Program for managing multi-core processors. CPU Control program for optimizing processor performance
Processor frequency and performance may be higher than specified in standard specifications. Also, over time the system is used, the performance of all main PC components (RAM, CPU, etc.) may gradually decrease. To avoid this, you need to regularly “optimize” your computer.
It is necessary to understand that all manipulations with the central processor (especially overclocking) should be carried out only if you are convinced that it will be able to “survive” them. This may require you to perform system testing.
All manipulations to improve the quality of CPU operation can be divided into two groups:
- Optimization. The main emphasis is on the proper distribution of already available core and system resources in order to achieve maximum performance. It is difficult to cause serious damage to the CPU during optimization, but the performance gain is usually not very high.
- Overclocking Manipulation directly with the processor itself through special software or BIOS to increase its clock frequency. The performance gain in this case is quite noticeable, but the risk of damaging the processor and other computer components during unsuccessful overclocking also increases.
Finding out if the processor is suitable for overclocking
Before overclocking, be sure to review the characteristics of your processor using a special program (for example). The latter is shareware, with its help you can find out detailed information about all components of the computer, and in the paid version you can even carry out some manipulations with them. Instructions for use:
Method 1: Optimization using CPU Control
To safely optimize your processor, you will need to download CPU Control. This program has a simple interface for ordinary PC users, supports the Russian language and is distributed free of charge. The essence of this method is to evenly distribute the load across the processor cores, because on modern multi-core processors, some cores may not participate in the work, which results in a loss of performance.
Instructions for using this program:
Method 2: Overclocking with ClockGen
is a free program suitable for accelerating processors of any brand and series (with the exception of some Intel processors, where overclocking is not possible on its own). Before overclocking, make sure that all CPU temperatures are normal. How to use ClockGen:
Method 3: Overclocking the CPU in BIOS
Quite a complex and “dangerous” method, especially for inexperienced PC users. Before overclocking a processor, it is recommended to study its characteristics, first of all, the temperature when operating in normal mode (without heavy loads). To do this, use special utilities or programs (AIDA64 described above is quite suitable for these purposes).
If all parameters are normal, then you can start overclocking. Overclocking for each processor can be different, so below is a universal instruction for performing this operation through the BIOS:
Method 4: OS optimization
This is the safest method of increasing CPU performance by cleaning startup from unnecessary applications and defragmenting disks. Autoload is the automatic activation of a particular program/process when the operating system boots. When too many processes and programs accumulate in this section, then when you turn on the OS and continue to work in it, too much load may be placed on the central processor, which will disrupt performance.
Cleaning Startup
Applications can be added to startup automatically, or applications/processes can be added themselves. To avoid the second case, it is recommended to carefully read all the items that are ticked during the installation of this or that software. How to remove existing items from Startup:
Carrying out defragmentation
Disk defragmentation not only increases the speed of programs running on this disk, but also slightly optimizes the processor. This happens because the CPU processes less data because... During defragmentation, the logical structure of volumes is updated and optimized, and file processing is accelerated. Instructions for defragmentation:
Optimizing CPU performance is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. However, if the optimization did not produce any noticeable results, then in this case the central processor will need to be overclocked yourself. In some cases, overclocking does not have to be done through the BIOS. Sometimes the processor manufacturer can provide a special program to increase the frequency of a particular model.
This publication will discuss another third-party tool for optimizing the operation of multi-core processors - a free program CPU Control. “More” – because the author has already touched on this topic, see about ICEAffinity. The brainchild of German developer Matthias Koch ( Matthias Koch), Russified utility CPU Control will be especially interesting for novice computer users due to the presence of a multi-functional auto optimization mode, but first things first.
"Why is this necessary & what will I get from it?"
This issue was raised in the published article, so I’ll defragment what was said into a couple of paragraphs:
- Some applications do not support multi-core mode, so for them to work correctly you must manually allocate a separate processor core for them. Another “problematic” option is that the motherboard initializes the cores asynchronously. In both cases, user intervention is required.
- By default, Windows gives all running processes equal priority in the use of processor power. Which is not entirely correct when running resource-intensive applications, for example, when your favorite Call of Duty is hampered by an antivirus along with a dozen other “minor” software. CPU Control will help distribute processes proportionally across cores, which will directly affect the overall performance of the system.
Important!
The utility supports dual- and quad-core processors, but, according to reviews, it works correctly on 6–8 cores.
We optimize
1. First you need to download a utility, for example, from my Catalog of the best software . There are no “tricks” in the installation, so click “ Next" ("Further") until complete installation. By the way, the program does not “litter” the registry, i.e. it is portable and portable on removable drives.
