T2 >50% processor usage

[Gouac]

Hi

No matter how hard I try to push T2, processor usage doesn't go further 50 % of processor use.
most of the time it's only around 30% when I play with the edit property.

You're going to tell me "so, that's mean you don't need all that horse power"

the thing is, ted is rendering (green led off), i'm playing 3 videos with blur and changing positioning.
So it idles big time, right, but processor usage still not above 50%

(DDR cache CPU limit is down to 0.2Ghz)
(I tried all different resources usage in Toaster preference)

My system is :

Win XP pro
7505 Chipset
bi-xeon 3.06 hyperthread (4 virtual CPUs)
4 GB ram
Quadro 4 980XGL
120 MB/sec scsi video disc
60 MB/sec scsi Video disc

Have an idea how to use my second expensive processor like lightwave does (stick to 100% till he's finished). =)

gouac

[Faraz]

First of all you need to look at your TED Cache speed, it should be a lot higher at lest 3.0...

That said, you also have to remember that sometimes TED renders to the fact that your drives aren't fast enough. See what your drive speed is set to in the prefrences pannel.

[jcupp]

Keep in mind that the background rendering process is probably trying to leave a few cpu cycles left over so you can continue to edit. If it used 100% cpu the interface would slow to a crawl.

But I agree with the others that you need to set your prefs. I'd try:

PCI bus speed - No limit (assuming SCSI in 64 bit slot)
Ted cpu cache limit 5-6 GHz
Ted PCI bandwidth limit 70 - 100 MB/s (if you are using the faster video array)

[Gouac]

I found the problem.
I disabled the Hyperthreading in the motherboard bios.
all became a lot more powerfull a

[Gouac]

In fact toaster 2 wasn't using my second processor when in hyperthread.

[jcupp]

What MB are you using? On my machine, a Supermicro 7505 board, Hyperthreading on or off has 0 effect on performance. And Intel's spec says that the virtual cpus are used only after the real cpus so I'm curious.

[Gouac]

Asus PP-DLW

[bbeanan]

So Paul... (I do not know how you have time to be in both of these groups VT2 & VT3 Betaforce) but the question is hyperthread on or off??

Mine is "OFF" and I never see VT2 use more than 50% of my CPU... so I just turned it on to see what happens??

[jcupp]

I'm not Paul but what I understand is that with a dual cpu machine and Win2k (which only supports 2 cpus) it should be off. But with a properly implemented bios if it is on it will have no major negative impact on performance. On a Single processor machine turn it on to increase performance of "some" programs. It will have little impact on the Toaster as it makes efficient use of the cpu anyway.

The machine is supposed to configure the real processors first then the virtual processors second so an OS that only supports two processors will 'see' both real processors.

My experience with several different models of Supermicro dual Xeon boards is that it doesn't make any difference if Hyperthreading is on or of it benchmarks the same either way.

Your mileage may vary with other boards.

[Gouac]

To use 2 Hyperthread Cpus you have to use Win 2000 Server (up to 4 cpus) or WinXP pro (Up to 4 Cpus).


My system is under WInXP pro.

If you use Win 2000 Pro (Up to 2 Cpus) The OS sees only your first cpu that count for two virtual cpus.
meaning that virtual cpus are seen by the system like real cpus.

The thing is, if you have a software programmed for 2 Cpus on winxp with 4 virtual/real cpus it won't use the 2 extras.
The Lightwave render is 8 Cpus compatible, so on my Bi-xeon hyperthread (4 Cpus) Cpu usage is 100 % (more or less).

I think T2 is programmed for 2 and not 4.

That would explain why I'm using half the horsepower when Hyperthread on and all the horsepower when Hyperthread off.

hope that VT3 will be 4 cpus compatible.

[jcupp]

Originally posted by Gouac

If you use Win 2000 Pro (Up to 2 Cpus) The OS sees only your first cpu that count for two virtual cpus.
meaning that virtual cpus are seen by the system like real cpus.



People keep posting this and it's not true, I'll have to google up the link on Intel's website, but the short of it is in a properly designed system the machine configures the real cpus before the virtual ones and the OS uses them in the order the bios configure them.

[jcupp]

OK, I can't find the white paper on Intel's site but I did find this:

www.microsoft.com/windows2000/docs/hyperthreading.doc

Which says:
"Assuming the BIOS is written according to Intel specifications, it begins counting processors using the first logical processor on each physical processor. Once it has counted a logical processor on all of the physical processors, it will count the second logical processor on each physical processor, and so on..."

That's a little secondhand but if you can't trust Microsoft who can you trust :)

And of course this is not to say that every motherboard has a bios written according to Intel specifications. Which is why I was curious about specific boards that behave in a contrary fashion.

[Gouac]

thx jcupp for your concern and your researches.

obviously the problem is my Asus pp-dlw.

when using any software programmed for two cpus when hyperthread on, there only 50% of processor usage.

when using a soft programmed for four Cpus, 100% of processor usage.

winXP knows there's hyperthread on, but it makes no difference.

morality :

I'm going to change for a supermicro :)

Gouac

[wvp]

Originally posted by jcupp

That's a little secondhand but if you can't trust Microsoft who can you trust :)


That's like saying if you can't trust the Government who can you trust! :D

[Gouac]

I found bad news about Hyperthread and WinXP SP1.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;815227


might be THE explanation

[AdAstra]

I spent weeks trying to figure this one out. Seriously. FINALLY, I found this:

KB6256 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896256/en-us)

...which was of course NOT indexed under ANYTHING that made sense, but it REALLY sounded like my [and your] issue, and for me it actually was. The other problem is that MS, in their ulimate wisdom, does not offer the hotfix as a download. according to several forums, they CHARGE for the support to get the hotfix.

Read the KB96256 VERY carefully as several folks, me included, first thought one had to install the fix AND do the registry hacks. Upon further review it was determined the the reg hacks were to DISABLE the feature after the hotfix was installed...if for some reason one LIKES having their screaming Prescott processors throttled down to 50%~!

I finally found the file here:

This is the file I got, but notice this is NOT a Microsoft link! (http://server.counter-strike.net/files/WindowsXP-KB896256-v3-x86-ENU.exe)
The file I got was the real deal:
Build date: 2005/09/29
Size: 2.46 MB (2,583,280 bytes)
..and refences the hotifx KB896256 atricle.

as well as the best discussion I could find on the topic here:

anandtech.com forum dealing with this issue (http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=28&threadid=1707814&frmKeyword=&STARTPAGE=1&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear)

My system is an Intel Pentium 3.0 Prescott overlclocked [most of the time] to 3.6, on an Asus P4P800E Deluxe board... If you are running an AMD dual core, the same issue applies but DO NOT install the MS HOTFIX, get the AMD patch discussed in the forum article.

:deal: standard, small print disclamer here: if this kills your box, does you harm or if you do something wrong....NOT my fault.

IT DEFINATELY WORKED FOR ME~! My :lwicon: LW8x is rendering noticably faster and the task manager and SISandra both confirm 100% throttle speed.