Increasing use of multiple cores in computers

[Ken Berry]

Thanks John, you're right. The link I gave is no longer active. It was one to the special price offer I mentioned. The link you give is to the normal price...

[alan]

I have just tried out the Ashampoo Core Tuner:

Windows XP
Intel E8400 Dual Core
4 Meg Ram.
Video Studio XP

When cores put into High Mode, the 1st Core goes up to 90-100%

The second core about 10%


When in Normal mode both cores about 50%

As far as my computer is concerned I cannot find any difference in speed

when rendering. (approximate fugues only)

[Nunk]

Hi

I will do some tests on my pc to show you the benefits i get form using Ashampoo Core Tuner. I dont use HD here at the mo so all my tests will be based on DV AVI to mpeg2.

One thing i can think of Alan why you don't see any difference in speed
when you're rendering. Maybe its the fact you are only using a Dual Core processor. One of you cores will be taken up running you OS system and apps that leaves you with only one core left to boost which is running at 90% which seems about right to me.

I use a Core2 Quad CPU 2.40GHz i picked a Quad processor because of the fact i will have 3 additional cores working for me. I have notice a big speed up my using Core Tuner. I will run some tests here and show the results.

[laidback]

Setting cores.
This works on XP so I would think it would also work on Vista / W7

1. Start Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del)
2. Go to the [Processes] Tab
3. Find the running program/process that you want to set to a particular core.
4. Right click to bring up a list of options.
5. Choose "Set Affinity" and a box appears allowing you to select which cores to use (up to 31 - if of course you have that many!).

Click here for more details

If I may - One also needs to raise the priority to the Application that we want to use more of the CPU/s resource/s, much like what most freeware appliactions do anyway, to which BTW - Such downloaded Applications may have nasty Spy-Ware and or Worse, A virus embedded in them!..

Cheers,

Pete..

[alan]

Hi NUNK.

Maybe its the fact you are only using a Dual Core processor. One of you cores will be taken up running you OS system and apps that leaves you with only one core left to boost which is running at 90% which seems about right to me.

Yes, I think you are correct ! Last night I edited, some video which lasted about 28 minutes. It contained video, still images, music & labels etc. it took about 6 hours to render. Would it have been much quicker with a Quad Core ?

Thanks for the info.

[aljimenez]

Thanks for replies.
I use a final cutted AVCHD movie (made by Pinnacle 12) to generate a DVD with beautiful menue.
In my case nothing increase, 25% CPU usage.

I don't understand, that a program with multicore support not use the total cpu power of my computer.
My 2nd computer with AMD "dual core" need the same time to create the DVD.

I wait for the future, that more programs can handle multicore and 64 bit.
We have the power - let's use the power.

Often the cpu's are waiting for memory access and thus you will never see 100% use when you have more than one cpu... Al

[alan]

Purchased Core Turner, last week, at a special price of about pound;5.99. I

have yet to try it out on rendering.

[boxy]

Hi. Like you, Ken, I have the Intel Q6600 running Vista and I was wondering....

Sometimes when I'm editing and I try to use the mouse to move something or click on something, the computer will momentarily freeze and I'll hear a whistling type sound come from the computer, starting with a lower pitch and then getting higher. A few seconds later the program responds and starts working again.

Is that indicating that one or more of the other cores are being activated?

Thanks for your help!

[Ken Berry]

Sorry, but I have never got any sound like that from either computer on which I have had VS installed... Sounds as though it could be -- not so much a core activating itself (since all are active anyway, only some are not working on VS!) -- but possibly a hard drive spinning up...

The pauses -- if they are happening in VS -- are not unusual particularly if you are editing AVCHD, which is very demanding of computer resources, even from a Quad 6600. But the noise is definitely unusual...

If it occurs outside VS, then I would be checking the operation of your hardware...

[laidback]

Hi. Like you, Ken, I have the Intel Q6600 running Vista and I was wondering....

Sometimes when I'm editing and I try to use the mouse to move something or click on something, the computer will momentarily freeze and I'll hear a whistling type sound come from the computer, starting with a lower pitch and then getting higher. A few seconds later the program responds and starts working again.

Is that indicating that one or more of the other cores are being activated?

Thanks for your help!

If I may interject,
No I don't think so,

That "sound" sounds highly likely that a hard drive is being powered up or coming out of it's sleep mode.. which may mean you have plenty of memory installed for the hard drive to go to sleep mode while editing..

The momentarily freezing of your mouse may indicate your mouse is a USB mouse which may have its driver installed on that hard drive that is waking up..

If this is the case and you only have one hard drive, then you can force your hard drive to stay awake a little longer or to never go to sleep while the computer is on, this can be done by navigating to your screen saver menu and then locating your power settings usually found there, Once you locate your power settings, locate your hard drive settings there - and choose to have it never sleep or if you don't upgrade your computer every three years or less, set your hard drive so it stays awake a little longer..

As having the hard drive always on while the computer is on, shortens the hard drives life by around a year or two.. I am guessing around 15% of its life span is effected..

<sigh> Cant wait for Solid State Hard Drives "SSD" to come down in price in another year or so from now, so that Hard Drive wear and tear will be a thing of the past, oh and not to forget the fabulous incredible read and write speeds that solid state drives promise to deliver.. mwah~ha~ha~ha~ha~ha~ha <Eeeep >..

where was I?
There is another option if your current mouse is indeed a USB type - And that is to borrow from a friend a mouse that plugs into the computers Green mouse port located at the back of your computer next to the keyboard port to see if this solves the mouse freezing As most of these types of mice don't rely on bloated USB drivers..

Hope I have given some insight and or helped,

Cheers,

Peter J Schoen..

[Accolades]

HI,

Test done on my humble PC

AVI file processing/converting to mpg coretuner trial used set vor VSX3 HIGH.







At the end of the day - result NO CHANGE

[sjj1805]

Another cause of a whistling sound comping from a computer are the cooling fans being blocked by a build up of of fluff. You need to take a side panel off from your Computer Case and look at the fans to see if they need cleaning.

If they do then make sure that you turn the computer OFF and disconnect it from the mains before cleaning. I tend to use a small paint brush to loosen any clogging and then a vacuum cleaner. Try not to touch any parts inside on the motherboard because static electricity can cause things to blow and could mean a new motherboard.

[Ken Berry]

And overheating caused by dust build up can lead to slow-downs in computer performance...

[Roberto]

And overheating caused by dust build up can lead to slow-downs in computer performance...

Totally agree with Ken and Ron: one friend just cleaned after from long time its computer inetrnal components from dust and he was impressed by how faster it got.
One more hint is to buy some "filters" to be applied for the main case opening air grids, in order to avoid the dust to get in, but still allowing a proper ventilation.

[boxy]

Thanks, guys... I will investigate and try all of your suggestions!