2. After launching, first of all click on " Options" ("Options") and Russify CPU Control through " Languages" ("Languages") → "Russian". Next, in accordance with the following screenshot, check the boxes next to " Autostart with Windows ", "Minimize" And " 4 cores" (for four or more cores). It is clear that if the CPU is dual-core, there is no need to activate “4 cores”.
3. Having closed "Options", in the main application window we see 5 CPU operation control modes: " Auto", "Manual", "CPU1" (all processes run on the 1st core), " CPU2" (all processes are running on the 2nd core) and " Disabled" (without optimization). The last three modes are not interesting to us, so we will focus on the first two.
For beginners the author recommends simply selecting the " Auto " and close the window and check for future Windows startups to ensure CPU Control was in the list of startup applications (!). This is easy to do, for example, through any version, look in the menu bar " Tools" → "Startup manager"(if you need to add an application, click the applet" Add").
4. For those who like to "dig" this simple utility gives you a chance to “expand”: in auto mode there is 9 basic profiles-variations in the distribution of processes across cores (screenshot below). If you have time and open on the " tab Performance"Task Manager ("Ctrl + Alt + Del" ), to monitor the results, you can choose the optimal profile for your system.
5. The most advanced users who want to achieve maximum results in increasing system performance using this method, will certainly be interested in the " Manual ". In this mode, you independently distribute processes among cores or groups of cores. It’s simple: select the process(es) and use the right mouse button to “hang” it on the desired core or combination of cores. For example, when selecting " CPU1" the process will hang on the first core when selecting " CPU3+4" – on the third and fourth cores, etc.
Here good ranking option for a 4-core PC: leave system processes to the 1st core, distribute the most resource-intensive applications (such as Photoshop) between all cores (option as in the last screenshot), and give “middle-class” applications such as an anti-virus scanner to combinations of 2 cores, let's say, " CPU3+4". Windows Task Manager will help you make the right choice. For ease of monitoring, when the "tab" is open in the Manager Performance", check that the function " According to schedule for each CPU " (see "" → searched " According to schedule for each CPU").
In general, experiment and your efforts will definitely pay off handsomely!
It's not uncommon for problems in games to appear over time and literally appear out of nowhere. It also happens differently - the computer slows down even at the beginning, immediately after installing an application. There are reasons for everything, but both of these cases have one thing in common - they interfere with the enjoyment of the Windows 7 user. To eliminate this, you can try to increase the performance of the PC.
Why games slow down on Windows 7
First, the user needs to pay attention to the settings of the game itself, in particular the graphic ones. The thing is that players are trying to install and play games whose system requirements do not correspond to the technical characteristics of the device. This is the simplest and most obvious problem that every PC or laptop owner may encounter. You can easily fix this problem - change the graphic settings of the application you are using, set all values to minimum.
Often, PC and laptop users simply forget to keep up with updates to video card drivers and other system components, which naturally has a negative impact on the optimization of the computer as a whole and leads to problems in games.
Laptop users, unlike those people who sit at personal computers, may experience problems associated with strong heating of the device. For laptops, this is very important, since most often they are not used as they should be. Surely it is unlikely that if you have such a device, you will put it on the table and sit at it the same way as at a desktop PC. Most likely, you will make yourself more comfortable, for example, lie down on a sofa or bed and put the laptop on top of you. In most models of such devices, the cooling system is located at the bottom or on the side. This means that when working on various soft surfaces, the device can “absorb” dust in large quantities, and this is extremely harmful to the cooling system and, as a result, to the entire device.
Stationary computers can also overheat, but usually this is due to other reasons - high performance of the central processor and other components and the lack of an effective cooling system - a cooler, which simply physically cannot generate all the heat coming from the CPU.
Optimizing your computer: how to increase performance
Operating system optimization in our time is available not only to highly qualified engineers, but also to absolutely ordinary users. It will allow you to achieve the best performance of the entire system as a whole and improve the performance of games both on a desktop computer and on a laptop.
Working with the system registry
The registry is present in every computer. This is a kind of database that contains various types of information about the configuration of a personal computer or laptop, settings of the operating system used, and software parameters. It is quite natural that a fragmented and cluttered system registry can cause errors in the computer’s operation and a significant deterioration in PC performance. Information is written to the system registry every time software is installed and uninstalled, so unnecessary garbage may remain here. You can find problems in the registry using special programs, in particular CCleaner:
Finding problems in the registry
Fixing registry problems
Removing unnecessary data in the registry
Remember that the registry of this operating system is subject to fragmentation, which is why the performance of computers on Windows 7 regularly deteriorates. System utilities, unfortunately, cannot work effectively with the system registry, so you will have to install an additional program, for example, Auslogics Registry Defrag.
