Windows XP Multi Core config - Does your OEM do it for you?

My thoughts:

[For Intel based systems such as P4 w/HT, Pentium D, Core Duo, Core 2 Duo]

1. In order for any of the registry keys to be valid you MUST install the MS Hotfix. The registry key Throttle is meaningless w/o the Hotfix installed.
2. After installing the Hotfix, the registry key should be added and the DWORD value set to 1 for PerfEnablePackageIdle.
3. The switch /usepmtimer should also be added to boot.ini at the very end of the last line.

Then and only then do you realize the benefit of the Hotfix?

[For AMD based systems such as Athlon64 X2, Turion64 X2, and later Athlon FX dual cores]

If you have an AMD dual core machine, then installing the processor driver and AMD Dual core optimizer takes the place of all the above as installing the processor driver allows CnQ to be enabled assuming it is enabled in the BIOS AND adds the /usepmtimer to the boot.ini during the installation. The AMD Dual core optimizer is essentially the MS Hotfix in disguise.

There is some difference of opinion as to whether or not it is even necessary to add the registry DWORD as by default the MS Hotfix or AMD Dual Core Optimizer modifies the HAL appropriately and the DWORD value is to allow the hotfix/optimizer to be enabled or disabled as desired....ie., you would only add the DWORD value if you wished to be able to DISABLE the hotfix.

Anyone else reading this thread differently than I?

 

actually the AMD Optimizer is an executable that runs in the background (literally an .exe in the startup list).

The MS Hotfix is required (for Intel and AMD) to get the throttle correct for the dual cores to be optimized.

You do not need to have Cool N Quiet enabled, you still have to install the AMD Drivers and the AMD Optimizer. The reason why Intel does not need anything like that is because AMD has had their processor (with a somewhat strange architecture) out for a while longer and discovered in the x86 Windows enviroment, the CPUs dont get utilized (especially with CnQ) fully so they had to make an "Optimizer"

 

Hello. I have built quite a few X2 based machines and am familiar with optimizing XP on the AMD side. The AMD Processor Driver automatically adds the /usepmtimer to the boot.ini, and I know this for a fact. I am fully aware that CnQ is irrelevant to this discussion...I was making the point that it was also for enabling CnQ if one wished to use it and the option was enabled in the BIOS. The AMD Dual Core Optimizer does exactly what the MS Hotfix does, which is to help allocate threads correctly between the two cores. I stopped using the MS Hotfix on AMD dual core CPUs some time back after it was exhaustively determined that the MS Hotfix was no longer needed. AMD released the Dual Core Optimizer because MS was making the Hotfix difficult to obtain.

I have had mixed replies back from folks at Anandtech forums as to whether or not the Hotfix is of any benefit on an Intel system, which is exactly what I am trying to get at. I have a Core 2 Duo desktop based around the ASUS P5B-E mobo with an E6700. I have a ABS notebook on order from NewEgg that is based on the ASUS Z62F chassis and has a Core Duo T2400 CPU in it. With the Hotfix only, it would be necessary as you detailed earlier to add the /usepmtimer to the boot.ini as there is no AMD Processor driver to do it for you. As to the registry edit, I thought it was established that it only need be done if one wished to DISABLE the Hotfix as by default it modified the HAL to enable the expected behavior--I say established because of the massive amount of testing done by enthusiasts that went on when the Hotfix was first released by MS.

 

you see for my AMD 64 (socket 939) dual core notebook, I cannot use the AMD Optimizer (BSODs), which made me realize that it does have incompatiblities for certain hardware setups. So I am using the AMD Driver and the MShotfix which still optimizes my dual core system... through bechmark testing.

So for those that have the same issue as me, the MShotifx, registry add-on, and Boot.ini add-on is still a working option.

 

Hey. In your case, I would have done essentially what you have done before the AMD Dual Core Optimizer was released, which is:

1. Install AMD Processor driver (automatically adds the /usepmtimer for you)
2. Install MS Hotfix, and then optionally add the DWORD value to the registry key.

