Windows XP Multi Core config - Does your OEM do it for you?

[Gophn]

I have a Samsung X60 which has a Core Duo (T2500), so I have read this thread with much interest... Right now, I have not made any changes to my system setup, though I do have the hotfix 896256 installed (having checked the add/remove programs list).

The article on Microsoft's KnowledgeBase (http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?id=896256 that discusses HotFix 896256 suggests that the Registry entry

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Throttle\PerfEnablePackageIdle

is only necessary to disable the effect of the hotfix - this information is included in the KB article under the heading "How to disable the new performance state policy behavior".

So, I guess my question is (something like) this:
If you have the HotFix 896256 installed, does adding the Registry entry Throttle\PerfEnablePackageIdle=1 affect (improve?) your system performance? And does it affect battery life?

This registry change from 0 to 1 will increase performance using the state performance policy. As for the power saving, its has been shown that the battery life differences are very nominal at best, not even noticeable to most users... a few minutes less.

[Gophn]

I just ran 3dmark and scored 2152, with the reg value set to 1. Then changed it to 0 and ran 3dmark again and got the same score. Doesn't seem to do much in that department.

And I am using a T2400.

Zyphere,

Is that 3DMark05 or 06?? Or is that your CPU Score??? I would try more than one benchmark.... namely SuperPI, PCMark, and 3DMark06. You can compare these scores with others in this forum.

[Charles P. Jefferies]

If anything will show a difference, it will be 3DMark06's CPU benchmark. It's multithreaded, and if you don't set up dual-core properly, then you may be getting scores that are way off. For example, I ran it on a previous review machine, and got roughly 860 in the test - after the dual-core patch, I got a proper 1600 something.

[Qhs]

This registry change from 0 to 1 will increase performance using the state performance policy. As for the power saving, its has been shown that the battery life differences are very nominal at best, not even noticeable to most users... a few minutes less.

After further review:

"You can type 1 in the Value data box to enable the new performance state policy behavior."

Everything is A-OK.

[zyphere]

Zyphere,

Is that 3DMark05 or 06?? Or is that your CPU Score??? I would try more than one benchmark.... namely SuperPI, PCMark, and 3DMark06. You can compare these scores with others in this forum.

That is 3DMark06.

My CPU Score the first time was 1547. With the reg value set to 0 it was 1544. SM2.0 also dropped from 766 to 758.

However I did notice a difference in the load times for the tests (Return to Proxycon loaded a lot more quickly when it was set to 1).

[YourMum]

After further review:

"You can type 1 in the Value data box to enable the new performance state policy behavior."

Everything is A-OK.

My understanding of that line is that if you have the Throttle\PerfEnablePackageIdle value in place, because you have previously set it to 0, then 1 re-enables it. i.e. effectively has no effect - it only exists so that you can enable the new performance state policy behavior after it has been disabled. The alternative would be to remove the registry entry, which is a bit harsh!

[ninjazed]

I'd like to keep this discussion going and ask others to submit their experiences with this patch. I did it and my computer doesn't really "feel" any faster but it doesn't seem to have detracted from its performance either.

Some people are reporting gains, others are reporting losses. This is rather confusing for me and I would like to know why there doesn't seem to be uniform results from all who have installed this patch. Even Microsoft appears to admit that WinXP is not initially configured to properly utilize the data handling capabilities of dual core processors.

I remain very interested and hope others continue contributing to this thread.

BTW, is there any way this thread can be made available to owners of other brand laptops besides Sager? This is an issue that obviously has relevance to all owners of dual core machines. Just a thought.

[Gophn]

I remain very interested and hope other continus contributing to this thread.

BTW, is there any way this thread can be made available to owners of other brand laptops besides Sager? This is an issue that obviously has relevance to all owners of dual core machines. Just a thought.

Agreed. Originally when I made this thread, i just wanted to show my findings from observations on my recon trips to computer stores. Didnt realize that it was going to turn into a Sticky.

I would like to change the title to:

Windows XP Multi Core config - Does OEM do it for you?

and stick it in the forums somewhere that it would get the word out more.

Chaz, what do you think?

[Qhs]

Agreed. Originally when I made this thread, i just wanted to show my findings from observations on my recon trips to computer stores. Didnt realize that it was going to turn into a Sticky.

I would like to change the title to:

Windows XP Multi Core config - Does OEM do it for you?

and stick it in the forums somewhere that it would get the word out more.

Chaz, what do you think?

I'll sub in for Chaz *clears throat* Sounds like a great idea. I'll stick it in the front page of NBR and NBR Forum and use 72 sized font with red highlights! That should get the word out.

[Charles P. Jefferies]

I'll sub in for Chaz *clears throat* Sounds like a great idea. I'll stick it in the front page of NBR and NBR Forum and use 72 sized font with red highlights! That should get the word out.

Sorry I missed that, it is now changed.