Defragmentation and cleaning of the hard drive
To clean your hard drive and defragment it, you do not need any additional software. Everything can be done using traditional Windows 7 system tools. To perform defragmentation, perform the following manipulations:
"Computer" in the "Start" menu
Select “Properties” of the disk
Disk defragmentation in the “Service” tab
We defragment the selected disk
This procedure allows you not only to defragment to improve performance and optimize the entire system, but also to change the disk file system (usually NTFS is used).
The time it takes to complete defragmentation directly depends on the size of the selected disk, the amount of information on it and the degree of file fragmentation. Thus, the process can take from several minutes to several hours. It is advisable to stop using the computer at this time, as this will lead to a significant slowdown of the PC.
Cleaning and freeing up RAM to speed up processes
The number of programs and applications running has a significant impact on performance. All of them have an impact on the computer's RAM, so before launching software that requires system resources, you should close everything you can.
First you need to close those programs that you do not currently need. Typically, all active applications are displayed in the task manager. You can open it using a simple key combination Ctrl + Alt + Del or click on the taskbar at the bottom and select “Task Manager”.
Launching Task Manager
A window will immediately appear with a list of all running applications. Select the one that you do not currently need and click on the “Cancel task” button.
We clean RAM by disabling unnecessary applications
Of course, in addition to active and visible applications, the operation of the computer also involves others that work in the so-called background mode. All these programs can be seen in the same task manager if you go to the “Processes” tab.
Disabling processes to free up memory
As a rule, some of them can have a significant impact on PC performance and optimization, but remember that disabling processes unknown to you can lead to data loss or deterioration of the computer (especially if you terminate the system process). It is for this reason that it is advisable to disable only those processes that you know.
Optimizing visual effects
Windows 7 has an updated graphical interface - Aero, which consumes an impressive amount of system resources. Accordingly, it can affect system optimization, and disabling it will allow you to achieve the best performance. Problems with this interface usually occur only on weak computers and laptops with an integrated or simply old video card. In all other cases, changing the visual effects will practically not change anything.
In order to reduce the consumption of system resources, it is not necessary to completely disable Aero. You can change some settings in a special menu:
Open the “System” parameter
Click on the “Advanced system settings” tab
Performance settings
So, here will be a complete list of special visual effects. If you do not want to completely disable the Aero interface, you can uncheck only the following items: animated controls, fading, casting shadows, displaying them, displaying a rectangular selection.
Disabling interface visual effects
Disabling these options will optimize the system and leave the operating system interface looking nice. Of course, you can turn off other settings, but remember that in this case the effect will be much more noticeable.
BIOS setup
BIOS is an integrated environment designed to change computer hardware settings. By tweaking the BIOS you can achieve the best performance of your PC or laptop. Flashing the BIOS or changing parameters such as processor frequency, bus speed, etc. is not recommended, as you risk that your CPU will simply burn out. Therefore, we will consider the simplest options that are optimal even for ordinary users.
First, pay attention to the settings of the cooling system (depending on the BIOS version, the names of the items may change). For this:
Enter the BIOS settings
Setting up the cooler in BIOS
Secondly, if your device has two video cards (integrated and discrete), then in the BIOS Advanced menu you can change the switchable graphics settings. To do this, select the VGA Mode SELECT item and in the list indicate what you need: dGPU Mode - the built-in video card is activated or Power Xpress Mode - the discrete video card is activated.
Switchable graphics settings in BIOS
Setting up the swap file
The paging file is a kind of addition to RAM. We can say that this is virtual memory that the user can configure independently. The paging file is taken from a hard drive of a size specified by the user. As you know, the transfer speed of a hard drive is much lower than RAM, so it is impossible to say that the page file can completely replace RAM, but it has a beneficial effect on overall optimization. To change and configure the paging file:
Open the “Control Panel”
Open the “System” parameter
Performance settings
Click “Change” in the “Virtual memory” section
A settings window will appear where you select the disk partition whose paging file you want to change, click on the “Specify size” button and set it. Remember that the page file essentially represents a specific area occupied on the hard drive. It is not recommended to set a large value, because the system will automatically place data about programs in this file, and access to it is much slower than to RAM, and accordingly, performance may drop. The optimal size is approximately 30% of the amount of RAM. The last step is to click the “Set” button and restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Setting up the video card
Reduced performance on Windows 7 may be caused by incorrect graphics adapter settings. This problem is most relevant for laptops, since they have integrated and discrete video cards. It will be no secret that modern manufacturers regularly release not only drivers, but also system settings for their products. For example, for Nvidia - Geforce Experience, and for ATI Radeon video cards - Catalyst Control Center. With this software, you can change many settings, including optimizing the device as a whole.
