Help RE: Maximizing CPU for games..

V

VectraP

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 22, 2001
Messages
421
Hello,

Wasn't sure whether to post this in processor topics otr this one. Anyway, I want to run games with absolutley as little as possible BACKGROUND tasks as I can get. Apart from closing nearly all of the tasks in windows task manager (Win XP Home BTW), is there any easier way? - and are there even more tasks I could probably not see even here. I want to maximise my CPU (because Grand Prix 4 racing game is a CPU hog - not a graphics one) I have a 2.66 P4 and Radeon 9000 btw. I get gains in frame rate - not much, but enough when I close tasks, but it#s a pain to do this everytime - especially closing explorer as well (in which case i would have to open my game in windows task manager)

Isn't there any software that can be of use for something like this?

TIA


VP:D
 
a cpu that fast doesnt need to optimized much. i run games fine with a 2.3 ghz AMD and a bunch of taskbar stuff.
 
A P4 2.66GHz shouldn't need EVERY background process closed. If there's a bottleneck in your system, it's going to be that Radeon 9000.
 
umm.

Start
run
"msconfig"

go to startup, and uncheck everything that you always close.
Then it won't start up at all so you won't have to keep ctrl alt del and closing it.
 
Turning off all the background stuff isnt freeing up cpu power, its freeing up ram.

You probibly should add more ram. I upgraded from 512-768 and noticed a nice increase in heavy games.
 
Thanks all for the replies, will try that "msconfig" now.

Thanks


VP:(


I'm happy when I'm sad...so sad when I'm happy...
 
Originally posted by wfalcon
A P4 2.66GHz shouldn't need EVERY background process closed. If there's a bottleneck in your system, it's going to be that Radeon 9000.
Click to expand...

I agree, the bottleneck is not your CPU. Upgrade your RAM and/or video card... I'd go with the video card upgrade first.
 
Optimizing windows is a free upgrade. All background tasks comsume cpu cycle time as a well as ram. It's not an 9800xt but every little helps. Hope this helps some.


Prioritize Individual Processes

When you press Control+Alt+Delete, click on the ’Processes’ tab, you will get a dialog like the one above. You can see a list of all the processes running at the current time. Now, if you are running an intensive program that maybe you would want to dedicate more processing time to, you can just right-click on the process, and move down to ’Set Priority’, then decide how high you want that program prioritized.

http://www.subzerotech.com/index/module/sz_articles_display/id/13/page/6


Halt Unnecessary Programs and Set Priorities for Processes
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,601811,00.asp

Windows XP Services removal guide
http://www.overclockersclub.com/guides/windowsxpservices.php
 
Thanks David and all. I have 512 Mb ram btw. I WOULD like to upgrade my GFX card....BUT, I have a HP pc, and its PSU is 200 watts. I understand ATI recommend 300 as a minimum. I would like to upgrade the PSU as well, but it is a Micro ATX Case, and a "normal" PSU shall we say, would'nt fit correctly I don't think. (this is all assuming a Radeon 9800XT wouldn't work on a 200 watt PSU (BESTEC). Would just "Fitting it in" (psu) be ok, or would it have to be fully in the case? thanks.

VP
 
I've only 200 watts in my Shuttle SB61G2 and I'm running a p4 2.6c @ 3.2 and a 9800 pro... Depending on how efficient the rest of your system is, you might be able to get away with running a higher end video card.

If you do upgrade your PSU, don't be tacky, get one that fits.

-dB
 
Originally posted by Stiler
umm.

Start
run
"msconfig"

go to startup, and uncheck everything that you always close.
Then it won't start up at all so you won't have to keep ctrl alt del and closing it.
Click to expand...

whats the win 2k equivalent of msconfig? if i remember correctly [and i hope im not remembering correctly] win 2k doesnt have an equivalent to msconfig.
 
A more detailed way of removing greedy services for gaming is using "services.msc". Just type this in your run box for XP or 2000.


http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Win2000/Q_20726692.html


START ---> RUN ---> services.msc


http://www.ctpc.org/nltr0902/cs0902.htm

It's At Your Service
I also mentioned the Services snap-in, which is included in the Computer Management console. To open Computer Management, right-click My Computer (on the Start menu or in an Explorer window) and choose Manage. In the left pane of Computer Management, select Computer Management (Local)\Services and Applications\Services. (Tip of the day: You can open the Services snap-in within its own console. You can find a shortcut to Services in the Administrative Tools folder, or you can simply choose Start, Run and type "services.msc".)

Let the pages load and scroll dowd.:)
 
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