goes anyway.

I have three machines.

1) stewart - running 7.0 (2.8gig p4 dual core)
2) bsd1    - running 7.0 (2.8gig Xeon Hyperthreaded)
3) bsd2    - running 6.2 (2.4gig Xeon Hyperthreaded)

Now if I run tests that max out cpu (at least I think
they do).. I see <1> or <2> drag down to 1% idle/ even
0 %idle.

However <3> never drops below 50% idle.. it preforms
a lot slower too.. which I expect since it is somewhat
of an older processor.. but in running say
top -S

I see CPU 1 always running the idle process...

Is this an accounting error that is being seen? aka top
does not know how to display things .. or is this a
scheduling error.. i.e.. move to 7.0 and life will
be better :-D

Thanks

R
-- 
Randall Stewart
NSSTG - Cisco Systems Inc.
803-345-0369 <or> 803-317-4952 (cell)