Managing to Processors

[GregHess]

[This is for win2k, If your running XP, delete it :) ]

To see them working....

Press Ctrl-Alt-Del

Go to task manager...

Go to performance.

You'll see both cpu's listed and showing you the % utilization.

If you only see one cpu listed...then the OS is setup wrong.

You can control the allocation of resources between the cpu's either by....

1) Not touching a thing.
2) Running lots of multithreaded apps, like maya, max, xsi, lw
3) Setting processor affinity and priority.

To do 3, go back to task manager, and go to processes. Here you will see which programs are running, as dictated by their .exe.

Right click on an exe of choice...(Such as 3dsmax.exe for example) and you'll see

Set priority, and Set Affinity. Affinity allows you to control which cpu the task runs on, either 0, 1, or 0 and 1. Priority allows you to control how much % of the cpu the task controls. (I don't suggest putting anything above very high on cpu 0...realtime on cpu 0 can make the system unstable if the app draws too many resources).

[CarlCampbell]

Thanks, d00d, you're definately a know-it-all! Btw, what does priority actually do? Does it just simply alllocate more memory to a certain program or what? Btw, when are all these settings most noticeable?

Carl

EDIT: What does windows 2k have over XP pro? Not saying that XP has anything over the other, but how come its better to have?

[GregHess]

Priority determines how much pull a particular app has over another. Here's an example.

Lets say you had Folding@home running. This is an app which can easily max out your cpu's, and keep them maxed out...forever. However, if you were to set its priority to very low, ANYTHING that needs those resources can instantly grab them. Be it IE, word, max, Warcraft III, etc. The app's pull is so low, that the only time it gets processor time, is when the processor isn't doing anything else.

On the opposite end, if you set something to realtime...That particular apps get the whole cpu's attention. The only time other apps get a piece of the cpu pie, is when the primary realtime app stops making cpu calls.

So you can see setting something like lightwave to realtime on cpu #1 could cause a pretty nasty problem, as key elements of the OS would have to fight to get cpu time, if you were doing radoisity or something heavy duty within the program.

The key advantage of this is just micromangement. A dual system will usually be pretty smart about allocating resources, and you should notice a diffy when multitasking over a single cpu system. However the ability to set affinity and priority allows you to do something like set Maya on Cpu #2 at realtime, and just let that baby render. The entire primary cpu would be free for whatever you wanted to do. (Playing warcraft for example).

As for XP vs 2k. 2k uses less resources. About 50% less. Thats my main reason for continuing to hold onto it over XP, as XP doesn't really add anything extra sans some glitter and flare.

[CarlCampbell]

Thats all very good to know! Thanks a bunch! Is win 2k still in stock or will it eventually stop selling to encourage XP Pro? Probably not because of stuff to do with the w2k server, huh? Anyways, how can you know that XP uses much more power up? And why? Why would they make it be that way?

Carl :beer:

[GregHess]

Xp doesn't use more power to startup then win2k...It does however use more Ram and More CPU power to run. (Aka a optimized win2k install will use around 45-50 megs of ram, a winxp install will use 128+)

[CarlCampbell]

Hmm, better get w2k then, 320 € aint that expensive, and if its really that worth it, I guess I'll get it. Just hope I don't miss anything from XP :D
Now that I think about it.... my WS came specifically with XP installed, I wonder if I'll f*** up the configuration if I install 2000 now....

Carl :beer:

[GregHess]

Its up to you Carl. Its mainly just my personal thoughts. :)

[My Fault]

Greg, when you say "optimized WIn2k install", what exactly do you mean? I know I try very hard to keep my installs as clean and efficient as possible, but I'm guessing you know a few things (at least :) ) that I don't.

[GregHess]

Well one of the things is the services list. There are alot of services that by default most people have no use for....

http://www.3dluvr.com/crossbow/incoming/cbowservices.jpg

Second is temp directories...where they are and how to clean them. There are temp directories in the documents and settings folder, program files folder, and winnt folder. They can only be seen by turning show all files on, and going in and "manually deleting them"

Then of course is the regcleaners to prevent apps from loading...the selective custom installs, and of course registry "modifying".

I'll write up a little win2k guide someday when I have time, so everyone can tell me how wrong I am. :)

[CarlCampbell]

Sounds great, can hardly wait! Just make sure you put it up in bright lights so we can all see its released!

Carl :beer:

[CarlCampbell]

If you change a specific task over to just one CPU, does it save the settings or do you have to switch every session?

Also, what're a few good tasks to boost priority and vice versa?

Carl :beer:

Signing off for tonight 0:12 AM here, g'night!

[Carnifex]

Greg, your estimates for XP's memory usage are a little on the heavy side. On a clean install with just the bare minimum running, meaning no IIS or other fancy things, I've gotten XP down to about 90 some megs. Mind you, that's with all the fancy graphics turned off and only running Windows Classic theme, instead of the somewhat fruity default Windows XP theme.
Now currently, with 22 processes running, including StyleXP and Diskeeper and my firewall, I am clocking in at 116 megs. That includes my wallpaper which is a nice 5-6 megs in size.
I don't believe in using Jpgs or Active Desktop, so such frivolous stuff is turned off.

[Chris]

he hee, you make that sound like a good thing... ;) 90megs of ram just to run an OS? Pfe. :shame:

[GregHess]

Ian...

Thats still a bit more then 50 or so megs with 11 processes running. :P Just to do the exact same thing.

Makes you wonder what all those extra processes are for...

[DarkBane]

I would also like to know the answer to this question.

"If you change a specific task over to just one CPU, does it save the settings or do you have to switch every session? "

[Carnifex]

Ah, but you forget, mine is not a barebones install. I have several programs and services running, that would not be necessary on a system meant to only do work. For instance the StyleXP service, which is an external program, Diskeeper and even the Themes and other services could be turned off entirely.
But I like my system nice and with all the amenities. So I run these extra things that are not entirely necessary. Even my win2K server box, has about 26-28 processes running at all times and is currently eating about 121 megs. The win2k box is running an apache webserver, hardware monitoring, network monitors, Samurize and a couple of other things as well, including the software firewall.

My Xp box, running pretty much all the same stuff, but without the Apache server clocks in as you can see a little lighter.

Also, I can see from your screenshot that you are running just a tad more than 11 processes. You're actually running a couple that I am not, on either box, such as Telephony, which I have no use for at all.
Personally, since both boxes have a gig of ram each, I am not too concerned with the amount of ram each OS takes. Once trimmed down, each OS will run much the same in my experience. Granted, Win2K can run comfortably on less memory than XP, but that is pretty much to be expected. Especially if you're using the default XP interface

Regards

Ian

[GregHess]

Ian,

The services list falls under a single process. Its listed under Services in the task managers process list.

I tend to work completely opposite. On my workstation I disable everything that I'm not using, and install only the professional apps, nothing else...ends up like 45-50 megs of ram in use with a boot time of about 11 seconds.

Like I said, these are all opinons. If your comfterable (I can never spell that word) using XP, then by all means do. I myself will wait to see what long horn brings to the table.

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