To safely enable or disable specific CPU cores for certain applications in Windows or Linux, consider using software tools that allow dynamic core management without altering BIOS settings. In Windows, Process Lasso enables you to set CPU affinities per application, allowing you to assign or restrict specific cores to particular processes. This approach helps in optimizing performance and reducing power consumption without the risks associated with BIOS modifications.

In Linux, you can use tools like `taskset` to set CPU affinities for processes, or `cpuset` to manage CPU and memory resources for processes. These tools provide a flexible way to control CPU core usage per application. Modifying BIOS settings to disable cores is a more permanent change and can affect overall system stability and performance. Software solutions like Process Lasso offer a safer and more flexible method to manage CPU cores per application, aligning with your goal of reducing power consumption while maintaining performance for targeted workloads.

Be careful with disabling cores! It can be useful for testing or specific applications, but there are risks. Some things to consider:

• Modern OSes and applications expect multi-core CPUs and may behave unpredictably with fewer cores
• Heat distribution changes when disabling cores, potentially affecting thermal management
• Power management may become less efficient
• Some motherboards/BIOSes handle core disabling better than others

If you must disable cores, start with one at a time and test thoroughly. Have a plan to reset if things go wrong (safe mode boot, etc.). For most users, processor affinity settings are safer than actually disabling cores.

I've been tweaking my CPU cores for years without issues. The key is understanding your system's needs. For temporary changes, use Task Manager in Windows (right-click on a process > Set affinity) or the "taskset" command in Linux. For permanent changes, use the BIOS/UEFI if your motherboard supports it. This is safer than OS-level changes as it happens before boot. Just remember: 1) Never disable all cores, 2) Keep at least 2 cores for modern OS, and 3) Some applications require multiple cores to function properly. Test stability with your typical workloads after making changes.