Results would be the same. It is interesting that the AMD Dual Core Optimizer causes BSOD's on some systems.

 

LOL. Your telling me. I didnt believe myself, until after 3 formats and hardware component swaps for 2 weeks, it was the only factor that caused the BSODs.

 

Hey, quick question i read the whole first page on how to change and install. I did all of the things it said to do but how do I change my boot.ini, i created a boot.ini in notepad and checked my own boot.ini so it didn't change things too much only the last word on the last line. I saved the file to a disk and restarted my computer with said disk in my drive, but nothing happened. Is there another way to change my boot.ini file?

 

Anything similar to be done in win2k?

 

I only think that Windows 2000 Server edition had multi-processor support. I am not sure about multi-cores though... (but it should work). Win2000 Pro is something else, I do not believe that it fully supports and utilized multi-cores.

 

I dont get your question...
So did you do all of the steps (including the boot.ini)??
If you did, do you mean you dont see it going faster, or do you mean that your system is unstable???
If you want to edit your boot.ini, the steps are clear on how to do it...

 

Did the patch and didn't get any performance gains. Tested with 3dMark06, SuperPi and checked boottime secs, all before and after the update. Results were the same as before(3DMark:2975, SuperPi:1m23s and bootime:36 secs). Can't say anything about stability yet. Hopefully all works at least as good as before. Going to try some games..

 

hmm..... well a few people havent experienced anythiny after the update, but you actually went through and tested it.

If you did:
-MS Hotfix installed
-Registry entry (Thottle key, DWORD PerfEnablePackageIdle with value of 1)
-boot.ini entry (/usepmtimer)

Then you should be good and have optimized your dual core... however, some OEMs have picked up this info and have done it for some of their systems recently (from what I was informed). By you not seeing a performance increase might mean that the hotfix might have been already installed. If not, then its strange, but I might not worry because this hotfix only improves your system, no problems for anyone (thats done it correctly) that has used it so far.

 

Yep, I did the update correctly. I have mailed Fujitsu tech support about the update but haven't got a response yet. Before I updated, I checked the dates of the files in the MS Hotfix(available in that Microsoft page) and compared them to the files I had. My files were older and also there was no registry entry or /usepmtimer in the boot.ini, so I think my system was not updated.

What I didn't check is those ControlSet001 and ControlSet002 under the same System key as the CurrentControlSet which I aplied the new Throttle key and dword. They seem to contain that same Throttle key and dword under the same Control/Session Manager. So I can't say if they were there before my update. Also what is the meaning of those ControlSets?

 

I did edit the boot.ini, but I don't know how to save it. I typed one out, and saved it to a CD as boot.ini but i dont know what to do to edit my original boot.ini

 

You don`t have to type one out, and save it to a CD

Here is how to edit your boot.ini
Right click My Computer/Properties/Advanced
Under Startup and Recovery click “Settings”
Then click “Edit” and your boot.ini will open in Notepad.
Edit the file
Click File/Save
Close Notepad
All done.

Open it again and you will see the change you made has been saved

 

EDIT: yeah, what SHE said.

Thx Dunedin

 

You`re welcome.

He`s a she

 

Thanks for all of your help Dunedin, and thanks Gophn. I am about to go try that.

Post finalizing the installation, everything seems to be running faster. Usually when I turn my computer on it responds very slowly since its loading McAfee and AIM and such, but this time the response time was alot faster.(Test via hitting the windows key, and seeing how long it takes for my menu to pop up) Thanks for the awesome post guide Gophn

 

If your system takes a long time to boot up you should disable everything unnecessary in msconfig

Start/Run and type in
msconfig
OK

Startup Tab
Keep the page open then go to link below. It will tell you what all the entries are and whether you can disable them or not. It will also identify any malware. Disable everything which is not needed to run at start up

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Read the Key at top of page. Use the Search box to check all your entries

 

*bumb*, anyone?

