# Processors used by mothur software

**URL:** <https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381>\
**Category:** Theory behind mothur\
**Created:** [April 20, 2022, 6:40am UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381 "2022-04-20T06:40:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Hira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7993a0/32.png) [@Hira](https://forum.mothur.org/u/Hira)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 6:40am UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381/1 "2022-04-20T06:40:06Z")

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I am using mothur software on the following

1. Mac OS
2. Windows  
My question is about the processors used by mothur software.  
In the below pictures, in device specifications, it say 2 processors. So mothur software will use only these 2 processors?  
And How can I know about the available processors on mac?  
 ![Capture 1](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/mothur/original/1X/de5721da9866f79c433e23c9410e143abb33d2ba.png)  
 ![Capture](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/uploads/mothur/original/1X/813803380953cbb75bcfae292bb4c610fea3eb56.png)

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**Author:** ![leocadio](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/leocadio/32/203_2.png) [@leocadio](https://forum.mothur.org/u/leocadio)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381/2 "2022-04-20T12:03:25Z")

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if you do not specify processors, Mothur will check how many logical processors you have and will use them all. In your logfile you should be able to see how many processors mothur is using.

In you PC, I would assume that the logical processors = 4 (with two physical processors).

in iOS, I am not familiar with. Still, mothur by default will use all the available processors unless you specify anything different with the processors= command.

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**Author:** ![Hira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7993a0/32.png) [@Hira](https://forum.mothur.org/u/Hira)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2022, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381/3 "2022-04-21T19:01:23Z")

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In Mac, I did not specify any processors while running commands on mothur. It showed “Using 8 processors” when each command was run later. So I assume that in my mac there are 8 processors. I have reached this conclusion.  
Regards  
Hira

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**Author:** ![pschloss](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/pschloss/32/4_2.png) [@pschloss](https://forum.mothur.org/u/pschloss)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2022, 2:15pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381/4 "2022-04-26T14:15:34Z")

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Hi Hira - that’s correct. It will use the 8 processors unless you specify somethign different.

pat

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**Author:** ![system](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex036/user_avatar/forum.mothur.org/system/32/2_2.png) [@system](https://forum.mothur.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [May 6, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://forum.mothur.org/t/processors-used-by-mothur-software/21381/5 "2022-05-06T14:16:22Z")

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Closed on May 6, 2022, 2:16pm UTC

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