So, if you have a discrete and integrated video card, then you need to change the options in the software you are using. For Nvidia video cards:
Open the Nvidia panel
Setting up an Nvidia video card
Nvidia Software Settings
This way you can configure any application, and now after launching it, all work will be redirected to the video card that you specified.
For video cards from ATI Radeon, everything is a little different:
Open Catalyst Control Center
Changing the Catalyst Control Center View
Performance Tuning in Catalyst Control Center
Thus, the system will automatically launch the most powerful graphics adapter after activating a certain application.
ReadyBoost function
Few people know, but the Windows 7 operating system provides the ability to use flash drives as an additional data caching device. This way, users can significantly increase the speed of data reading and writing functions, accordingly, optimize their computer or laptop, and improve performance. You can activate ReadyBoost in the following way:
Launching the ReadyBoost option
Configuring ReadyBoost parameters
Everything is ready for use, a special file will be created on the flash drive, which will contain information about programs and applications. Remember that the flash drive should never be removed, at least until you finish working on the computer.
Using additional software
Most of the above manipulations can be performed using special software. In addition, such programs often have additional functionality and advanced settings that allow you to optimize the system in the best possible way.
Razer Game Booster
Razer Game Booster is one of the most popular applications that provides a wide range of options for optimizing games and other programs installed on your computer. The utility is free and can be easily found on the Internet. To work, you will need to register on the developers’ website, which will not be difficult for anyone, and then log into the program interface using your username and password.
The setup is completed in a few clicks - just specify “Game Mode”, after which system resources will be directed only to the game launched by the user:
Of course, everything would be fine, but the program works ideally only with powerful computers. Therefore, on older PCs it is better to use other optimization utilities.
This program appeared a long time ago and has a good reputation. It is used everywhere, as it has a pleasant and understandable interface, as well as all the necessary functionality to optimize the system. The program is distributed free of charge. Therefore, any user can easily find it on the Internet and download it. CCleaner allows you to analyze your system, including finding information that may be hidden in some applications. This information can be viewed after launching the Cleanup function. Also, using such a utility, you can scan the registry, as was mentioned a little earlier; accordingly, this tab is selected. This program has few disadvantages, in fact, that is why many PC users resort to using it. Perhaps the only thing that can be noted here is the ability to delete important data from the registry, but even here the user will be notified in a timely manner about the creation of a backup copy.
GameGain
GameGain is software that allows you to get the most out of your computer or laptop. It has a very pleasant and understandable interface, a minimum of settings, which means that almost no one will have any difficulties working with GameGain. This utility is also free and can be easily found on the Internet and downloaded. After launch, a window will appear asking you to select the operating system, as well as the type of processor. As you enter these details, move the slider until you get optimal performance. It should be said that running the computer at maximum “overclocking” parameters, and in the case of this program it will be “overclocking,” leads to a decrease in the operating time of the computer or laptop. You risk losing your “iron friend” ahead of schedule.
System Care
System Care is a program designed to clean the system files of the operating system from various debris. Unfortunately, the program is paid and does not have the ability to change the language, and for some Russian-speaking users this may be an obstacle. In addition, System Care has a rather complex interface, vaguely reminiscent of CCleaner, but unlike this program, users will have to figure out what and where it is. Unfortunately, this program is of no use. It is spread virally, fraudulently, and after the first scan of your computer, during which viruses and a huge amount of unnecessary junk are allegedly found, you are given the opportunity to buy it.
Driver Booster
Driver Booster is a program that automatically searches for the latest drivers for key elements of a personal computer or laptop. This utility will be useful to everyone, since you need to update drivers regularly, but searching for them every time for your model of components is a very boring task. This free software can be easily found on the Internet and installed on your computer. Driver Booster has a clear and simple interface, quickly and conveniently checks for updates, and does not require constant user control. Unfortunately, batch driver updates with this utility often take a lot of time and regularly require a system reboot. Nevertheless, it is a very convenient and good program.
What can I do to prevent games from slowing down again? How to keep the system in order?
To stop games from lagging, you should regularly maintain your computer or laptop in good condition. Try to avoid installing many unnecessary programs, completely clean the system of software, and also do not forget about the system registry, which may contain residual files and data even after removal. To do this, use CCleaner and make it your “best friend.” Once a month, defragment and analyze the system, then games on your computer will stop slowing down.
Performing these operations will allow each user, regardless of the configuration of the personal computer, to optimize the operation of the device and increase performance both in online and single-player games. Regularly check for residual data and files and delete them, then your computer will work efficiently.
