Vista - Setting processor affinity made easy

Tiberius Jonez · 12-14-2008

While dual core and quad core processors are a great advance in processing power, many games in XP and Vista run better on a single core. Need for Speed Underground is one such game. In my search to find an easy way to set processor affinity, I found the easy method outlined below. This method is the best I've found and actually WORKS without having to make system-wide changes.

Enjoy!

Here's a tip I use for some games which have problems with dual core. It saves the trouble of [alt][tab] out of the game each time, and I find it easier than creating a batch file. You may have already seen this, if so, the short answer is written in red at the bottom of this post.....

Affinity and priority can be permanently added to an application's shortcut so that you don't have to change it every time you run it.

To begin, create a shortcut to the game on the desktop.

Right click the shortcut and select properties. In the "shortcut" tab, find the line for "target". Copy this in front of the target: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Need for Speed Undercover" /high /affinity 1. Now, NFS Underground will automatically run in high priority on Core 0.

Here's an example for the game Tombraider Legend which also balks at dual core processing.

The target line originally looks like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
So I change it to this:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"

The affinity can be set to any CPU core by changing the number to the corresponding hex value.
1st core = 1
2nd core = 2
3rd core = 4
4th core = 8
5th core = 10 ( hexadecimal 16 )
6th core = 20 ( hexadecimal 32 )

The priority can have any value of either: low, normal, high, realtime, abovenormal, belownormal.

So to run on only the 4th core at high priority you would put:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 8 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
or to run on the 2nd AND 3rd cores with priority realtime you would put:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /realtime /affinity 6 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" (Since 2+4=6)

Sometimes if the game needs to be run as administrator, then you get an error from not starting in the correct folder. Then also add:
/d "<directory>"
The end result being:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"

Finally, you just need to change the icon since this will set it to the CMD icon. From the same window, click "change icon" then browse to the location of the exe.
And if you need to run as admin, click the advanced button and check the box"run as administrator"

**MadBull** · 01-12-2009

Thank you so much! This works great on old games like Raganarok and Age of Empires.

**MrNeeds** · 01-12-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Tiberius Jonez

While dual core and quad core processors are a great advance in processing power, many games in XP and Vista run better on a single core. Need for Speed Underground is one such game. In my search to find an easy way to set processor affinity, I found the easy method outlined below. This method is the best I've found and actually WORKS without having to make system-wide changes.

Enjoy!

Here's a tip I use for some games which have problems with dual core. It saves the trouble of [alt][tab] out of the game each time, and I find it easier than creating a batch file. You may have already seen this, if so, the short answer is written in red at the bottom of this post.....

Affinity and priority can be permanently added to an application's shortcut so that you don't have to change it every time you run it.

To begin, create a shortcut to the game on the desktop.

Right click the shortcut and select properties. In the "shortcut" tab, find the line for "target". Copy this in front of the target: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Need for Speed Undercover" /high /affinity 1. Now, NFS Underground will automatically run in high priority on Core 0.

Here's an example for the game Tombraider Legend which also balks at dual core processing.

The target line originally looks like this:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
So I change it to this:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"

The affinity can be set to any CPU core by changing the number to the corresponding hex value.
1st core = 1
2nd core = 2
3rd core = 4
4th core = 8
5th core = 10 ( hexadecimal 16 )
6th core = 20 ( hexadecimal 32 )

The priority can have any value of either: low, normal, high, realtime, abovenormal, belownormal.

So to run on only the 4th core at high priority you would put:

C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 8 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
or to run on the 2nd AND 3rd cores with priority realtime you would put:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /realtime /affinity 6 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" (Since 2+4=6)

Sometimes if the game needs to be run as administrator, then you get an error from not starting in the correct folder. Then also add:
/d "<directory>"
The end result being:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"

Finally, you just need to change the icon since this will set it to the CMD icon. From the same window, click "change icon" then browse to the location of the exe.
And if you need to run as admin, click the advanced button and check the box"run as administrator"

or if you got a Nvidia Graphics card, you could just turn threaded optimization off.

