Vista - How come FSX is only using 1 core on a dual core system.......

I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores runs
at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low (10-20%).
Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations. Anybody
noticed the same thing? If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and
coding.......

"mlai" <mlai@community.nospam> wrote in message
news:F55D2565-92AD-4F5D-8730-5C8095A4AA58@microsoft.com...
>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
>runs at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low (10-20%).
> Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
> Anybody noticed the same thing?

Yes, but in my case both cores are at around 50%.

> If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and coding.......

The trouble is going back and re-engineering the existing code from the
previous product is extremely expensive compared with working with what
you've already got an expanding on it.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*

According to the ACES team in various FS forums, it does take advantage of
multiple threads. On my system, it uses more like 75%/25%.


--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
news:71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com...
> "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam> wrote in message
> news:F55D2565-92AD-4F5D-8730-5C8095A4AA58@microsoft.com...
>>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
>>runs at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low
>>(10-20%).
>> Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
>> Anybody noticed the same thing?
>
> Yes, but in my case both cores are at around 50%.
>
>> If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and coding.......
>
> The trouble is going back and re-engineering the existing code from the
> previous product is extremely expensive compared with working with what
> you've already got an expanding on it.
>
> --
> Paul Smith,
> Yeovil, UK.
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
> http://www.windowsresource.net/
>
> *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
>
>

its been explained by the developers as a case of technology changing
mid-stream, and unfortunately, the multicore design hit the market quicker
than that programmers could react.

My understanding is that it is very difficult to program to effectively use
multi-core processors, as the data stream is split and prioritized, then has
to be synchronized on the output side. Even with that said, FSX makes
limited use of multicore, but the largest use for multicores, is for one core
to run the program, while the secondary (third or fourth for the QX
processors) to run your background services, such as windows apps and
antivirus.

"Dustin Harper" wrote:

> According to the ACES team in various FS forums, it does take advantage of
> multiple threads. On my system, it uses more like 75%/25%.
>
>
> --
> Dustin Harper
> dharper@vistarip.com
> http://www.vistarip.com
>
> --
> "Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
> news:71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com...
> > "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam> wrote in message
> > news:F55D2565-92AD-4F5D-8730-5C8095A4AA58@microsoft.com...
> >>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
> >>runs at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low
> >>(10-20%).
> >> Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
> >> Anybody noticed the same thing?
> >
> > Yes, but in my case both cores are at around 50%.
> >
> >> If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and coding.......
> >
> > The trouble is going back and re-engineering the existing code from the
> > previous product is extremely expensive compared with working with what
> > you've already got an expanding on it.
> >
> > --
> > Paul Smith,
> > Yeovil, UK.
> > Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
> > http://www.windowsresource.net/
> >
> > *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
> >
> >
>

Hello All,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

Based o my knowledge, I agree with Dustin Harper's opinion. FSX does take
advantage of multiple threads. You may follow these steps to check if it is
using the dual core.
1. Start the game, and then press the Windows logo key on the taskbar or
press "CTRL+ALT+DELETE" to open the Task Manager window.
2. Click on the Processes Tab
3. Right click "FSX.exe" process and left click on SET AFFINITY
4. Please confirm if the check marks for CPU 0 and CPU 1 have been checked.
5. Close the Task Manager window, and maximize the game.

More Reference:
===============
925722: The known graphics-related issues that you may experience when you
play Flight Simulator X
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925722/en-us

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Support
Microsoft Global Technical Support Center

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--------------------
| From: "Dustin Harper" <dharper@vistarip.com>
| References: <F55D2565-92AD-4F5D-8730-5C8095A4AA58@microsoft.com>
<71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com>
| In-Reply-To: <71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com>
| Subject: Re: How come FSX is only using 1 core on a dual core
system.......
| Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:45:06 -0800
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|
| According to the ACES team in various FS forums, it does take advantage
of
| multiple threads. On my system, it uses more like 75%/25%.
|
|
| --
| Dustin Harper
| dharper@vistarip.com
| http://www.vistarip.com
|
| --
| "Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
| news:71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com...
| > "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam> wrote in message
| > news:F55D2565-92AD-4F5D-8730-5C8095A4AA58@microsoft.com...
| >>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
| >>runs at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low
| >>(10-20%).
| >> Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
| >> Anybody noticed the same thing?
| >
| > Yes, but in my case both cores are at around 50%.
| >
| >> If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and coding.......
| >
| > The trouble is going back and re-engineering the existing code from the
| > previous product is extremely expensive compared with working with what
| > you've already got an expanding on it.
| >
| > --
| > Paul Smith,
| > Yeovil, UK.
| > Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
| > http://www.windowsresource.net/
| >
| > *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
| >
| >
|
|

"Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
news:71C0B82C-1115-4E09-A095-B99730416A9A@microsoft.com...
> The trouble is going back and re-engineering the existing code from the
> previous product is extremely expensive compared with working with what
> you've already got an expanding on it.
>
> --
> Paul Smith,


Yea, It wasn't like Dual Core CPUs were in development at all.
Everyone knows they just appeared one day last year on the shelves.
Don't expect MS to write special code everytime some small fry company like
Intel sells a new CPU.

