Dual Core Gaming Fix Guide

I'd wait and see if you have problems before applying any hotfixes.

psupef2k said:
If I am using an Opty 170, do I need:

AMD Opteron™ Processor PowerNow! Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (exe) 1.2.2.

OR

AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (exe) 1.2.2

I already have the "Athlon 64 Processor Driver" showing up in add/remove programs (I guess windows installed it?) and the version in device manager is 1.2.2.0. However, I never installed it, so I don't know if I should remove that and install the X2 driver or Opteron Driver. The /usepmtimer switch is also already included in the boot.ini file. The only thing I don't have is the hotfix, and I have not tried any games yet as I am still getting my machine setup. Should I upgrade to one of the drivers above and apply the hotfix or no?
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kirbyrj said:
I'd wait and see if you have problems before applying any hotfixes.
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Regardless, I will first uninstall the A64 Athlon processor driver and install the opteron driver from AMD's site. Everything else I will wait on to see if I have problems.
 
psupef2k said:
Regardless, I will first uninstall the A64 Athlon processor driver and install the opteron driver from AMD's site. Everything else I will wait on to see if I have problems.
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I don't think it makes a difference. In s939, Opteron/X2's are just different names on the same chip. That Opteron driver (if it is any different than the other one), is very likely for s940 Opterons.
 
kirbyrj said:
I don't think it makes a difference. In s939, Opteron/X2's are just different names on the same chip. That Opteron driver (if it is any different than the other one), is very likely for s940 Opterons.
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Should I install the X2 drivers then? Can anyone confirm what the X2 driver install puts in the add/remove programs menu? If it is "Athlon 64 Processor Driver" then I most likely have that driver already. I just want to make sure I have the dual core driver and not the regular athlon 64 driver.
 
psupef2k said:
Should I install the X2 drivers then? Can anyone confirm what the X2 driver install puts in the add/remove programs menu? If it is "Athlon 64 Processor Driver" then I most likely have that driver already. I just want to make sure I have the dual core driver and not the regular athlon 64 driver.
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The actual driver allows for CnQ operation. For the purposes of fixing games with dual cores, it's the /usepmtimer that is added by the driver install program that does the "fixing." If you're not using CnQ, you don't need the driver.
 
II have some newbish questions, hoping you guys can help me out. Right now I have an athlon 64 3000+ venice. I'm ordering the X2 4200+ tonight.

1) Do I need to do a clean install of windows or can I just take out the 3000+ and stick the x2 in there?

2) What drivers/hotfixes are reccomended to download from the get go for the x2's? I'm going to be using this for gaming so I want to knw a littlee ahead of time if possible.

I guess those are my only questions for now. If I have any more I know you guys can answer them for me ;)
 
I HATE when no one responds, these boards can really suck sometimes. Anyway, No, I don't think you need a new instal. Just make sure to update all the drivers when you pop that new AMD in and you shouldnt have a problem.
 
hey my friend brought over his cpu and ive done fix #1 and fix #2 and #3. installing wise i have edited anyhting because when he did he didnt boot anymore and had reformat. i dont want to reformat

well whe ever i play source it crashing while opening. no way i can set the affinity for it. if i cant open it.

and played cod2 . ive use the programs to set it and task manager to set it and yet 2 mins into the game it crashes and i look at task manage both cores are being used i dont get it!!
 
tvdang7 said:
hey my friend brought over his cpu and ive done fix #1 and fix #2 and #3. installing wise i have edited anyhting because when he did he didnt boot anymore and had reformat. i dont want to reformat

well whe ever i play source it crashing while opening. no way i can set the affinity for it. if i cant open it.

and played cod2 . ive use the programs to set it and task manager to set it and yet 2 mins into the game it crashes and i look at task manage both cores are being used i dont get it!!
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What version of the video drivers are you using?
 
cat 6.3 i believe.

EDIT

ok when i steady hte sniper rifle with the SHIFT button it crashes then. WTF how can a key crash!!!
 
