Cpu Priority With Games, M11x

This is a different subject than the general "game" thread. I wanted to discuss the CPU priority in reference to games and it's impact on benchmarks or fps. I did some tests today with 3 different games to see what type of impact changing the cpu to HIGH priority with each game.

Lets talk about setup first. Before each game I ran gamebooster to clear the memory and any extraneous processes. I ran one test with normal process and another few runs with the game set to HIGH priority.
I only utilized games with built in benchmarks to limit the guesswork...
I am only posting the average scores at this point.
Also note that I do NOT have external dvd-rom or mice connected via usb.

I think this thread is important because unlike other more powerful laptops, I believe the CPU utilization really matters to us. The M11x Has an upper Tier 2 video card, but the cpu is arguably a Tier 4.


Game 1 (Just Cause 2)
Settings (Texture - High, Details -Med, Shadows and SOAA low, no AA or AF
Just cause 2 comes with 3 different benchmark maps for the full game.
I concentrated on concrete jungle because it pushes the machine the hardest.

Bench 1 Normal - 16.88
Bench 2 Normal - 17.02

Bench 1 HIGH - 18.08
Bench 2 HIGH - 18.14
Note - On other maps the increase in fps was up to 2fps.

Game 2 (Dawn Of War 2)
Settings ULTRA (no aa or af)

Bench 1 Normal - 22.22
Bench 2 Normal - 22.20

Bench 1 HIGH - 22.24
Bench 2 HIGH - 22.20
No difference really

Game 3 (World In Conflict Demo)
Settings Very High (No AA or AF)

Bench 1 Normal - 17
Bench 2 Normal - 17

Bench 1 HIGH - 17
Bench 2 HIGH - 17

In closing, some games will absolutely not function correctly when the CPU priority is set to HIGH. Football Manager 2010 does some very weird stuff when it's set that way. BFBC2, I wish this game had an internal benchmark. I believe setting the cpu to high helps but I can't prove it at this point. Please feel free to add your benchmarks or thoughts.

In closing, I decided to combine both CPU priority and GPU overclock of 10-15 percent and was able to get up to 4 fps higher in the above benchmarks. I believe, depending upon the game setting the CPU priority higher may give a very slight increase in FPS or smoothness.

Best wishes,

StevenX

 

Anyone have other benchmarks to try out here?

 

Maybe the best idea would be to reduce the other tasks priorities to low for those fussy games? Just my two cent!