2x VMWare only uses ~95%

[holli4pirating]

I switched my Q6600 rig running Vista Ultimate from running the Windows SMP client to running two instances of the Linux SMP client in SUSE 10.3 through VMWare. I noticed that each instance of VMWare only utilizes between 40% and 45%, while the System Idle Process uses between 5% and 10%. Under the Windows client, the system idle was usually 0%-3%. Is there any way to get the VM folders to use the extra ~5%-10% of the processor?

 

[schenks]

The VMs themselves are never gonna hit exactly 100%....you can run a standard client on each core to soak up the remaining percentages, but honestly, I didn't think it helped any. The speed gains from doing 2x VMs is still way faster than what 2x windows SMP would give you, so I'd say just let it roll.

 

[holli4pirating]

The speed gains from doing 2x VMs is still way faster than what 2x windows SMP would give you, so I'd say just let it roll.

Yea I did notice that the speed gain was more than I expected. Each does <12 min frames whereas before I'd get ~8 min frames.

I guess I'll let it be.

 

[mavalpha]

How about only 50%? I've reinstalled XP64 a couple of times, and the results are consistent. I've also replicated the same with VM Server 1.0 and 2.0 Beta. And yes, this is with 2 instances running. I'm getting consistent 15 minute frame times.

Edit:
CPU is a stock-speed Q6700 (2.66GHz), btw. Computer has 8GB RAM, with 768MB allocated to each VM. No virtual HD, Ubuntu 7.04, VMServer 2.0 Beta.
Confirmed 14.5 minutes per frame, P2451_Fragment_Receptor HDQ on both. Times and project are the same.
It's not throttling, as hottest core is 56C.

 

[schenks]

it definitely should not be 50%, especially at those frame times....i'm guessing it's either seeing the processor as supporting hyperthreading (which shouldn't be used by VMWare w/ 2 processors enabled) or it's just a false reading

 

[Tigerbiten]

It all depends on exactly which protien you go from->to, as to exactly what % increase you get.
I'm getting a consistant +33% but that useing p2653->p2605.
Never seen p2451 but if those figures are right it could be a quick protien ..........

The Linux client never uses 100% of the CPU cycles.
I treat my Quad as the Dual-Duals that they are.
So but setting affinity and locking each VM to its own dual core my CPU useage tends to be up in the 96-98% range all the time.
My Dual-Quads run in the 92-96% range.
You may be able to get a few % more CPU useage by locking the VM to its own Dual core.

Luck ...............

 

[Rebel44]

How about only 50%? I've reinstalled XP64 a couple of times, and the results are consistent. I've also replicated the same with VM Server 1.0 and 2.0 Beta. And yes, this is with 2 instances running. I'm getting consistent 15 minute frame times.

Edit:
CPU is a stock-speed Q6700 (2.66GHz), btw. Computer has 8GB RAM, with 768MB allocated to each VM. No virtual HD, Ubuntu 7.04, VMServer 2.0 Beta.
Confirmed 14.5 minutes per frame, P2451_Fragment_Receptor HDQ on both. Times and project are the same.
It's not throttling, as hottest core is 56C.

Check if you set each of your VMs to use 2 cores - default setting is 1 core...

 

[mwarps]

Mavalpha, if you're only getting 50% usage with two VMs running, you did something wrong. Post above mine is a good start. Why no virtual disk drives? How are they booting? Where are they writing to?
EDIT: Check to see if Ubuntu can see two cpu's. I'd suggest ubuntu 7.10 64-bit server edition. It installs at and cron, and nothing else. zero overhead.

Going from 2653(win smp) to 2605(dual linux vm smp) for me netted a 51% increase in PPD.

 

[mavalpha]

Check if you set each of your VMs to use 2 cores - default setting is 1 core...

Mavalpha, if you're only getting 50% usage with two VMs running, you did something wrong. Post above mine is a good start. Why no virtual disk drives? How are they booting? Where are they writing to?
EDIT: Check to see if Ubuntu can see two cpu's. I'd suggest ubuntu 7.10 64-bit server edition. It installs at and cron, and nothing else. zero overhead.

Going from 2653(win smp) to 2605(dual linux vm smp) for me netted a 51% increase in PPD.

Yes, it is set up with 2x cores apiece. Each VM is using both cores, but only around 45-60% of each. If one goes up, the other goes down. If it only had one core assigned, the SMP client wouldn't even start- it would complain about not being able to run on a single-threaded machine. I've made that mistake before, but only once.

No virtual disk because it is unnecessary. Ubuntu is a live CD, so it is booting right off the ISO. I upped the VM's to 1GB apiece to play it safe, but the results are the same.

I could never get ia32-libs to install in 7.10, so I still use 7.04 Desktop for all my Linux needs.

 

[Rebel44]

Try this:

Set (in windows task manager) first VM to use CPU#0 and #1 - second VM CPU#2 and #3

 

[mwarps]

Yes, it is set up with 2x cores apiece. Each VM is using both cores, but only around 45-60% of each. If one goes up, the other goes down. If it only had one core assigned, the SMP client wouldn't even start- it would complain about not being able to run on a single-threaded machine. I've made that mistake before, but only once.

No virtual disk because it is unnecessary. Ubuntu is a live CD, so it is booting right off the ISO. I upped the VM's to 1GB apiece to play it safe, but the results are the same.

I could never get ia32-libs to install in 7.10, so I still use 7.04 Desktop for all my Linux needs.

do you have -smp in the commandline for fah?
Which core is running? How many instances of it are there?

Why I ask: The first time I setup fah6, i didn't put in a -smp and it downloaded a uniprocessor core and WU, and when I then started it next with the -smp it still wanted to work on the uniprocessor core.