top command + %CPU usage exceeds 100%?

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1

Hi there. I was looking at the output from running top and for short amounts of time, when I see all the process running and add up the values in the %CPU column the value exceeds 100% (I just add them quickly in my head). I assume that if I were to add up all my processes in the entire list, they still could not/should not exceed 100%. Is there some sort of explanation for this?
Thanks for any clarification.

-Carl

2

Certainly, there is - your machine has more than one core / CPU and it's using SMP mode of kernel.

cat /proc/cpuinfo && uname -a

shall you have any doubts.

3

Ahhh that makes sense, thanks very much!