running GPU and CPU clients at the same time?

[OldDeadOne]

Is it ok to run a client for the video card(GPU) and also be running one for the processor(s) at the same time? Also would you have to shut down the GPU client when you want to play a game? I don't think I've seen those questions asked and I would like to know this. Thanks.

 

[Tobit]

If you have a dual core or better CPU, you can easily run the GPU client and an instance of the CPU client. As far as game playing, you don't have to stop the GPU client or at least I don't here. Like the CPU client, it will only process when idle.

 

[Zero82z]

The best CPU and GPU arrangement really depends on what CPU and video card you're using. It differs between single-core, dual-core, and quad-core CPUs, as well as between ATI and nVidia GPUs due to the different CPU usage of each client. We really need more information to help you out.

As for needing to stop the client during a game, it isn't really necessary. It will cut back its usage when the GPU is required for something else. However, it isn't as good at prioritizing as the CPU client, so sometimes you may want to pause it anyway to get a bit more video performance. If you're using the tray client, you can just right-click on the icon in the system tray and there is an option to pause the work. Otherwise, you can either configure a batch script to pause it like another user did here recently, or you can manually pause it and unpause it through the services pane in the computer management console assuming you have the console client set up as a service (go into the start menu, Run, and type services.msc).

 

[Tobit]

What Zero says about pausing is likely a good idea. However, I'd be the type to forget to unpause it after game playing.