Normal CPU usage history graph for dual core CPU

[asterix]

When running AH3 with Windows task manager and minimizing the game what should the CPU usage graph look like for playing time? My core 0 shows somewhat constant line close to 100% and core 1 around 30%. Even when jumping into B29 formation in offline and firing all guns from rear position and external view after taking off my graph stays pretty much the same event though frame rates drop (minimal graphic settings at present). Shouldn't`t core 1 load increase as frame rates drop?

My "new" low budget system specs:
OS: Windows xp 32 bit home edition with service pack 3 and new automatic updates installed.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3,0 GHz
Mainboard: Asus M2N
RAM: Corsair XMS2 2x2GB 800MHz DDR2 CL5 DIMM 1.8V (TWIN2X4096-6400C5C)
Graphics: GTX 960 (refurbished GV-N960IXOC-2GDSO)

From the following thread regarding AMD processors:
http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?topic=384888.0

Skuzzy had posted the following:
and yes, back in the earlier years of the AMD Dual core CPUs, and more specifically the early revisions of AMD's "high resolution counter" not working properly for each core, a lot of those early dual core and some quad core AMD CPU processors would only use a single core in Aces High..... only a handful of the dual core AMD CPUs were capable of being able to use both cores. This falls on the time line of AMD somewhere between revision 10h & revision  11h ( the 11h family of processors is actually a mixture of both K8 & K10 designs )

from my memory and looking back at some computer builds I had done for Family and friends, those Dual core AMD CPUs with the F3 CPU stepping ( Athlon 64 X2 6400+ BE 3.2GHz Dual core for example ), seemed to be the ones that were capable of using both cores

From CPU-Z it seems that my processor has F3 stepping so it should be able to use 2 cores. Did first online sessions with low graphics settings and I had fun, no game crashing issues etc. Had decent frame rates, no problems with clouds so far etc. Just wonder why CPU load is like that.

[Skuzzy]

No.  The game loop is still running.  We just do not draw everything, but we still have to manage what is running in the game.  In other words, we cannot pause the game just because we are minimized.  It is the nature of a "real-time" simulation.

[asterix]

No.  The game loop is still running.  We just do not draw everything, but we still have to manage what is running in the game.  In other words, we cannot pause the game just because we are minimized.  It is the nature of a "real-time" simulation.

Sorry but do not understand what part of my text did that explain. 

[mikeWe9a]

He means that you won't see a CPU usage drop just because you minimized the game - the game code is still running, it is just the actual rendering which is skipped, which falls more under the graphics card than the CPU.  The same would apply to your framerate vs. CPU usage.  The CPU usage won't necessarily be reflected by framerate, because it is the graphics card which is being used rather than the CPU to render your image.

Mike

[Vulcan]

Isn't that AMD CPU a bit ancient, I remember binning my Athlon X2s years ago?

[715]

I believe he is referring to the real time graph of CPU usage when AH3 is not minimized.  I get the same thing, core 0 near 100% core 1 near 30%.  If you minimize AH, the CPU usage falls considerably.

[TequilaChaser]

   
from my memory and looking back at some computer builds I had done for Family and friends, those Dual core AMD CPUs with the F3 CPU stepping ( Athlon 64 X2 6400+ BE 3.2GHz Dual core for example ), seemed to be the ones that were capable of using both cores

Me typing "seemed to be the ones that were capable of using both cores"

Is nothing more than a guessing assumption on my part.... The reason for the assumption was because I had built an Athlon 64 X2 6400 computer that used both.... With that said I had also built a PC using an Athlon 64 X2 5600 that would not use both, hence the reason I posted that it was a toss up between AH2 using (and now AH3) both cores or a quad core using 2 or more cores on those early dual and quad core AMD CPUs....

As for your  budget build gaming system, switching from WindowsXP 32bit to Windows 7 64 bit, would really give you a performance boost

Hope I have explained my post more thoroughly for you and

Hope this helps

TC

[TequilaChaser]

Isn't that AMD CPU a bit ancient, I remember binning my Athlon X2s years ago?

Yes,  but it will still get the job done.... more so if he switched from WindowsXP 32bit to Windows 7 64 bit

[asterix]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Windows 7 64bit is in future plans. I already had the XP disk and decided to use that so I could get the game running at lower cost.

[Skuzzy]

One of the problems with XP is it requires nearly twice the video RAM that any other later operating system does due to the way Microsoft implemented DirectX on that platform.

It is difficult to get the game stable on the 32 bit XP operating system due to the limited resources and poor use of said resources, by the operating system.

[715]

I can confirm that AH3 doesn't work very well on XP 32 bit.  Large swaths of trees fail to render at all and corn field clutter etc was sparse (probably a memory limitation).  I had to install Win 7 64 bit and all the trees (and corn) were back (and, under certain circumstances, it gives a bit higher frame rate as well). 

[asterix]

Installed Windows 7 Pro 64 bit and added 4 GB more RAM and the performance difference is huge.  At first seemed very similar but after hours of tweaking I got a lot more out of the system than I was expecting. I had low expectations to begin with, XP was working for me. Not sure what setting made the biggest difference. One thing I noticed was that AH DX9 and AH Oculus Rift DX11 (now use this) were both set to XP SP3 compatibility mode at first. Changed those to Win 7, also followed the Hints and tips, Waffle`s Video settings tips plus some internet topics related to the old motherboard I am using.

[TequilaChaser]

Good to see it all worked out for you, asterix!