Instructions
If the cooling system is efficient enough, you can proceed to overclocking. To do this, go to the BIOS (press the DEL, F2 or F1 key during boot, depending on the board model). Find the characteristics tab. It can be called differently, you can read exactly what it is in the instructions for it.
Final frequency processor is the result of multiplying the bus frequency by the so-called multiplier processor. Accordingly, acceleration processor you can implement by simply increasing the multiplier. However, in most modern ones it is . The exceptions are AMD's Black series and Intel's Extreme series processors, in which the multiplier value can be changed.
note
The operation of increasing processor performance beyond that stated by the manufacturer is called “overclocking.” This should be done with caution, since overclocking the processor leads to increased heat generation and increased load on many computer systems. Before you start overclocking, make sure that the cooling fans are working properly and providing the required level of cooling. If the processor temperature in normal mode exceeds 50 degrees, overclocking it without upgrading the cooling system is contraindicated.
In most cases, you should not increase the processor frequency by more than 20 percent of the nominal frequency.
When purchased, your personal computer is not running at maximum power. But you can independently, without the help of a professional programmer, increase performance your PC.
Instructions
To increase performance computer, you need to “overclock” the processor. You can perform this operation through the BIOS. Restart the operating system and click the “Delete” button. In the menu that appears, you need to find the option that is responsible for the memory frequency. Most often, this section is called Advanced Chipset Features or POWER BIOS Features; if your PC does not have this name, then check the instructions for the name of the section responsible for memory timings.
Set the minimum value. This is necessary in order to avoid failure when overclocking the processor. Now find the AGP/PCI Clock option in the BIOS of your personal computer and set the value to 66/33 MHz.
Open POWER BIOS Features. It is responsible for the FSB frequency (for the speed of the processor). Start increasing the value by 10 MHz. Save the settings and reboot the system. Using the CPU-Z program, check the stability of the processor. If everything is functioning normally, then increase the frequency by another 10 MHz. Perform this procedure until the normal operation of the processor is disrupted. After that, reduce the value by 10 MHz and save.
To increase performance your personal computer, you need to defragment the disk. Go to “Start” - “All Programs” - “Accessories” - “System Tools” and select the “File Defragmenter” application. Specify the required virtual disk partition and click the “Defragment” button.
You can improve the quality of your computer by using Disk Cleanup. Go to “My Computer”, right-click on the desired virtual disk and open “Properties”. Click on the “Disk Cleanup” link.
Video on the topic
When working on a computer, users often encounter situations where the processor is overloaded. The image on the screen is redrawn extremely slowly, programs work very slowly. To make work comfortable again, it is necessary to find and eliminate the causes of excessive processor load.
Instructions
Increased processor load can be caused by a variety of reasons, ranging from autoloading of unnecessary programs to errors in the operating system. To identify the cause of incorrect computer operation, open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del), look at the overall processor load and its load on specific processes.
More often than not, one process is causing the overload. Determine which program it belongs to, and if the process is not needed, close it. The operating system itself will not stop critical processes, so don’t be afraid to ruin anything. As a last resort, you will simply have to restart your computer.
If you cannot understand from the name of the process which program or service it belongs to, use the AnVir Task Manager or Everest (Aida64) programs. Open the list of processes in one of these programs, find the one that is loading the processor and look at the path to the executable file. Having determined what it is, you can already decide what to do with it - leave it, replace it, or delete it.
Increased processor load can be caused by a large number of programs loaded when the computer starts. Many installed programs tend to register themselves in startup without the user's permission, so regularly check the startup list and remove unused programs. To uninstall, use the Everest program: launch it, open the “Startup” section and remove unnecessary programs.
To remove programs from startup, you can use the standard msconfig utility. In Windows XP, open: “Start - Run”, enter the msconfig command and click “OK”. In Windows 7, open: Start and type msconfig into the search bar. In the window that opens, select the “Startup” tab and uncheck unnecessary programs and save the changes.
In order to speed up the operating system, disable unnecessary services: “Start - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services”. Find information on which services can be disabled in your version of the OS on the Internet.
One of the most annoying causes of excessive CPU usage is an operating system error. In this case, in the Task Manager, the main processor load falls on the System line. This sometimes happens with unlicensed versions of the OS and their “modified” assemblies. After starting, such a system can work normally, but at some point the processor load jumps to 100% and does not decrease. The best option in this case is to replace the defective OS with its working version.
Sometimes the antivirus program causes high CPU usage. If this happens temporarily, with peak load up to 80-90%, then everything is fine. But if your antivirus constantly and excessively loads your system, replace it with another one.
