The tool is called "calculator" and comes with every Windows build, which you have to use in the "Programmer" mode. The only "trick" you need to know is that counting the processors is a little bit odd and starts from the "right". Means, a four core has core 3, core 2, core 1 and core 0, now, AM either turns the core on ("1") or off ("0"). Like this, you can easily play around using the calculator on your own. If you want core 3 on, core 2 on, core 1 on and core 0 off (for example to use core 0 for other tools) the binary code is 1110. Put this into your calculator in binary mode ("Bin") and switch to "Dec" and it will tell you the AM number ("14" in this case).

Well aware of that "tool".  I was commenting on the post above stating its obvious many still don't understand how to use said tool and just plug numbers in.  There are many flightsimmers who are in their 50's and 60's who don't understand this stuff.  They may need a better way to understand and come about these AM settings.   Thanks for the lesson though.

I'm a bit surprised no-one has mentioned VAS use. I'd love to go back to HT and AM 116 to take full advantage of my 6700k, but as Rob discovered a while back with his own very different setup, turning HT on has a huge impact on VAS and the extra 500 Mb or so it uses in my case mean an OOM on final after a single pattern at CYVR in the 777.

There are many flightsimmers who are in their 50's and 60's who don't understand this stuff.

Wow! you may have opened a can of worms here.....even though just coming up to 3 score years +10 + a couple of %, still keeping up .....

 

bob

Well aware of that "tool".  I was commenting on the post above stating its obvious many still don't understand how to use said tool and just plug numbers in.  There are many flightsimmers who are in their 50's and 60's who don't understand this stuff.  They may need a better way to understand and come about these AM settings.   Thanks for the lesson though.

 

You are absolutely correct, this is the initial problem of all "tweaks" and "tools". The problem of "tweaks" is the fact that some people do not have the time or are simply not willing to dig enough far into the theory to properly use them on their own and the problem of the "tools" is that switching things in the config without really knowing what it does can lead to adverse results. So, sadly no proper solution for this, I think in regard to such problems, we will continue to depend on users like SteveW explaining it as best as possible.

 

 

Wow! you may have opened a can of worms here.....even though just coming up to 3 score years +10 + a couple of %, still keeping up .....

 

Indeed!  Not sure why people would assume someone in their 50's or 60's wouldn't be tech savvy.  Some are, some not - same as with younger generations.  Sure your average "millennial" is more likely to be comfortable with the ins and outs of cranking on a smartphone with the latest apps than the average "boomer", but when it comes to understanding what goes on under the hood the playing field is pretty level.

 

Scott (63 years young and still gainfully employed as a professional bit flipper)

OK, VAS is used up by having too many sim jobs starting. When you allocate four jobs (4 LPs unmasked) you use the least VAS - that's all there is to it.

 

@bob, with the GTN maybe go with core7 or set All and run it with a .bat file to put where you prefer.

 

 

OK, VAS is used up by having too many sim jobs starting. When you allocate four jobs (4 LPs unmasked) you use the least VAS - that's all there is to it.

 

Agreed, that would be my assumption too, except that 4 LP's with HT ON (say AM 85 or 116) and 4 cores with HT OFF and no AM still yields a big difference in VAS used in my case. Can't explain it but very real. Any ideas?

Agreed, that would be my assumption too, except that 4 LP's with HT ON (say AM 85 or 116) and 4 cores with HT OFF and no AM still yields a big difference in VAS used in my case. Can't explain it but very real. Any ideas?

No. All I can say is the sim does not exhibit that behaviour by itself.

 

...If you are using an external program to start the sim then depending on how that works, you could see a lot more VAS and poor performance (especially with HT enabled). Check the documentation that comes with programs that start other apps or control their affinity externally.

I'm currently using AM=14 with HT=OFF on my i7-6700k (4.7) and I'm relatively happy with v3.2 performance.

 

Meanwhile, I have read in multiple sources that i7-6700k was designed to do miracles with HT=ON. In case with P3D it comes with the price of excessive overheating (greater than 75C even with good cooling) and VAS extra-usage.  Can someone confirm this?

 

 

...If you are using an external program to start the sim then depending on how that works, you could see a lot more VAS and poor performance. Check the documentation that comes with programs that start other apps or control their affinity externally.

 

Good point. I do not use anything to start P3D but I do use Process Lasso to apply AM. However that's very recent and I'm pretty sure I had the same results previously setting AM through .cfg.

 

And even through Process Lasso, I have tested multiple scenarios (HT ON 85, 84, 116 and HT OFF 14, 15) and results are consistent, less VAS used with HT OFF.

Good point. I do not use anything to start P3D but I do use Process Lasso to apply AM. However that's very recent and I'm pretty sure I had the same results previously setting AM through .cfg.

 

And even through Process Lasso, I have tested multiple scenarios (HT ON 85, 84, 116 and HT OFF 14, 15) and results are consistent, less VAS used with HT OFF.

 

Vmounier,

 

Understood VAS situation, but how about FPS and overall sim-fluidity, which gives better result, HT=ON or OFF?

Don't lasso the sim.

Meanwhile, I have read in multiple sources that i7-6700k was designed to do miracles with HT=ON. In case with P3D it comes with the price of excessive overheating (greater than 75C even with good cooling) and VAS extra-usage. Can someone confirm this?

 

I don't remember how hot my 6700k runs with HT ON and OC 4.6Ghz but not that hot (I'm water-cooled). But yes, definitely more VAS used, so I am back with HT OFF, OC 4.8Ghz and the best performance I've had so far.

 

Of course recently adding a G-Sync monitor help much with the stutters as long as I can stay above 35 fps or so...

 

 

Understood VAS situation, but how about FPS and overall sim-fluidity, which gives better result, HT=ON or OFF?

 

To be honest, I have not noticed much difference in either FPS or fluidity. I was achieving about the same with HT OFF or ON, and was going to stick with ON so that the computer benefits, but the VAS issue killed the deal.

 

I'm going to try what Steve suggested, just to be sure: to not lasso the sim and apply AM through cfg instead, but I don't expect different results as I'm 99% sure I've tested this before starting to use Lasso.

 

Vince

Thanks for the response. I use AM config in the p3d.cfg file and then I manually assign the cores to the external programs of my interest - ASN and RC4/PATC. With AM=14/HT=OFF it's the cores 1-2-3 for P3d.exe and 0 - for the externals. Really wanna try this scenario with HT=ON to see if VAS is really the issue and there is a FPS gain

I don't plug in random AMs (or random anything) without a clear reason and at least a basic understanding.

 

Sadly there are way too many that read one post and just plug in the <insert tweak of the day>.

 

Vic

 

 

There are many flightsimmers who are in their 50's and 60's who don't understand this stuff. 

 

Hmmmm - I am 79 - built my first computer (IMSAI8080) from a kit and programmed it in hex using 16 rocker switches on the front panel. I have shoes more than 50 years old.

 

I think you will find that a majority of the 50-60 year old youngsters in this forum are more tech savvy than you would imagine.

 

:smile:

 

Now, I'll go and shuffle off to my rocking chair and sit and wait for someone to start covering me with dirt..........   

 

Vic