How-to toggle performance modes with batch files

I just had this idea the other day. Before I game I usually close desktop sidebar, change the overclock settings in nTune, switch RMClock to maximum performance, and launch Steam. This takes a lot of effort and time so I decided to simplify the task by creating *.bat files to automate the process.

I don't know much about batch files so I had to read up on it. I found this article very helpful in what I was trying to do.

How-to: Use batch files to create a working environment

Using the article and a little bit of googling I made two batch files. One for a "gaming mode" and one for a "workstation mode"

This is "gaming mode"

PHP:

taskkill /IM "sidebar.exe" /f
Start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"
Start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\RMClock\RMClock.exe" -profile 2"
Start "" "C:\NVIDIA\HIgame.nsu"
TIMEOUT 6
taskkill /IM "nTuneCmd.exe" /f


This is what it does line by line:
1. taskkill forces the process "sidebar.exe" to end
2. launches Steam
3. runs RMClock.exe in "maximal performance" mode
4. switches nTune profile to my saved overclock profile "HIgame.nsu"
7. delays the next command for 6 seconds
8. taskkill forces the proces "nTuneCmd.exe" (the popup that shows performance mode change) to end

This is "Workstation Mode"

PHP:

Start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\RMClock\RMClock.exe" -profile 3"
Start "" "C:\NVIDIA\stockclocks.nsu"
Start "" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe"
TIMEOUT 6
taskkill /IM "nTuneCmd.exe" /f


This is what it does line by line:
1. runs RMClock.exe in "performance on demand" mode
2. switched nTune profile to my saved stock clock profile "stockclocks.nsu"
3. launches windows sidebar.
4. delays the next command for 6 seconds
5. taskkill forces the proces "nTuneCmd.exe" (the popup that shows performance mode change) to end

I saved the batch file in "my documents" and linked them as shorcuts on the desktop. This allowed me to change the icons for the .bat files and set it to run minimized so that there is no ugly cmd prompt. I removed the shortcut arrows using a free program called frameworkx Vista Shortcut Manager. It can be done with a regedit entry but this is easier to do and undo. The icons I used are from here.



Launching "workstation mode"


Launching "gaming mode"


Hopefully this gives people some ideas...I know that I'm just getting started!

Easy ways to impliment the "toggle"

If you put the shortcuts into the quickstart taskbar you can use WIN+number to start quickstart items. The leftmost icon is 1 and it counts up going right. So, in the picture below "gaming mode" is WIN+1 and "workstation mode" is WIN+2.



You can also launch them with hardware buttons. Since I have a Gateway FX laptop I have a mediacenter launch button that I never use. by editing:

PHP:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlMo bilePCHotStartButtons1]
"ApplicationPath"=""C:Program FilesWindows Media Playerwmplayer.exe""

to point to my "gamingmode.bat" I have a hardware key that automatically overclocks my graphics card, switches RMClock to max performance, etc.

That's all I have for now but I will probably add more depending on how useful this turns out.

 

nice this is helpful. thanks

 

Thanks. I'm working on it still to refine how it works for me. I updated the original post, too. I have it now so that it'll run minimized and auto close the nTune pop-up after applying the overclock.