Athlon64 X2 dual core

[c0ncept]

Think I found a solution, ran this utility and it works fine now for Lineage II

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040528/images/taskassign.zip

View the accompanying article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040528/index.html

 

[c0ncept]

Nevermind crashed again...same error. Oh well. Not sure what to do now.

 

[willstay]

Just wondering if there are similar porblems with Pentium Dual cores too.

 

[c0ncept]

Originally posted by: Redox
Hope this helps ...

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=27&threadid=1662743&enterthread=y

I've had similar problems with some games (Half Life 2, Far Cry especially)

I read through these posts and it looks good I'm going to give this program a try. The TomsHardwareGuide utility didn't seem to do the job.

One thing I noticed with Lineage II is that when I try to manually disable one of the cores through the Task Manager it denies me access. Perhaps it denies access to anything trying to adjust the affinity for the game, not too sure.

Sorry must've missed this post initially. Hope this works or I have to send this machine back at my expense. ><

 

[c0ncept]

Ok I'm a DOS newbie here, how do I use RunFirst?

The L2.exe is C:\Program Files (x86)\Lineage II\system\L2.exe

Little help here please...

edit*
Will this work with Windows x64?

edit2*
Ok got some help on this. Created a batch file with the code:

start C:\RunFirst.exe "C:\Program Files (x86)\Lineage II\system\L2.exe"

A command prompt opens up with C:\RunFirst.exe in the heading, followed by Lineage II opening up. Now do I have to leave the command prompt window open to keep RunFirst running? And is this the way it should work?

Thanks.

 

[c0ncept]

Sorry to keep posting here but I got RunFirst to work, and the game has been running smoothly and error-free all night.

Thanks Redox you are a lifesaver.

 

[Redox]

Happy to help ... good to hear it worked out.

The only time I have problems with Runfirst on the command line is when there are extra command line parameters following the game .exe file. For some reason, RunFirst doesn't seem to work and I have to revert to Task Manager and set affinity on the .exe file.

You also need to ensure that Runfirst is in the same directory as the game .exe file.

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: Redox
Actually, since finding this handy little utility, I have had no problems running these problem games in single core mode and they still run very well. The A64 X2 4400 is a 2.2 GHz processor and I'm running it with a 7800 gtx. As an example, I can run Far Cry in single core mode with HDR lighting enabled and 8xAF at 1280x1024 with good performance.

Note that not all games have problems and most are running just fine. It's just a nice workaround to have handy until there are more patches available. In hindsight, it wouldn't have stopped me from buying dual core as I feel it is a more versatile processor for the future.

Great post, Redox. Thank you. I feel better after reading your success story.

 

[spwatkins]

There is a switch to boot.ini (/ONECPU) which will force a single processor, this could be added to the boot menu. Whatever you do, *don't* go into device manager and switch to the uniprocessor HAL! I just did it and I haven't figured out how to go back! (Probably should have set a restore point - Doh!).

 

[ptbw2000]

Thanks for the information and for anyone else who is having problems...

I have just brought a X2 4200 and BF Vietnam locked between 2 and 10 minutes into a game. Changing the affinity to 1 CPU using taskman works and no more lockups.

Thanks again!

 

[Muscles]

After reading this thread I've decided I'll be buying an Athlon 64 4000+ instead of one of the Dual Cores when Quake 4 comes out... 95% of the stuff I do on my PC is gaming and having to disable one of the cores everytime I load up a game is just stupid.

 

[ptbw2000]

If you only do games then a single fast CPU may be your best option at the moment, BFV is the only game I have had trouble with but then I only have tried a small sample. NFS2, mentioned above, works really well and appears to make use of both cores.

However my new PC is firstly for video editing and the extra horse power is working well for me.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Wow, was not aware of these issues. Why haven't they been widely reported by Anand and the like?

 

[Twistah]

ye, I think an article on the issues with dual core procs on gaming would make sense. Perhaps something in the form of a buyer's guide. I was also seriously considering an x2 4400.....but now I'm really in doubt of getting a 4000 instead......decisions decisions :S

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: Twistah
ye, I think an article on the issues with dual core procs on gaming would make sense. Perhaps something in the form of a buyer's guide. I was also seriously considering an x2 4400.....but now I'm really in doubt of getting a 4000 instead......decisions decisions :S

Same here. Either a X2 4400+ Toledo or a 4000+ San Diego.

 

[Redox]

As reassurance to those of you who are uncertain, I really have no regrets about going dual core. The runfirst utility has solved 100% of any game problems and is really only a minor inconvenience once you have the command line set up in your shortcut.

Personally, I am happy to have the dual core for general purpose use other than gaming and games running in single core mode are still extremely fast at 2.2 Ghz on the X2 4400. It's a great processor and runs cool as well.

 

[Polish3d]

I believe I might have troubles with HL2 w/o AMD driver, and BF2 WITH AMD driver ... Grr

 

[aatf510]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I believe I might have troubles with HL2 w/o AMD driver, and BF2 WITH AMD driver ... Grr

Doesn't the AMD driver only enable C&Q and has nothing to do with Dual Core?

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: c0ncept
Ok I'm a DOS newbie here, how do I use RunFirst?

The L2.exe is C:\Program Files (x86)\Lineage II\system\L2.exe

Little help here please...

edit*
Will this work with Windows x64?

edit2*
Ok got some help on this. Created a batch file with the code:

start C:\RunFirst.exe "C:\Program Files (x86)\Lineage II\system\L2.exe"

A command prompt opens up with C:\RunFirst.exe in the heading, followed by Lineage II opening up. Now do I have to leave the command prompt window open to keep RunFirst running? And is this the way it should work?

Thanks.

Try:

cmd /c c:\runfirst "C:\Program Files (x86)\Lineage II\system\L2.exe"

In a regular Windows shell shortcut.

 

[crimson117]

I've had no problems with my x2 4400 in world of warcraft. I had an issue with lockups, but it was solved by reverting my marvell yukon ethernet drivers from 8.35 to 8.32. I've never experienced these speed-up problems.

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I believe I might have troubles with HL2 w/o AMD driver, and BF2 WITH AMD driver ... Grr

I've had NO issues with BF2, but with CS:Source (HL2), I needed to uninstall the AMD driver, and then run RegscrubXP, and use the WinXPLauncher with affinity set to 1 cpu in order to get it to run. :disgust:

 

[MartinusPos]

I have 2 games i play alot.

EQ1 and EQ2. I both have to play with RunFirst if I want them to be stable.

Just curious. I know the EQ2 can use the HyperThreading of Intel chip. Since we have 2 full speed core, could dual core break game speed mechanics? Like in EQ2 I get a error message : "call setGameTimeMiliseconds before getFrameTimeMiliseconds"

Using Runfirst i don't have this error.

 

[Bushman5]

hmmm i was thinking of getting a 3800+ but wats the point. my main reason is while gaming i want to be able to tab in and out of games with 0 lag. if i disable one care using the program wont i begin to lagg when tabbing in and out ?

 

[MartinusPos]

Runfirst doesn't disable the other core. The application will work on his dedicated core. The other one will pickup all other tasks So switching wont be slow.

 

[Waylay00]

Precisely why I didn't go Dual Core. There was a big thread about this earlier, but I can't find it.