Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
3 Posts
0
58342
January 20th, 2004 11:00
CPU usage won't go above 50%
Hi,
I am currently using some very CPU intensive 3D modelling software. My new Dimension 8300 (3Ghz P4, 2Gb RAM) CPU won't go above 50% usage for this software. Could this be because the CPU bus is 800Mhz but the RAM is 400Mhz? On my Inspiron 8200, 2.0 Ghz P4, 768Mb Ram machine, this software runs at 100% for the same calculations.
Can anybody give me some clues as to why this is happening and what I can do to allow the software to use 100% CPU.
Oh yeah, I'm running WIN XP pro on both machines.
Cheers
Gnirrep
I am currently using some very CPU intensive 3D modelling software. My new Dimension 8300 (3Ghz P4, 2Gb RAM) CPU won't go above 50% usage for this software. Could this be because the CPU bus is 800Mhz but the RAM is 400Mhz? On my Inspiron 8200, 2.0 Ghz P4, 768Mb Ram machine, this software runs at 100% for the same calculations.
Can anybody give me some clues as to why this is happening and what I can do to allow the software to use 100% CPU.
Oh yeah, I'm running WIN XP pro on both machines.
Cheers
Gnirrep
0 events found
No Events found!
se7en5ive2
584 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 11:00
As with cars, more horsepower means less effort to do the same job. Your 3.0 with 2 gig of ram is not working as hard as the 2.0 with 768 Mb of ram to do the same job, you should be happy to have the headroom to be able to do this.
7
alevasseur14
2 Intern
•
593 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 12:00
It could also be that hyperthreading is turned on for your machine and the application you are using isn't optimized for Hyperthreading. If that was the case, rarely seeing your CPU usage go above 50 percent would be perfectly normal as the application is only using one of your virtual processors. If you want to turn hyperthreading off, there is a setting in your BIOS that will allow you to do so. Good luck!
P.S. Is this new machine faster doing these calculations or slower? If faster, I wouldn't worry about it.
gnirrep
3 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 13:00
Thanks for the info, it was the hyperthreading! I'm still in testing to see if it runs faster now I've turned HT off, I get the feeling it is, but I'll post more news later.
Thanks again for the help.
Gnirrep
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 14:00
HT is a scam by Intel. Most applications will benefit if you turn off HT. Without an additional processor or more clock speed, HT shouldn't materially improve the amount of work processed by the CPU.
F.
Nick99
17 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 14:00
just want to say that this thread is interesting. Gnirrep, please keep us informed of your results.
Editted to add, last night I was running SPYBOT on my 3.0Ghz D.8300 (with 1G RAM). It was hanging at one point (got that problem fixed with an update), but while it was hanging I was checking the processes and the CPU usage etc. I also noticed that the CPU never went over 51% Does Hyperthreading reserve CPU usage in CASE it's needed, and in doing so makes that CPU allocation redundant as long as there's not more than one heavy process running ?
It should utilize the complete CPU potential as long as it's available
Nick
Message Edited by Nick99 on 01-20-2004 10:15 AM
gnirrep
3 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 23:00
Without the Hyperthreading, CPU usage is 100% and you can't do anything else, even system monitoring is too much.
With the Hyperthreading, you can do pretty much whatever you want. So it doesn't make the soft run faster, but doesn't slow it down, and allows you to work on other stuff while you wait.
Various articles on the web say that hyperthreading gives you a virtual 1 1/2 CPU's, by monitoring unused threads and allowing you to use them.
Cheers guys, this forum is very well read! thanks for the quick responses.
Gnirrep
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
January 20th, 2004 23:00
The CPU load should be at 100% if you are running a CPU intensive program. You can only pump so much info thru the BUS, and you cannot magically crunch more data if the clock speed is maxed out! The bottom line is that you can't "seem" to see ANY difference. Therefore, the 1.5 claim is probably more PIE in the SKY.
F.
alevasseur14
2 Intern
•
593 Posts
0
January 21st, 2004 00:00
Message Edited by alevasseur14 on 01-20-2004 08:36 PM
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
January 21st, 2004 01:00
Try ingnorance has no limit. Perhaps that's why a 3.2GHz P4 running at 100% CPU load is on par with the latest AMD processor running at 2.2GHz. Hey, the P4 is saving those extra MHz for HT! As of today, the AMD CPU is the best for gaming...period.
Oh yes, the AMD CPU has a vastly superior energy management system.
F.
DELL-Cares
Moderator
•
27.6K Posts
•
34 Points
0
June 10th, 2020 04:00
Thank you! We have received the required details. We will work towards a resolution via private messages to ensure the security of your information. In the meanwhile, you may receive assistance or suggestions from the community members as well.