Setting CPU Affinity For Athlon 64 X2 Chips

[FerretZone]

Was wondering if anyone has looked into how to get the affinity set for CCE Basic 2.70.01.04. The program is capable of loading up both processors, but doesn't from launch for whatever reason. You can change it via the Windows Task Manager, but this is not viable for DVD Rebuilder projects (it doesn't remember for the next time it launches). Using the Task Assign program from Tom's Hardware Guide, the program never sees CCE running, even though it is encoding away. Procoder 2.04.02 has no problem with loading up both processors, unless you have run Task Assign prior to rebooting. I don't know about Procoder Express 1.12 since I it doesn't currently work with EclPro .42.

I am currently running on an X2 3800+ with 2 Gb RAM and XP Pro 64 Bit. I am seeing about a 19 percent gain average on 64 bit over the 32 bit. To get the Procoder 2.04.02 to run, you just have to go to www.aladdin.com and download the 64 bit HASP drivers. I also had to run the Program Compatibility Wizard and tell it to run DVD Rebuilder that it is running on XP 32 bit. It runs without doing this, but I didn't get the speed gain on my setup. I didn't have to do anything for Procoder 2.0 or CCE Basic 2.70.01.04. I have not had time to try this on my A64 4000+ yet. With 2 Gb RAM in both systems (Patriot 512Mb DDR400 2-3-2-5), the A64 4000+ (XP 32 bit) and the X2 3800+ (XP 64 bit) running Procoder 2.04.02, I have a 41 percent different in the X2's direction.

All of this is done by timing a full start to finish 1 Click to the nearest minute.

[A64]

What are the specs of the 2 systems? I have to replace my system that was lost in my apartment in Galveston, TX. Luckily, my employer will cover it until insurance gets around to it. Luckily, I was in Chicago at the time. I am interested in seeing what anyone else has found with Windows XP 32 and 64 and dual processor AMD's.

[FerretZone]

Both: Thermalright XP-90C, same ThermalTake 90mm fan, MSI TurboStream 500W Power Supply, ATI branded X700 Pro 256Mb PCIe, Western Digital 250Gb HD, 4x Patriot 512Mb DDR400 (2-3-2-5).

4000+: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum

X2 3800+: ECS Nforce4-A939 (outpost.com free motherboard special)

I upgraded off of an MSI Neo-V (K8T800) Socket 754 Athlon 64 3000+ to the X2. I want to get a better board than the ECS, but the wife was not happy when the Outpost combo showed up ($379 + $6.27 shipping). I was alright since a guy at work bought the old mobo and proc to help offset this "unbudgetted expense."

[A64]

Answer: Use imagecfg.exe from the WinNT, 2K, or XP Resource Kits.

Had to ask the programmers at work and they gave me the answer. Here is the link that they supplied me with: http://www.robpol86.com/?imagecfg

They did state that you have to put the whole address line in when you use it.

Thus it would be
imagecfg -a 0x3 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Custom Technology\Cinema Craft Encoder Basic\cct2.exe"

I just tried it and it worked.

[MCFish]

Thus it would be
imagecfg -a 0x3 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Custom Technology\Cinema Craft Encoder Basic\cct2.exe"


So do you know how to undo the changes?
I tried it on a program that used both my cores, could change between them, but i cant seem to get it to run on both again.

[Clawz]

So do you know how to undo the changes?
I tried it on a program that used both my cores, could change between them, but i cant seem to get it to run on both again.

The -u command (instead of -a 0x3) has worked for me for non-multithreaded applications to get them to perform as they did before.

[MCFish]

-u is for setting it to uniprocessor(1 only). why do u use 0x3 ? you have 3 cores?
do you know where the setting is saved?

[Clawz]

-u is for setting it to uniprocessor(1 only). why do u use 0x3 ? you have 3 cores?
do you know where the setting is saved?

If you read the instructions for imagecfg.exe on the Resource Kit disk, you find that for dual processor, you have to use 0x3. Quad processor, you have to evidently enter 0x15. If you do 0x2, it will only use your second core, not the first. 0x3 uses both cores. Plus if you read the various sites, they state that you may have to issue the -u prior to issuing the -a 0x3.

[Doom9]

umm.. processor affinity just sets on which CPU a process is allowed to run on. On a dual core chip, by default both are allowed, so I don't see a reason for any modification. You don't need to do anything for an SMP capable application to make full use of your two cores. The only sense I can see in changing the affinity is forcing an SMP capable application to not use both cores.

[Clawz]

umm.. processor affinity just sets on which CPU a process is allowed to run on. On a dual core chip, by default both are allowed, so I don't see a reason for any modification. You don't need to do anything for an SMP capable application to make full use of your two cores. The only sense I can see in changing the affinity is forcing an SMP capable application to not use both cores.

That is not the case with a few programs, such as CCE Basic (at least when I installed it on XP Pro 64-Bit). After the install, it only sees the first core/processor. On the otherhand, the demo CCE SP sees both on install. The same thing is true for Procoder, which actually handles 4 cores/processors just fine. This command was necessary for certain revisions of Photoshop installs. The SETI optimization instructions walk you through this process since it doesn't install off the bat for dual core/proc.

Check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/05/06/HyperThreading/default.aspx

[MCFish]

ok, thx. but 0x3 isnt working, it doesnt turn on both cores for the program again. used -u first.
is the chosen program's .exe file modified in some way or do u know where this affinity setting is stored, when one uses imagecfg?