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slower core

turbotoaster

turbotoaster

turbotoaster

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Joined
29 Dec 2005
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1,194
does a weaker core normally run a program slower

i was bored today so was messing with prime

core 0 is weaker by a long way

started dual prime, core 0 about 10 seconds before core 1 and now core 0 is 1-2 tests behind core 1

is this the same with every body

just wondering
 
It is quite common to have one core that doesnt clock as well as the other causing instability. Although if stable it shouldnt be slower... maybe you have all your background apps running on that core making it slower than the other?
 
if ya run prime, and put the priority higher/lower than normal, does it make a difference to it, just thinking with ya saying 1 core might have to deal with running windows as well
 
install prime95

then right click the exe and send a shortcut to your desktop. rename this Prime95-1. Right click the shortcut and put a space after the last character in the Target box, and then -A0 (thats an A and a zero)

then right click the original exe for prime and send another shortcut to the desktop. Rename this Prime95-2. Right click on this shortcut, and at the end of the target line, put a space and -A1.

so it should look like this:

http://www.angrygames.com/pics/dual-prime.jpg


double click each shortcut and you should get both prime95 boxes up.

Next you have to go to Advanced - Affinity. This tells Prime to only use 1 instance per specific cpu!

(thx for all of you that found my error in the original!)

http://www.angrygames.com/NF4-DAGF/dagf_x2-4a.jpg

http://www.angrygames.com/NF4-DAGF/dagf_x2-4b.jpg





Now go to Options - Torture Test...then down to Custom. You will see in the circled box how much memory Prime95 wants to use (this rig has 1GB of memory).

http://www.angrygames.com/NF4-DAGF/dagf_x2-4c.jpg

what you have to do is remember that you have TWO instances of this running, so divide this number in half. I always like to give a little leeway, so half of 927MB is 414...so I only use 400MB per cpu (this assures that the system wont over-use the physical RAM and end up accessing the pagefile...keep in mind both cores @ 400MB of memory each is VERY stressful!!!)



http://www.angrygames.com/NF4-DAGF/dagf_x2-4d.jpg


open your Task Manager (crtl+alt+del) and you'll see two physical cores in the cpu box...click OK on one of the primes, and you will see 1 core go up to 100% use.

click OK on the second prime and you will see the second core go up to 100% use.


http://www.angrygames.com/NF4-DAGF/dagf_x2-4e.jpg[/color]
 
Thanks, that works perfectly.

Just one problem... prime 95 seems to use only the page file no matter what amount of memory i allocate to it. If i run two instances with 700mb each i get 1.4gb extra page file on top of the normal 300mb i seem to have when i'm not running anything.
Surely this isn't right?
I have 2gb of ram, and i would expect it to be filled before it starts using pagefile...

Task manager reports my 'physical memory' to loose 700 mb available when i run prime with 700mb allocated so that looks normal, yet i also get 700mb extra pagefile...
Does the 'physical memory' include pagefile?
 
If you're simply testing the cores themselves, why bother with the extended ram testing? Just use the small FFT (s/p?) testing in both instances.

See if that gives you a different looking result :p?
 
I thought it splits data required/created/in use by running programs between the ram and the pagefile depending on the quantity of data and how quickly it needs to be accessed, but apparently its not a ram overflow as such...

But presumably if you had enough ram you wouldn't need one?

Gone completely off-topic here, perhaps i'll start a thread...
 
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When some programs start up they request a huge commit of memory, with a pagefile, some of it virtual. If you run without a pagefile then the large memory commit can sit idle in RAM, Doing nothing, just in case the application calls for it, the system memory allocation can be a lot higher than is used.

About the weaker core, I've read people who swear burn in can help. I've tried it with mine and the results were very small increases in stability before prime failed on the weaker core. But the process took so long I gave up. Does it work, dunno, maybe a bit.
 
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