CPU Priority (advanced menu)

2002-09-20, 23:25

The help file recommends leaving this at level 1, however I can sometimes get a 3-4% speed increase by setting this to 4. Any idea why?
Anyone else tried this?
It seems to have nothing to do with any other (visible) programs that might be running. They still seem smooth.
I am typing this in IE with Outlook Express open and Prime95 is running 3% faster (at level 4) than earlier with only Prime95 running (at level 1).

Even when I've closed hidden tasks (from Ctrl-Alt-Del) I've never had any speed increase.

ET_ · 2002-09-21, 01:00

Quote:

The help file recommends leaving this at level 1, however I can sometimes get a 3-4% speed increase by setting this to 4. Any idea why?

It may depend on which programs you have running in background.
I noticed that Norton antivirus, some fax clients and other programs running in background may affeect Prime95 speed of some points percent.

Try to check programs you have on the system tray.

Luigi

lycorn · 2002-09-24, 18:54

Screen savers are good candidates to steal CPU cycles from P95. If you have one running, the increase in priority may have helped increasing the speed

2002-09-24, 20:25

I have no screensaver running.

roy1942 · 2002-09-24, 21:00

Two things that I found that slowed prime95 noticeably (maybe 15-20% - I didn't note the exact numbers):

1. leaving a pop-up or web page active with an animated display in it.
2. using a USB ethernet adapter - I now unplug it and activate it only every week or so to update primenet.

This was on slow computers (200 MHz PPro, 266 MHz K6) and may not cause as high a percent degradation on a faster box, but the actual loss of throughput for the project is probably similar.

lycorn · 2002-09-24, 21:37

I suggest that you install TaskInfo2002. You can get a free version at www.iarsn.com. It gives a nice overview of what´s really goin´on inside the box. You can easily spot which processes are using CPU the most, the priorities of each, memory used, and so on. Just be cautious when (if at all) playing with the priorities or you can screw the whole thing up. It is also advisable not to force termination of processes if you´re not sure about what they are doing.

2002-09-24, 22:14

TaskInfo2002 shows I have a process called 'Idle' that is hogging 3-4% of my CPU. When I set Prime95 priority from 1 to 4 this drops to < 0.4% and Prime95 jumps from 95 to 98%+.
Menus/windows etc. are opening smoothly. Can anyone think of a good reason not to run Prime95 at priority 4?

(Windows98, Duron 1100 @1210)

binarydigits · 2002-09-24, 23:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlatLander

TaskInfo2002 shows I have a process called 'Idle' that is hogging 3-4% of my CPU. When I set Prime95 priority from 1 to 4 this drops to < 0.4% and Prime95 jumps from 95 to 98%+.
Menus/windows etc. are opening smoothly. Can anyone think of a good reason not to run Prime95 at priority 4?

That's odd, 'idle' shouldn't be using that much even with Prime95 at priority 1. I have had no problems running at priority 4, but I wouldn't recommend running higher than that. Which you probably already know or you would have mentioned a higher priority.

2002-09-20, 23:25	#1
2,789 Posts	CPU Priority (advanced menu) The help file recommends leaving this at level 1, however I can sometimes get a 3-4% speed increase by setting this to 4. Any idea why? Anyone else tried this? It seems to have nothing to do with any other (visible) programs that might be running. They still seem smooth. I am typing this in IE with Outlook Express open and Prime95 is running 3% faster (at level 4) than earlier with only Prime95 running (at level 1). Even when I've closed hidden tasks (from Ctrl-Alt-Del) I've never had any speed increase.

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2002-09-24, 18:54	#3
lycorn "GIMFS" Sep 2002 Oeiras, Portugal 3056₈ Posts	Screen savers are good candidates to steal CPU cycles from P95. If you have one running, the increase in priority may have helped increasing the speed

2002-09-24, 20:25	#4
2·5·7·137 Posts	I have no screensaver running.

2002-09-24, 21:00	#5
roy1942 Aug 2002 47 Posts	Two things that I found that slowed prime95 noticeably (maybe 15-20% - I didn't note the exact numbers): 1. leaving a pop-up or web page active with an animated display in it. 2. using a USB ethernet adapter - I now unplug it and activate it only every week or so to update primenet. This was on slow computers (200 MHz PPro, 266 MHz K6) and may not cause as high a percent degradation on a faster box, but the actual loss of throughput for the project is probably similar.

2002-09-24, 21:37	#6
lycorn "GIMFS" Sep 2002 Oeiras, Portugal 2×7×113 Posts	I suggest that you install TaskInfo2002. You can get a free version at www.iarsn.com. It gives a nice overview of what´s really goin´on inside the box. You can easily spot which processes are using CPU the most, the priorities of each, memory used, and so on. Just be cautious when (if at all) playing with the priorities or you can screw the whole thing up. It is also advisable not to force termination of processes if you´re not sure about what they are doing.

2002-09-24, 22:14	#7
3732₁₀ Posts	TaskInfo2002 shows I have a process called 'Idle' that is hogging 3-4% of my CPU. When I set Prime95 priority from 1 to 4 this drops to < 0.4% and Prime95 jumps from 95 to 98%+. Menus/windows etc. are opening smoothly. Can anyone think of a good reason not to run Prime95 at priority 4? (Windows98, Duron 1100 @1210)