Simviation Forums

X2 DUAL CORE and DUAL CORE INTEL PROCESSOR SYSTEMS ONLY

ALSO REQUIRES XP SP2 BE INSTALLED for WINDOWS XP X32



Recently I installed a 4800+ X2 in my old A8V Deluxe tower. My newer system is not as affected by the WinXP dual core bug but the A8V system did not like running FS9 on the dual core processor as well as it did the single core. With this fix you should have much smoother game play and in some systems up to a 2-10% increase in performance. Although FS9 will not run with 100% dual core support, this fix will allow FS9 to take better advantage of the dual core processor by optimizing the system to let FS9 have all it needs in uninterrupted CPU cycles.

As many of you know (and some may not) Microsoft released a non-public hotfix for dual core use in Windows XP.

Windows XP has affinity issues with dual core slugs in games and other applications. In order to properly correct Windows XP for game use with dual core processors (and dual slugs), the following MUST be done.

NOTE: FOR INTEL SYSTEMS, SKIP TO #7 BELOW


1.
Make sure to uninstall any previous processor driver and reboot

2.
Install the AMD X2 processor driver from here:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content ... usetup.exe

3.
Reboot

4.
Install the AMD X2 processor Optimizer from here:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content ... /Setup.exe


5.
Before rebooting, verify the optimizer added the following command switch to the BOOT.ini file. It is a hidden file located in the root directory of your Windows install drive (generally the C drive). Make sure your BOOT.ini has this command in it: /usepmtimer

To check boot.ini, right click on My Computer go to properties, click on the ADVANCE tab, then under

Dude, i don't have any problems with my 4200+...

Dude, i don't have any problems with my 4200+...

Dude, that

Nick are you a system builder or something? or do you have:

3700+ @ ?
4800+ @ A8V
FX-60  @ K8N

NOTE: If you are overclocking, the AMD Cool & Quiet setting in the BIOS can not be used with the newer processor drivers.

Nick, could this be why I can't boot with C&Q enabled???

Nick, could this be why I can't boot with C&Q enabled???

That is correct. In digging up information on the 4800+ and the newer AMD processor driver I discovered AMD changed the table the processor uses for C&Q operation. By doing so they eliminated the possibility of the processor having enough vcore to run overclocked.

The only way you can run the 4400 and 4800 series overclocked is with C&Q disabled. The table throws off the vcore in relation to the multiplier.

On some systems when overclocking fails the only way to reset the BIOS/processor so the system will boot back into windows at full speed is to enter the BIOS, reduce FSB to 200, reboot back into the BIOS and set the FSB back up to 250 (or whatever is being run)

[quote]Nick are you a system builder or something? or do you have:

3700+ @ ?
4800+ @ A8V
FX-60

thats gonna come in useful in a week or two. cheers nick.

i take it that windows will run on a freshly installed X2 core, so i will be able to build my new system then fix it.

i know it mite seem stupid to ask that, but its just for clarity in my mind.

john.

thats gonna come in useful in a week or two. cheers nick.

i take it that windows will run on a freshly installed X2 core, so i will be able to build my new system then fix it.

i know it mite seem stupid to ask that, but its just for clarity in my mind.

john.

Yes, Windows will install and run fine on a dual core. The above was posted to correct gameplay issues and othe Windows slow-downs running dual core processors. The Microsoft hotfix patch and registry setting can be applied to AMD or Intel systems.

FS9 is only using a single core for me. Do you think it is impacting my performance? Does your tweak make FS9 use two cores? I have the AMD drivers installed, but not the optimizer.

FS9 is only using a single core for me. Do you think it is impacting my performance? Does your tweak make FS9 use two cores? I have the AMD drivers installed, but not the optimizer.

It is impossible to get FS9 to run on 2 cores. What the tweak does is maintain the affinity timing to one core.. the issue is in Windows which was not originally desgned for a dual core slug... it was designed for a 2+ slug server and that is where the problem comes in. AMD and Intel can be affected by the issue and not everyone sees the problems but it does affect enough of the market for MS to incorporate a fix. the MS patch is for both AMD and Intel but the order of install I posted is specific to AMD.


I was getting all kinds of strange stutters but not all the time.. Spent allot of time trying to isolate the sim however it was not the sim that was the problem. It gets progressive the longer the application is run.

Before the hotfix and the newer AMD driver there was a program that would allow you to set affinity timing for each core to each application in your system and it would boot with windows.

before that you had to set affinity timing manually every time you booted the computer.. a real pain in the ass

Hi Nick - I am wondering if you can assist me with a problem that has arisen after following the steps outlined in your post of 9/9/2006 entitled "X2 Dual Core Users".  I applied each step of the process outlined - and all was fine (including reboots) until I came to the installation of the WinXPhotfix - followed by the registry edit as specified.  At that point, my system would not reboot - only allowing me to start in safe mode (with networking).  I am running the following system -

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/18/2006, 22:17:19
Machine name: SIMON
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.050928-1517)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/06/05 17:33:49 Ver: 08.00.12
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4800+,  MMX,  3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 144MB used, 4823MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

I have previously instituted (successfully) the measures you recommend for improving XP for FSX - so do not have the system restore utility running.

Any suggestions about how to fix this problem - reverse whatever problem I seem to have occurred - would be much appreciated.

If it suits you, I can be contacted directly at slongsta@bigpond.net.au

Thanks

Simon Longstaff

Hi Nick - I reversed the hotfix and registry entry and can now reboot normally.  But remain mystified.  Any ideas about why hotfix may not have worked on my rig would be welcome.

Regards

Simon Longstaff

[quote]Hi Nick - I reversed the hotfix and registry entry and can now reboot normally.

Thanks Nick - your assumptions are correct - everything OK until hotfix - I will proceed with caution (and perhaps enlist the help of someone who knows how to flash a BIOS without too much risk (not me).  No urgency in this - but if you have ay further thoughts then please let me know.  Thanks.