 

Try this:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=5787

 

Thanks for all your help again Dunedin and Gophn but after optimizing both cores start ups are just fine.

 

I accidently installed the hotfix and restarted, do i need to start over? Do I need to uninstall the hotfix, reboot, install it again and then continue? or does it matter? Thanks

 

It does not matter if you restart, just continue.

I posted not to restart to save you time, thats all.

Its perfectly fine if you restarted. Finish the guide and you should be good

 

I don't see the hidden Uninstall folder for the hotfix in my windows folder with the other hotfixes. How do i uninstall it without rolling back the system?!

 

the Uninstall for hotfixes is there in the Add/Remove Programs

Remember to CHECK the Show Updates option to be able to see the hotfixes.

 

im running and amd x2 3800+ oc to 2.4. At first, only had the amd cpu drivers... performance were normal compared to my friend who has a single core 2.4, in fact, we had the same results in css benchmark him using x850xtpe and me x1950pro. obviously i wasnt that happy Found this forum, installed only the hotfix and the regedit thing(already had pmtimer),i dont wanna run a process or add something in my msconfig with "dc optimizer" . did more bench and 3dmark05 cpu test goes from 4970 to 5070.. not bad.. did the css benmark and went from 155 to 174 fps!!!!
Quick time 1080hd trailer can NOW play smoothly too. Am I happy ? yes!! Is everyone gonna experience the same results as me?? dunno but i sure do hope so!! now im just wondering if all those reviews and benchmarks of cpu on the web included this fix...
Thank you again sager !!!!!!

 

glad to see that it increased performance for you.

You should really use 3DMark06 for test when you have multi-core CPU. It has full multi-thread support, unlike 3DMark05. You will get a more accurate score for dual-cores in the 3DMark06 CPU Test.

I still dont get why people still use 3DMark05, its too outdated for current comparisons.

 

thanks for all the info. It seems my recently purchased Asus already had the hotfix, albeit like others, only the hotfix installed and without the boot.ini modified and without the throttle key added with perfenabled set to 1.

After doing this I noticed no increase in performance. I don't have 3dmark 06, so I just used super PI and 3dmark05 and the benchmarks were exactly the same.

The only difference is without running Asus Power Gear, the Cpu now clocks in at the full 1.66 in system information, instead of 1.0ghz.

Should I download 3dmark 06 to see if it makes a difference there?

 

Well I have had strange results.

With the hotfix installed and the boot.ini and registry edited accordingly, I score lower than with just the hotfix.

Just the hotfix gives me about a second faster in Pi 2 million, and also about 50 more for the CPU results in 3dmark 06 than with the registry edited and the boot.ini. I have a Core Duo 1.66.

 

I have said it once before, SuperPI is not a great program to rely on to get accurate scores for multi-core CPUs because it is NOT multi-threaded.

3DMark06 is recommended the most (just use the CPU Tests only). Its one of the only benchmarks that is fully multi-threaded.

Your score increase seems okay, SuperPI score should decrease, 3DMark06 score should increase.

 

Gohpn - the strange thing is - with the throttle reg key and the modified boot.ini, I get a lower score than without.

The 3dmark06 CPU results are best with just the hotfix installed, and without modifying the boot and the registry.

Any idea why this might be?

 

I've worked out it is the mptimer. Essentially adding perfenable to the registry does nothing with a value of 1. Because by default the hotfix is ON. So setting it to 0 disables it.

That's why I saw no performance increase, but setting it back to 0 sees a peformance decrease from the original hotfix only setup.

I'm not sure why exactly, but adding /mptimer to the boot.ini was the problem, giving me lower scores than without it.

What exactly does it do? I can only find a basic explanation of it steading the cpu frequency.

 

Is this Hotfix also for Windows Vista 32bit?

 

No this hotfix is for Windows XP 32-bit only... for now anyway.

I will update or make another guide when Vista is officially released.