A slow-running computer can irritate even a very calm person. It is not necessary to replace a slow machine with a new one - just find out which component is reducing its performance and carry out the upgrade.
Instructions
There are two reasons for poor performance computer: Insufficient processing power of the processor and too little random access memory (RAM). The second of these reasons reduces speed work indirectly: when a resource-intensive application that is not running is running, it begins to use the hard drive for temporary data storage. This process is called swapping. Data exchange with a hard drive is much slower than with RAM. To determine what exactly needs to be upgraded, pay attention to the hard drive activity indicator. If the “braking” of the machine is accompanied by active access to the drive, it is necessary to increase the amount of RAM, and if not, replace the processor.
Do not resort to increasing productivity using methods that are harmful to the equipment. If the processor is overclocked, it will overheat. This does not mean that it will fail immediately, but its reliability will decrease significantly. Often overclocked processors fail users within one to two years. Also, do not create swap partitions (on Linux) or swap files (on Windows) on a flash drive. It works faster than a hard drive, but is still slower than RAM, and active rewriting of information in the same cells causes intense wear on the drive.
Before going to the store or market, carefully write down the name of the motherboard. Tell it to the seller, then say what exactly you want to buy: memory modules (DIMMs) or a processor. In the second case, also buy high-quality thermal paste. Before upgrading, unplug the machine. Simply switching it to standby mode is not enough: some nodes, in particular memory modules, can be supplied with power in this mode. To remove a memory module, move the latches to the side, and to install it, insert it with the correct side into the grooves in the latches and press it. The latches will close automatically. Replace the processor, if you have never done it before, entrust it to a specialist. A misaligned heatsink or incorrect application of thermal paste can damage an expensive component. If you changed or added RAM modules, check them for errors using Memtest.
Inexperienced users may mistake the low speed of data exchange with the global network as “slowing down” the computer itself. To increase it, change your provider or upgrade to a more expensive tariff plan (within your capabilities). It must be unlimited. Sometimes equipment can also be a limiting factor; for example, replacing an EDGE modem with a 3G modem if there are base stations of the appropriate standard will significantly increase the data transfer speed.
So he ? File fragmentation is a very common occurrence when working with the Windows operating system, especially if there is a frequent process of writing to or deleting files from the disk. As a result of this process, different parts of the same file may end up in different places on the hard drive, and the operating system spends more time accessing the file, which affects overall performance.
The process of defragmentation - organizing the structure of files into - helps speed up the computer's performance in terms of reading information. Defragmentation can be performed either by standard operating system programs or by third-party programs.
A less common problem, but one that does occur, is registry defragmentation. The Windows registry is the place where programs and the operating system itself store important data, various settings, and so on. The registry is essentially several operating system files. Registry defragmentation comes down to organizing the structure of these files on the hard drive in such a way that the computer cannot read the information.
The operating system has a master file table (MFT). This table stores information about all files on the hard drive. MFT has a fixed size, and there can be a lot of files on the disk. If you frequently delete files and then add them again, a situation arises where the MFT becomes fragmented. If such a problem occurs, the computer begins to slow down due to difficult access to the main file table. In these cases, it is recommended to delete unnecessary files. These files include:
1. Temporary Internet files (cache, cookies, log, history)
2. Various temporary program files
3. Operating system temporary files
You need to delete such files with an understanding of what is at stake. Accidentally deleting an important file may prevent Windows from booting the next time. Most often, in this case, they resort to the help of special programs.
Computer performance may be reduced due to viruses. To fix this problem, it is recommended to use any antivirus program.
If you notice that yours is, then begin measures to improve its performance. Competent and timely implementation of the actions described above is the key to normal and fast operation of your computer.
Video on the topic
My friend the computer
April, 2014
Modern processors are able to adjust their performance depending on the tasks being performed. If desired, dynamic changes in clock frequency can be optimized, and for older processors, a corresponding feature can be added.
The test bench is equipped with an AMD Phenom II X6 processor. But most of the time it runs at a low, economical 800 MHz - no faster than a twelve-year-old Pentium III. Under load, all six cores quadruple this figure - up to 3.2 GHz. All representatives of new generations of CPUs increase their efficiency and performance thanks to this dynamic adjustment of clock speed. We'll cover how this technology works and how it can be optimized to improve laptop battery life or PC performance, as well as how to enable it in older processors.
Today, desktop computers and laptops work more efficiently thanks to a flexible system of processor activity modes. Initially, this principle was used in laptops. Starting with the Pentium III processor for mobile platforms, Intel introduced energy-saving SpeedStep technology, which reduces the processor clock speed in battery mode to provide longer battery life at the expense of reduced performance.