On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:26:29 +0800, "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam>
wrote:

>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores runs
>at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low (10-20%).
>Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations. Anybody
>noticed the same thing? If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and
>coding.......

I tend to remember reading a blog of Phil Taylors from Aces team,
after the Service pack was released, to go to task manager ( right
click on task bar) select applications, find FSX.exe ( FSX has to be
running of course) and change the affiinity to 2 for the cores.

I have not be able to test this myself, as my Vista Ultimate 64bit
does not reconisge that I have a dual core cpu, even though in device
manager it listes two cpu's
But is system details (where the Vista score is, it says I have only
one core.

I have MS Vista tech support looking into this now, so far 24 hours
later not heard from them.

I get a feeling from googling, that this is a common problem with
Vista, but mainly for AMD processsors.
Anyway else heard of this problem?
I can't even change the graph from Task manager view performance to
more than one as there is only one core, but I have swap posts with a
guy at Dell support foroums who has exactly same DImension PC and
Intel processor and Vista and he doesn't have a problem, so problem
must be my installation of Vista??

Hope what I suggested above helps,
If you go to FLightsim.com and then to their FSX foroum, some of the
guys there will know what I am talking about.

Cheers
Phil

Phil,

I have an FX-60 dual core system. In Device Manager I show 2 processors and
in task manager I have 2 CPU windows. I am using an ASUS mb with updated
bios and a vista driver for it though.

Mark



"Phil (PM)" <pmitchel(nospam)@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
news:im6s83puin5c2d3dmecana0iefbvaofrp6@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:26:29 +0800, "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam>
> wrote:
>
>>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
>>runs
>>at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low (10-20%).
>>Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
>>Anybody
>>noticed the same thing? If so, that's a pretty poor software planning and
>>coding.......
>
> I tend to remember reading a blog of Phil Taylors from Aces team,
> after the Service pack was released, to go to task manager ( right
> click on task bar) select applications, find FSX.exe ( FSX has to be
> running of course) and change the affiinity to 2 for the cores.
>
> I have not be able to test this myself, as my Vista Ultimate 64bit
> does not reconisge that I have a dual core cpu, even though in device
> manager it listes two cpu's
> But is system details (where the Vista score is, it says I have only
> one core.
>
> I have MS Vista tech support looking into this now, so far 24 hours
> later not heard from them.
>
> I get a feeling from googling, that this is a common problem with
> Vista, but mainly for AMD processsors.
> Anyway else heard of this problem?
> I can't even change the graph from Task manager view performance to
> more than one as there is only one core, but I have swap posts with a
> guy at Dell support foroums who has exactly same DImension PC and
> Intel processor and Vista and he doesn't have a problem, so problem
> must be my installation of Vista??
>
> Hope what I suggested above helps,
> If you go to FLightsim.com and then to their FSX foroum, some of the
> guys there will know what I am talking about.
>
> Cheers
> Phil

Have you applied FSX Service Pack 1
(http://www.fsinsider.com/downloads/P...cePack1.aspx)?
That is supposed to enable dual core useage.

Mike Bernstein

"Mark" <mark_butler@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:ulbp0jjwHHA.4588@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Phil,
>
> I have an FX-60 dual core system. In Device Manager I show 2 processors
> and in task manager I have 2 CPU windows. I am using an ASUS mb with
> updated bios and a vista driver for it though.
>
> Mark
>
>
>
> "Phil (PM)" <pmitchel(nospam)@bigpond.net.au> wrote in message
> news:im6s83puin5c2d3dmecana0iefbvaofrp6@4ax.com...
>> On Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:26:29 +0800, "mlai" <mlai@community.nospam>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>I am running FSX on my X6800 system and I noticed that one of the cores
>>>runs
>>>at very high utilization (80-100%) and the other is very low (10-20%).
>>>Seems to me that FSX is not optimzed for multi-threaded operations.
>>>Anybody
>>>noticed the same thing? If so, that's a pretty poor software planning
>>>and
>>>coding.......
>>
>> I tend to remember reading a blog of Phil Taylors from Aces team,
>> after the Service pack was released, to go to task manager ( right
>> click on task bar) select applications, find FSX.exe ( FSX has to be
>> running of course) and change the affiinity to 2 for the cores.
>>
>> I have not be able to test this myself, as my Vista Ultimate 64bit
>> does not reconisge that I have a dual core cpu, even though in device
>> manager it listes two cpu's
>> But is system details (where the Vista score is, it says I have only
>> one core.
>>
>> I have MS Vista tech support looking into this now, so far 24 hours
>> later not heard from them.
>>
>> I get a feeling from googling, that this is a common problem with
>> Vista, but mainly for AMD processsors.
>> Anyway else heard of this problem?
>> I can't even change the graph from Task manager view performance to
>> more than one as there is only one core, but I have swap posts with a
>> guy at Dell support foroums who has exactly same DImension PC and
>> Intel processor and Vista and he doesn't have a problem, so problem
>> must be my installation of Vista??
>>
>> Hope what I suggested above helps,
>> If you go to FLightsim.com and then to their FSX foroum, some of the
>> guys there will know what I am talking about.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Phil
>