ITSTHINKING said:
hmmm, i'm glad so many people are willing to help.... ;)
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I wouldn't go nuts installing drivers/hotfixes until you see if you have a problem or not. But then again, I'm more of a minimalist myself :).
 
ok so i'm thinking to myself using this WinLauncher ... if i were to play cs or half life, the exe name is hl2.exe for both games [which i expect to be the error for my winlauncher]

so i put that in my winlauncher and it wouldn't launch just gave me an error, is there a way to specify EXACTLY that i want to launch source not half life 2?
 
kirbyrj said:
I wouldn't go nuts installing drivers/hotfixes until you see if you have a problem or not. But then again, I'm more of a minimalist myself :).
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Exactly. If I don't need or use an app, it doesn't get on my HD.
 
rox1co said:
ok so i'm thinking to myself using this WinLauncher ... if i were to play cs or half life, the exe name is hl2.exe for both games [which i expect to be the error for my winlauncher]

so i put that in my winlauncher and it wouldn't launch just gave me an error, is there a way to specify EXACTLY that i want to launch source not half life 2?
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Source is a little tricky because it has it's own launcher (steam). I think you have to alt-tab to set the affinity with source based games after the program has launched (at least I haven't found a better way to do it yet).
 
kirbyrj said:
Source is a little tricky because it has it's own launcher (steam). I think you have to alt-tab to set the affinity with source based games after the program has launched (at least I haven't found a better way to do it yet).
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yeah for real, kinda gay

steam sure likes to make things hard on us :mad:
 
rox1co said:
yeah for real, kinda gay

steam sure likes to make things hard on us :mad:
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you'd think they would have patched it themselves by now, but I guess not :(.
 
I think I've read every post in this thread, picked up on all the good advice, yet my problem did not go away...

THE ISSUE
The issue is performance, noticable in 3D programs such as games or benchmarking. For example: 3Dmark05. I can get a score of 3700 or just as easily a score of 2400. It's always one of these two scores. There is no clear cause when performance reaches 3700, or when it reaches 2400.

First I thought this all had to do with the AMD X2 dual-core stuttering problems discussed in various forums. But the performance seems to change only after reboots and not after a while (the system remains at either "3700" or "2400" speed). And also, I have not had
the "Benny Hill effect". Taken my actions below into account, I start wondering if my issue is indeed caused by the dual-core.

CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP? PLEASE!

WHAT I'VE TRIED - AND DID NOT WORK
- Different graphics drivers from NVidia: 77.77, 81.98 and 84.21 (current)
- Different VIA 4-in-1 drivers: 4.43 and 8.05A (current)
- Disabled cool & quiet in BIOS
- Installed AMD processor driver 1.2.2.2
- Fiddled around with the "/usepmtimer" switch in boot.ini
- Installed the Microsoft Hotfix (id 896256)
- Fiddled around with the accompanying DWORD Value in the registry
- Installed and used WinLauncherXP to set affinity at program launch
- Installed and used imagecfg for affinity masking
- Pulled out my hair and banged my head to my desk

MY SYSTEM
- Windows XP SP2
- Asus A8V
- AMD Athlon64 X2 4200+
- 2 x 1GB dual channel Corsair Value RAM
- AOpen 6800LE AGP8x
- 150 GB WD Raptor & 200 GB WD Caviar
- everything at stock speed

AGAIN: PLEASE HELP!!!
 
blemaire said:
Taken my actions below into account, I start wondering if my issue is indeed caused by the dual-core.

CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP? PLEASE!
Click to expand...

Is there anyway that you can do a full format/reinstall of your system? It doesn't sound dual core related. If I were to guess (and it's obviously only a guess :) ), it sounds like a driver issue.
 
I just installed my opty 165 on Friday night and did a full reinstall of XP on Saturday. After installing HL2, I ran the video stress test from Lost Coast and it clocked 62.5 FPS @ 1440x 900 (widescreen) with all options on high. I checked to make sure #1 and #2 were done first before running the test.
 
Maichena said:
I just installed my opty 165 on Friday night and did a full reinstall of XP on Saturday. After installing HL2, I ran the video stress test from Lost Coast and it clocked 62.5 FPS @ 1440x 900 (widescreen) with all options on high. I checked to make sure #1 and #2 were done first before running the test.
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what exactly did you do to make it work?

#1 and #2? and edits?
 
kirbyrj said:
Is there anyway that you can do a full format/reinstall of your system?
Click to expand...