 

Super PI from 1,23 (without fix) min to 1,27 min (with Dual Core fix)
NC 8430 T2300

 

SuperPI usually has a better score, but I have seen you results (especially in Core 2 Duos)... the reason is that SuperPI is a single-threaded program, so its not as accurate.

I would recommend to use the 3DMark06 CPU Tests for more reliable benchmarks since its a multi-threaded program.

 

can you explain what the point of using the SuperPI or 3DMark 06 or any other benchmarking tool - if they support the multi-threaded by themselves . The WinXP dual core fix only helps for windows xp, thus we would need some app that can measure windows xp preformance...

 

Its easy to think about, but a little confusing to explain.

the XP hotfix will optimize a multi-core system to improve overall processes,

while multi-threaded programs are programmed to detect and use the multi-cores for its processes, which is much more efficient than a typical single-threaded program that still gets a performance increase, but it not as noticeable as the multi-threaded programs.

Games are the best way to show the vast differences in having an optimized dual-core system and having the use multi-threads to boost performance.

 

Just followed all the instructions on page 1 of the thread. System was a Compaq V3018CL AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile TL-50. Setup was a breeze. Compaq only provided the AMD CPU driver, but not the Optimizer nor Hotfix patch.

After everything, I noticed a significant improvement in my laptop. I haven't done any benchmarks yet, but here's what I've noticed:

1. At log-in screen of XP, it usually takes 2-3 seconds before my keyboard drivers load. NOW, its immediate...I don't have to wait for the drivers to load so I can enter my password.

2. Programs load a lot faster. I was wondering why my system was lagging before even w/ 2 Gigs of ram

I just have 1 question. The AMD Optimizer program that I installed? How do I run it? Or does it just run by itself? Because when I click on the application icon in program files, it does nothing. Anyone know?

 

Glad the hear that you noticed the increased performance, you experience is the typical feeling after apply the hotfix.

The AMD Optimizer is automatically running in the background. But some found that the Optimizer can cause BSODs (blue screen of death), since its hardware support is sometimes incompatible... i know, my notebook had that, but if you follow the rest of the guide, the dual-core will still get optimized.

You should be good, enjoy.

 

Ok, cool. Luckily, I haven't seen the 'Blue Screen of Death'. Its nice to know that AMD Optimizer is running in the backgroud just waiting to destroy me...lol But again, thank you sooooo much for posting all this info on how to optimize my dual core. I'm gonna spread the word because I have like a dozen friends who don't know anything about this.

 

Hia
Im from portugal and i cant install the fix because it says the language installed in my system is diferent from the update language...
What can i do? is there a portuguese (or brasilian) patch?
Thks


sorry, the post below was suposed to be an edit of this one

 

I already found a Brazilian patch but it doesnt work either...
Do i really need the patch, or I only need it if i dont have the throtle paste with the 000001 on it
thks

One more thing, if i dont install the patch but change the boot.ini to have /usepmtimer in the end, will i have problems? will i have a performance boost? thks

By the way, I have a Hp 8000t with a core duo T2400 1.83 GHz and a go7600gpu

 

You have to have the XP hotfix installed, without it, there is no point to continue the rest of the guide.

You are looking for a Portuguese or a Spanish patch?

I know that I linked a Spanish one in my guide, if you want, i'll upload the portugese version.

UPDATE: here you go, just uploaded the Portugese version of the hotfix.
http://www.fileplanet.com/172060/170000/fileinfo/Windows-XP-KB896256-Brazilian-Patch
-or-
http://rapidshare.de/files/30471671/WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-PTB.exe.html

 

I need the portuguese one

Thks for uploading the patches, but they are the same xD
I still can´t install the patch :S

 

really?? I thought I got the correct Brazilian/Portuguese patch.

Hmm... let me check around.

 

but they were the right ones.
the error message is in portugese... I dont understand why the error remains :s

 

you must have Service Pack 2... thats all i can think of if you got an error.

 

yes i do! i didnt though that was a problem :S
What can i do?