SpeedStep: Battery Saver
Since 2003, when the Pentium M was introduced, laptops have gone to great lengths to make efficient use of battery power and deliver sufficient performance when needed. They analyze the processor load and provide their full potential only when it is really necessary. This allows you to be more careful with the battery and makes the cooling system work noticeably quieter.
Since the main goal of laptop manufacturers is to reduce power consumption and increase the efficiency of the cooling system, mobile computers leave little room for overclocking. Therefore, there are fewer BIOS settings available on a laptop than on a desktop PC. Tuning programs from manufacturers are also rare. However, there are safe ways to optimize dynamic clock speed using power plans in the Windows Control Panel. The need for such actions arises if, for example, after a few minutes of the processor operating under high load, the laptop’s performance unexpectedly drops and HD video begins to slow down.
Another reason could be the constant switching of fan operating modes. This means that the processor, under full load, forces the fan to work at its limit, which is not enough to fully cool the CPU in this mode. As a result, the latter overheats, despite the fan rotating at maximum speed. As a result, the processor reduces the clock frequency, after which its temperature and fan noise decrease. When it cools down enough, it increases the frequency again, and everything repeats all over again. In this case, limiting the maximum processor performance using the Windows power plan will help.
Power Plan: Safe Optimization
To eliminate fluctuations in laptop performance, go to the "Power Options" section in the Windows 7 Control Panel. Here you can select one of the power plans - it is best to choose "Balanced" as the starting point for the settings.
Check it and click on the “Set up power plan” link, and then on “Change advanced power settings”. Expand the “Processor power management” item in the list, and then the “Maximum processor state” sub-item. There are two parameters here - “On mains” and “On battery” - with the default value set to 100%. Now we need to find out at what value the processor maintains the required performance without overheating. At 95 or 90%, laptops often run more consistently under full load and don't take longer to complete long-running computing tasks due to the lack of power surges. If battery life and low fan noise are your most important concerns, set the battery run setting to an even lower setting.
Changing the parameters in the power plans is not dangerous, as they are within the boundaries provided by the manufacturer. Of course, you should avoid the anti-power saving "High Performance" plan, which is only useful for benchmarks. It maintains the processor's rated performance constant, which increases power consumption and fan noise, thereby shortening the life of the computer. This applies not only to mobile computers, but also to desktop computers, which allow greater intervention in controlling the processor clock speed.
Desktop: floating clock speed
Desktop PCs also adjust their clock speeds to suit the needs of the day. The main focus is on optimizing the use of the processor and increasing performance. This Intel technology is called Turbo Boost and appeared in Core i5 and P processors. At first, it was only about solving the problem that many programs could not fully use the capabilities of multi-core processors. As a result, one core was loaded at 100%, and the rest were inactive. Processors with Turbo Boost support use free potential to overclock a loaded core above the rated clock speed. The latest Sandy Bridge-based processors, which appeared earlier this year, have gone one step further: they can overclock all processor cores for a short time, which would lead to failure if used for a long time due to overheating.
But since the interval during which the processor and radiator heat up is known, the first of them, not reaching the overheating limit, begins to gradually reduce the clock frequency to a given level, so that the temperature curve stops at the upper limit of the permissible value. This means the processor can deliver noticeably faster performance for up to 25 seconds—enough to boot up, run a program, or speed up Photoshop operations, for example. AMD offers a similar technology called Turbo Core in its latest Phenom II processors, which are labeled with the letter T.
BIOS setup: dealing with frequency and voltage
Achieving both goals of dynamically changing processor settings (increasing performance as needed and reducing power consumption as possible) depends on two parameters - clock speed and processor supply voltage. It is important to understand their interdependence before making changes that are outside the manufacturer's specifications and will void your warranty.
The clock frequency determines how many times per second the transistors switch, that is, how many computational operations per second the processor can process. To improve its performance, it is necessary to raise the clock frequency above the nominal value so that it can perform more operations in the same time. However, due to manufacturing features, not all transistors in the processor (and there are millions of them) can support the same speed. This leads to errors in calculations, instability and system failures.
The solution is to increase the processor supply voltage, which allows you to stabilize the system due to the fact that with it all transistors can switch faster. But this simultaneously causes a rise in temperature, which can lead to an emergency shutdown. In addition, if the temperature is too high, sensitive transistors may fail or fail. Therefore, the limits for increasing the processor supply voltage are very narrow.