12-14-2008	#1 (permalink)
Tiberius Jonez Vista 32 1 posts	Setting processor affinity made easy While dual core and quad core processors are a great advance in processing power, many games in XP and Vista run better on a single core. Need for Speed Underground is one such game. In my search to find an easy way to set processor affinity, I found the easy method outlined below. This method is the best I've found and actually WORKS without having to make system-wide changes. Enjoy! Here's a tip I use for some games which have problems with dual core. It saves the trouble of [alt][tab] out of the game each time, and I find it easier than creating a batch file. You may have already seen this, if so, the short answer is written in red at the bottom of this post..... Affinity and priority can be permanently added to an application's shortcut so that you don't have to change it every time you run it. To begin, create a shortcut to the game on the desktop. Right click the shortcut and select properties. In the "shortcut" tab, find the line for "target". Copy this in front of the target: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Need for Speed Undercover" /high /affinity 1. Now, NFS Underground will automatically run in high priority on Core 0. Here's an example for the game Tombraider Legend which also balks at dual core processing. The target line originally looks like this: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" So I change it to this: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" The affinity can be set to any CPU core by changing the number to the corresponding hex value. 1st core = 1 2nd core = 2 3rd core = 4 4th core = 8 5th core = 10 ( hexadecimal 16 ) 6th core = 20 ( hexadecimal 32 ) The priority can have any value of either: low, normal, high, realtime, abovenormal, belownormal. So to run on only the 4th core at high priority you would put: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 8 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" or to run on the 2nd AND 3rd cores with priority realtime you would put: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /realtime /affinity 6 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" (Since 2+4=6) Sometimes if the game needs to be run as administrator, then you get an error from not starting in the correct folder. Then also add: /d "<directory>" The end result being: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" Finally, you just need to change the icon since this will set it to the CMD icon. From the same window, click "change icon" then browse to the location of the exe. And if you need to run as admin, click the advanced button and check the box"run as administrator"
My System Specs

01-12-2009	#2 (permalink)
MadBull Vista Ultimate 64-bit 44 posts	Re: Setting processor affinity made easy Thank you so much! This works great on old games like Raganarok and Age of Empires.
My System Specs

01-12-2009	#3 (permalink)
MrNeeds Vista Home Premium x64 1,179 posts	Re: Setting processor affinity made easy Quote: Originally Posted by Tiberius Jonez While dual core and quad core processors are a great advance in processing power, many games in XP and Vista run better on a single core. Need for Speed Underground is one such game. In my search to find an easy way to set processor affinity, I found the easy method outlined below. This method is the best I've found and actually WORKS without having to make system-wide changes. Enjoy! Here's a tip I use for some games which have problems with dual core. It saves the trouble of [alt][tab] out of the game each time, and I find it easier than creating a batch file. You may have already seen this, if so, the short answer is written in red at the bottom of this post..... Affinity and priority can be permanently added to an application's shortcut so that you don't have to change it every time you run it. To begin, create a shortcut to the game on the desktop. Right click the shortcut and select properties. In the "shortcut" tab, find the line for "target". Copy this in front of the target: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Need for Speed Undercover" /high /affinity 1. Now, NFS Underground will automatically run in high priority on Core 0. Here's an example for the game Tombraider Legend which also balks at dual core processing. The target line originally looks like this: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" So I change it to this: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" The affinity can be set to any CPU core by changing the number to the corresponding hex value. 1st core = 1 2nd core = 2 3rd core = 4 4th core = 8 5th core = 10 ( hexadecimal 16 ) 6th core = 20 ( hexadecimal 32 ) The priority can have any value of either: low, normal, high, realtime, abovenormal, belownormal. So to run on only the 4th core at high priority you would put: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 8 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" or to run on the 2nd AND 3rd cores with priority realtime you would put: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /realtime /affinity 6 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" (Since 2+4=6) Sometimes if the game needs to be run as administrator, then you get an error from not starting in the correct folder. Then also add: /d "<directory>" The end result being: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe" Finally, you just need to change the icon since this will set it to the CMD icon. From the same window, click "change icon" then browse to the location of the exe. And if you need to run as admin, click the advanced button and check the box"run as administrator" or if you got a Nvidia Graphics card, you could just turn threaded optimization off.
My System Specs

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