cpu usage

Steven J Lowe · 05-16-2003, 12:47 AM

I have noticed that ga uses a lot more cpu than ma. Is this something that is going to be corrected? Is their a way of lowering it? I turned down my fps to 58-55-50 but it made no difference.

Jav400 · 05-16-2003, 05:48 AM

It seems to on mine also. But there is alot more going on than in MA2 since GA at this point has more movement. They might be a ble to tweak and get some improvment, but I would bet when MA2 gets the full background it will rise also.

feldon34 · 05-16-2003, 01:22 PM

Ok, it's all about thresholds.

In MA2, if the max FPS that can be generated is 100fps and you set the limit to 58fps with Vsync ON, it's easy to get 25% CPU usage or so.

Since GA does so much more calculation, the max FPS that can be generated on my system seems to be 40fps. CPU usage ramps up dramatically to generate those last few FPS.

So since the "Limit to FPS" slider is a bit off-kilter (setting it to 36 yields 32, setting it to 40 yields 36), I set my "Limit to FPS" slider to 40 and I turned off Vsync with the Ctrl-V key.

Without affecting the animation, I get about 36-38fps and 22% CPU usage.

Frankly, I would like to see a future version of MA2/MAT/FONA/GA that does a brief test on initial run to see how many max FPS it can generate and then instead of a "Limit FPS" slider (this would be moved to an Advanced panel), just have a "Limit CPU usage to only what is necessary for smooth animation" checkbox.

In this case, my FPS would automatically limit itself to 38fps or 40fps and my CPU usage would be a perfect 22%.

Cuddlywolf · 05-16-2003, 02:12 PM

Thanks Steve for posting this, I was going to do it myself later this week as I was seeing the very same thing.

05-16-2003, 06:45 PM

I've noticed on a couple of the demos I've downloaded (particularly the ATI 9800 Chimp demo) that CPU usage is 100% while they are running. I'm guessing that is due to the amazingly complicated 3D graphics. The demos run smoothly enough, especially as I have the 9700, not the 9800 card. Is there any chance though that I could harm my card or computer by running something that goes at 100%? Or is there some "safety switch" that flicks on or off to prevent anything untoward from occurring?
Please instruct me, oh knowledgable ones!

Jav400 · 05-16-2003, 08:56 PM

The answer to that question depends on how your computer is set up. The main enemy that you have is heat. Running your system no matter if it is the cpu or the video card at full bore all the time can cause problems if the heat build up is not taken care of properly. I did read an article recently about video cards and screensavers particularly, the gist of it was that in the tests for some reason the cooling fan wasn't kicking in properly because it was a screensaver, even though it was causing the card to produce 3D all the time, it eventually fried the card because of too much heat. Unfortunatley I don't remember the particulars about which card it was refering too. So this is definately something to watch for. If you have the proper cooling and your temps stay low no matter if it is the card or the cpu then you are fine.

Now that being said, I have been here for years now running Jim's screensaver. For the longest time it ran 24/7 and I have never had any problems. But, I have also installed extra fans within my tower case, whcih should be helping this. Now I am set to run for an hour and then energy saving shuts me off.

05-17-2003, 01:12 AM

Thanks, Jav400. Does ambient room temperature affect this also?
Would training an external fan to blow onto the tower be worth the effort? (Questions, always more questions!).

fishbowl · 05-17-2003, 01:19 AM

Michael,
I believe that would be the Nvidia GeForce FX 5800 Ultra board that ain't to fond of screensavers. They seem to get 'em a little hot around the collar.

You can read more about it here: http://www.megagames.com/news/html/h...ensavers.shtml

or here:http://www.pcekspert.com/articles/127-1.html

feldon34 · 05-17-2003, 02:33 AM

This $400 card turns its fan on or off depending NOT on the temperature of the chip, BUT whether a Direct3D application is detected.

nVidia =

Darkness2k · 06-06-2003, 09:23 AM

Well I've noticed that the Goldfish (with 5 fish) runs at 47FPS where Marine Aquarium 2 (with 7 fish and a starfish) runs in excess of 120FPS...
I attributed this to higher polygon fish etc

feldon34 · 06-06-2003, 11:48 AM

Darkness,

Please turn off the BMW advertisement. Thanks.

Unless I can have this...

Tiny Turtle · 06-06-2003, 12:07 PM

Morg,
You're just jealous 'coz he's running XP Pro...

grape_jellyfish · 06-06-2003, 02:33 PM

Hehe, you know how to fan the flames dont you Tiny.

feldon34 · 06-06-2003, 03:40 PM

I'm just amazed that people think BMWs are photogenic or eye-catching in any sense of the word. They are what you buy when you don't want to be noticed.

Actually, the only time I notice BMWs is when they are cutting me off in traffic in a hurry to get to whoever's house they're on the phone with.

Tornado Tom · 06-19-2003, 04:26 PM

ya ehhh! you would think that faster fish would be better, slow moving fish. I would like to see faster fish as well dudes.

I really think, just me of course, that slow fish slow down cpu.

