Setting FS9 to its own CPU core

[OBIO]

There have been some discussion about FS9 and multi-core CPUs. I had a PM conversation with one of the SOH resident Puter Gurus about setting affinities on my I7-950 quad core processor. He sent me this link about a free program that you can use to set affinities for various programs. I have not used it yet...so don't know how it works...but I am going to check it out.

http://www.ghacks.net/2008/07/23/assign-applications-to-cpu-cores/

OBIO

 

[jhoopes2]

Does this do the same thing? (Windows task manager)...sets the CPU for the core you wish to assign.

 

[rich12545]

This is a cool program. Better than the commercial one imo. I downloaded the simple one for my dual core but I assume they both have the same functionality. It allows you to isolate fs9 on one core and all other programs and services on the other. The commercial one doesn't affect services. This is simple, easy to use and only takes two seconds. You can start fs9 and all other programs like active sky or whatever and then set it up. Thanks for the link.

 

[Navtech]

I use this one ..and I'm very happy
Simple to use !

FS2004 (ACOF) - Misc. FS2004 Affinity Tool
[SIZE=-1] [ Download | View ] [/SIZE]
Name: fs_affinity_v2.zip Size: 1,521,604 Date: 01-03-2010 Downloads: 974
[SIZE=-1] FS2004 Affinity Tool for multi-core computers. Used to make FS2004 run on only one virtual CPU. By Behcet H. S.[/SIZE]

 

[stuartcox]

I use this one ..and I'm very happy
Simple to use !

I suggested that in the earlier thread, works well and simple indeed!
But if people want to splash out for payware, or play around with computer settings, it's up to them...

 

[SSI01]

There are various programs that will shut down activities elsewhere on your computer when you start FS9, such as GameBooster. If I'm understanding correctly, setting FS9 to run isolated on one core, such as is done with what's described in this thread, eliminates the need for GameBooster or similar programs?

 

[Terry]

Even if you have 8 cores with something different on each, the PC will still have to deal with each one which will affect overall performance. I don't see any real gain here. Shutting down unneeded services is the real gain.

 

[Sunny9850]

Shutting down Chrome should be the first step to make FS run better I know just a screenie to illustrate the affinity command. And to answer the question yes that will do the same thing as any of these programs, and IMHO will do as much or as little for your FPS in FS.

I have tried the approach a while back after reading a post somewhere of how smooth things get once this is done and did not see much of a change at all. Now each system is different and we all use different ways to show our simulated world.

Mine for example runs much smoother in a maximized window than I could ever get in Full Screen. Nothing that was suggested to me ever could change that.
On the other hand when I am actually flying and not just working on a plane I shut down everything possible on that PC and what ever external programs I do want run on a second and third PC via FSUIPC/WideFS.

Turning things off is far more beneficial IMHO than this affinity thing.

Cheers
Stefan

 

[Tom Clayton]

My FS rig is dual core. I tried starting up FS and setting the affinity to both, and actually lost 5 frames. Running just one, that CPU runs at or near 100% full time. Trying to split the work, both CPU's average 50% each, with no extra work being performed. So with the same anount of work now being split, performance actually suffered.

 

[Flusirainer]

CPU Control

 

[stansdds]

Some sims work well with affinity set for certain cores, others don't. I rarely use FS9 these days, but in theory if you put FS9 on one core and all the other stuff on another core, FS9 should run smoother. So should FSX, but my experience with FSX has been that assigning cores results in stutters and delayed texture loading, just the opposite of what is desired. The best thing I've ever done to get better performance from FS9 and FSX has been faster (and overclocked) CPU's and more RAM. Even with a 32 bit operating system, putting 4GB of RAM in my computer actually helped and using the "3 gigabyte switch" eliminated the out of memory crashes.

 

[Tom@Cr1-Software]

I designed a tool that is similar in its architecture as "End It ALL" only it wont do screwy things with your multiple cpu set up and registry. I made it to shut down every thing except my fire walls sound accelerators, 3d drivers and other "Necessities". With all the hidden processes out of the way even stumble over untied shoe laces Fsx is smooth as snot off a wet loons back side. Isolating a cpu is good to do if you have no other way around it. Both ways are fine.

Tom Wood
Lead Designer.