To save energy, it is first necessary to reduce the chip's supply voltage, since its energy consumption is a quadratic function of this indicator. This means that with a 20% reduction in voltage, power consumption will decrease by 36%. In this case, problems again arise due to the uneven sensitivity of the transistors: when the voltage is reduced, some of them stop switching or do not do so quickly enough. This rarely leads to system crashes, but calculation errors are possible, which can manifest themselves in the form of unstable PC operation, corrupted files and incorrect calculation results. Therefore, after changing the supply voltage or processor clock frequency, it is recommended to run the Prime95 program and let it run for at least six hours in stress test mode (Options | Torture Test). If the program does not generate error messages, the system will work reliably for a long time. You can change the clock frequency and voltage of the processor through the BIOS or using software tools from the motherboard manufacturer.
Overclocking: Maximum CPU Performance
You can enter the BIOS immediately after turning on the computer by pressing the Del or F2 key, depending on the manufacturer of the motherboard or laptop. Refer to the user manual for information about setting parameters for your processor. On our test computer with an ASUS M4A89GTD motherboard, they are located in the BIOS Al Tweaker tab. Most settings are set to Auto by default. Before manually setting the clock speed, you must disable Turbo Boost or Turbo Core. Instead of the desired processor frequency value, you should enter two parameters - the clock frequency of the system bus, which is the basis for synchronizing the entire system, and the processor multiplier. This multiplier indicates how much faster the chip is relative to the system bus speed. The last parameter on our test PC is 200 MHz, and the processor multiplier is Phenom IIХ61090Т-16. This corresponds to a clock frequency of 3200 MHz. The system bus clock speed and processor multiplier for your computer can be found in the CPU | Clocks of the CPU-Z program.
Overclocking steps depend on whether your computer can freely change the processor multiplier value. This is quite rare - for example, with CPUs for overclockers, which Intel can recognize by the letter k at the end of the marking, for example Core i5 2500k. AMD adds the Black Edition mark to the name of such processors. Gradually increasing the multiplier value, test using Torture Test from Prime95 how stable and error-free the system works. If errors or failures occur, carefully increase the supply voltage and repeat the test.
It's more difficult when you can't set the multiplier higher than the preset value, which is the case with most processors. Then the only way out is to increase the clock frequency of the system bus. A small increase, like on our test PC (from 200 to 210 MHz), does not cause problems in most cases. If you raise the FSB speed much higher, you will have to worry about overclocking the RAM. To do this, you need to set its frequency manually. For some models, this is achieved by increasing the memory divider in the BIOS. Special programs for Windows OS allow you to configure the processor during operation for higher performance or lower energy consumption. This is most conveniently done using configuration programs from motherboard manufacturers. For example, ASUS supplies the TurboV Evo overclocking utility in the Al Suite package, which will give you the ability to change the above parameters. If you find values that provide the desired result, they can be saved as profiles and activated as needed - for example, one profile to save energy and another to improve performance. If your motherboard or laptop manufacturer does not provide tuning software, and your processor is relatively old, use the RightMark CPU Clock Utility or CrystalCPUID software tools to change the clock speed or voltage of the processor - to increase performance or reduce power consumption.
Graphics card: performance or efficiency?
By dynamically adjusting the GPU clock frequency, you can achieve good results in terms of increasing the efficiency of the entire system, because their power consumption is comparable to the CPU.
For example, the GeForce GTX 590 video card from NVIDIA consumes over 400 W in modern games like Crysis, which is 2.5 times more than the entire PC with a six-core processor under full load. When dissipating heat, its fans make a terrible noise with a volume of more than 8 sones. All the more important is that in 2D mode the noise level and energy consumption are significantly reduced. The card significantly reduces the clock speed of the GPU, power consumption drops to 55 W, although the fan noise of 3 sones remains quite loud. Since less productive video cards become quite noisy under increased load, almost all models use dynamic adjustment of power and energy consumption, which is performed automatically, like processors.
Adjusting the CPU clock speed
Similar to the CPU, it is possible to increase or decrease the clock frequency of graphics chips within the limits provided by the manufacturer. There is an OverDrive item in the AMD video card driver menu. By activating this feature, you can change the clock speed of the GPU and memory of the card - raise it to improve performance and lower it to reduce power consumption. The cooling system can also be controlled here. To change the clock speed on NVIDIA graphics cards, in addition to updating the driver, you will need to download system tools from the video chip manufacturer.
Laptop: Disabling GPU
A more effective way than reducing the clock speed of your graphics card is to disable it completely. Laptops supporting Optimus technology from NVIDIA or PowerXpress technology from AMD contain both powerful discrete and economical built-in video adapters. Most of the time, the integrated chip works, and when it is necessary to solve more serious problems, the discrete one comes into play.