05-16-2003, 12:47 AM	#1
Steven J Lowe Blue Angel Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: UK Posts: 45	cpu usage I have noticed that ga uses a lot more cpu than ma. Is this something that is going to be corrected? Is their a way of lowering it? I turned down my fps to 58-55-50 but it made no difference. Steven J Lowe

05-16-2003, 05:48 AM	#2
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	It seems to on mine also. But there is alot more going on than in MA2 since GA at this point has more movement. They might be a ble to tweak and get some improvment, but I would bet when MA2 gets the full background it will rise also. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

05-16-2003, 01:22 PM	#3
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Ok, it's all about thresholds. In MA2, if the max FPS that can be generated is 100fps and you set the limit to 58fps with Vsync ON, it's easy to get 25% CPU usage or so. Since GA does so much more calculation, the max FPS that can be generated on my system seems to be 40fps. CPU usage ramps up dramatically to generate those last few FPS. So since the "Limit to FPS" slider is a bit off-kilter (setting it to 36 yields 32, setting it to 40 yields 36), I set my "Limit to FPS" slider to 40 and I turned off Vsync with the Ctrl-V key. Without affecting the animation, I get about 36-38fps and 22% CPU usage. Frankly, I would like to see a future version of MA2/MAT/FONA/GA that does a brief test on initial run to see how many max FPS it can generate and then instead of a "Limit FPS" slider (this would be moved to an Advanced panel), just have a "Limit CPU usage to only what is necessary for smooth animation" checkbox. In this case, my FPS would automatically limit itself to 38fps or 40fps and my CPU usage would be a perfect 22%. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

05-16-2003, 06:45 PM	#5
klyntun Guest Posts: n/a	A question for the masters... I've noticed on a couple of the demos I've downloaded (particularly the ATI 9800 Chimp demo) that CPU usage is 100% while they are running. I'm guessing that is due to the amazingly complicated 3D graphics. The demos run smoothly enough, especially as I have the 9700, not the 9800 card. Is there any chance though that I could harm my card or computer by running something that goes at 100%? Or is there some "safety switch" that flicks on or off to prevent anything untoward from occurring? Please instruct me, oh knowledgable ones!

05-16-2003, 08:56 PM	#6
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	The answer to that question depends on how your computer is set up. The main enemy that you have is heat. Running your system no matter if it is the cpu or the video card at full bore all the time can cause problems if the heat build up is not taken care of properly. I did read an article recently about video cards and screensavers particularly, the gist of it was that in the tests for some reason the cooling fan wasn't kicking in properly because it was a screensaver, even though it was causing the card to produce 3D all the time, it eventually fried the card because of too much heat. Unfortunatley I don't remember the particulars about which card it was refering too. So this is definately something to watch for. If you have the proper cooling and your temps stay low no matter if it is the card or the cpu then you are fine. Now that being said, I have been here for years now running Jim's screensaver. For the longest time it ran 24/7 and I have never had any problems. But, I have also installed extra fans within my tower case, whcih should be helping this. Now I am set to run for an hour and then energy saving shuts me off. Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

05-16-2003, 02:12 PM	#4
Cuddlywolf Registered Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 16	Thanks Steve for posting this, I was going to do it myself later this week as I was seeing the very same thing.

05-17-2003, 01:12 AM	#7
klyntun Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks, Jav400. Does ambient room temperature affect this also? Would training an external fan to blow onto the tower be worth the effort? (Questions, always more questions!).

05-17-2003, 01:19 AM	#8
fishbowl Cramped Quarters Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 223	Michael, I believe that would be the Nvidia GeForce FX 5800 Ultra board that ain't to fond of screensavers. They seem to get 'em a little hot around the collar. You can read more about it here: http://www.megagames.com/news/html/h...ensavers.shtml or here:http://www.pcekspert.com/articles/127-1.html

05-17-2003, 02:33 AM	#9
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	This $400 card turns its fan on or off depending NOT on the temperature of the chip, BUT whether a Direct3D application is detected. nVidia = "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

06-06-2003, 09:23 AM	#10
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Well I've noticed that the Goldfish (with 5 fish) runs at 47FPS where Marine Aquarium 2 (with 7 fish and a starfish) runs in excess of 120FPS... I attributed this to higher polygon fish etc Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

06-06-2003, 12:07 PM	#12
Tiny Turtle is pleased Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 7,365	Morg, You're just jealous 'coz he's running XP Pro... Thanks to Morgan, Tiny Snapshots is up and running again with "Tiny Järvafält" as the latest addition – Go have a look and tell me what you think. "We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, 'Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.' I suppose we all thought that, one way or another." /Robert Oppenheimer on witnessing the first thermonuclear detonation in history.

06-06-2003, 02:33 PM	#13
grape_jellyfish Registered Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Arkansas Posts: 2,235	Hehe, you know how to fan the flames dont you Tiny. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass....It's learning to Dance in the Rain.

06-06-2003, 03:40 PM	#14
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	I'm just amazed that people think BMWs are photogenic or eye-catching in any sense of the word. They are what you buy when you don't want to be noticed. Actually, the only time I notice BMWs is when they are cutting me off in traffic in a hurry to get to whoever's house they're on the phone with. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

06-19-2003, 04:26 PM	#15
Tornado Tom Tommy Turtle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Edmonton, AB, CA Posts: 78	ya ehhh! you would think that faster fish would be better, slow moving fish. I would like to see faster fish as well dudes. I really think, just me of course, that slow fish slow down cpu. 14 Little Fish Needs A New Larger Aquarium!