It actually is a fresh intall. I recently upgraded from a Socket A platform - where I got a 3DMark05 score of 3700 as well. So, I reckon it's not the graphics card or its drivers. What drivers could I be overlooking? Or maybe BIOS settings? Or...?
 
blemaire said:
It actually is a fresh intall. I recently upgraded from a Socket A platform - where I got a 3DMark05 score of 3700 as well. So, I reckon it's not the graphics card or its drivers. What drivers could I be overlooking? Or maybe BIOS settings? Or...?
Click to expand...

It kind of sounds like a chipset GART driver issue, but it might just be the video drivers. Some of the ones you are using are "optimized" for dual core and others aren't. No idea why it would fluctuate like that :(.
 
tvdang7 said:
what exactly did you do to make it work?

#1 and #2? and edits?
Click to expand...

I was referring to the fixes #1 and #2 on the OP.

Strangely enough, #1 was already implemented when I wanted to implement it. The /usepmtimer switch was already added to my boot.ini. I'm guessing that one of the updates that I ran may have added it.

#2 was implemented when I updating Windows. I guess it detected my dual core and decided to download the patch.

I also updated my nVidia drivers to 84.21, nForce4 drivers to the latest, and BIOS to the latest release.

The most important thing I did was re-installing the OS. It fixed many of my weird issues, especially when my previous computer was a nForce 2 with a 9600 Pro and my current is a nForce 4 with a 7900 GT.

I also made sure that Steam downloaded all the updates before I started playing HL2.
 
Maichena said:
Strangely enough, #1 was already implemented when I wanted to implement it. The /usepmtimer switch was already added to my boot.ini. I'm guessing that one of the updates that I ran may have added it.

#2 was implemented when I updating Windows. I guess it detected my dual core and decided to download the patch.
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i didn't check it b4 i installed the fix, i'll check next time = 1 less thing to install :)
 
kirbyrj said:
It kind of sounds like a chipset GART driver issue, but it might just be the video drivers. Some of the ones you are using are "optimized" for dual core and others aren't. No idea why it would fluctuate like that :(.
Click to expand...

Pattern discovered!

On a first boot, the score is only 2400 3DMarks. After a reboot, the score is 3700 3DMarks. Turn the computer off and on again, and the score is back to 2400.

What's causing this? What can I do about it? Does this new finding bring a solution any closer?
 
I have a question about the amd clock program. when I use it it says "core 0" and lists the speed at 2533mhz. Now is that the speed of both cores? Because thats the only core listed
 
I thought that was obvious because if I wasn't running dual core then I wouldn't be looking for another core. Anyways sorry I was getting so impatient. I got cpu-z downloaded but at the bottom where it shows the frequency it only says core #0 and won't let me select a different core.
 
I ran cpu-z and at the bottom there is a drop down box with 2 options:

CPU #1 (Core 1) APIC ID 0
CPU #1 (Core 2) APIC ID 1

All values are identical except for the APIC ID.
 
okay under device manager when I go to processor it shows amd x2 4200+ twice meaning it is detecting 2 cores correct? Well under cpu usage in task manager it only shows 1 graph, shouldn't it be showing 2? Damn this is pissing me off. Could it possibly be because I just swapped out the 3000+ for the 4200+ x2 without a new install? My motherboard is an eVGA 133-K8-NF41-AX nForce4 SLI Mobo. Says right on the box it supports athlon x2 processors.
 
ITSTHINKING said:
okay under device manager when I go to processor it shows amd x2 4200+ twice meaning it is detecting 2 cores correct? Well under cpu usage in task manager it only shows 1 graph, shouldn't it be showing 2? Damn this is pissing me off. Could it possibly be because I just swapped out the 3000+ for the 4200+ x2 without a new install? My motherboard is an eVGA 133-K8-NF41-AX nForce4 SLI Mobo. Says right on the box it supports athlon x2 processors.
Click to expand...

Under task manager

view > cpu history > one graph per cpu

This will display a graph for each core.

Are you trying to disprove that your processor isn't dual core or what? It seems you are goign through unneccessary hassle which is causing you to be upset for no reason.
 
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