Setting FSX.config to use multi-core CPU.

[Eagle eye]

I have been reading up on the process of adding [JOBSCHEDULER] AffinityMask= ? to the FSX.config file reference article http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-re ... ?t=1882609 This setting with the correct number added where the ? is would ensure I could take advantage of my i7-3770K 4core 8 thread CPU. I am a little confused at the value I should use, I reckon its 252 as shown in the mentioned web address in the article https://fsxtimes.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/affinitymask/ Can someone help me out here as there seems to confusion between cores & threads in that last website?? Any help would be appreciated, cheers.

[Algenon Lacy]

Hi Eagle Eye,

Try this link:-

http://www.gatwick-fsg.org.uk/affinitym ... m=hardware

There seams to be two options depending on core or threads.

Would suggest you rty one at a time and see best result.

regards

Algenon.

[Eagle eye]

Would like some more feed back. By the Gatwick site calculator I perhaps should set the figure to 84. If anyone else has experience with this issue please read my first post and comment. Maybe I'm a bit slow but I am still a little at sea on the figure I should use for that CPU??

[Algenon Lacy]

Hi Eagle Eye.

I am not an expert on this but I have read what experts say.

That is:

"Multicore and FSX: Although it is a fact that FSX will use up to 256 physical cores (if available) there is a diminishing return on investment past 6 cores. That is the part the MS marketing engine left out when it was announced how many cores FSX would run on.

8 core vs. 6 core: Six core processor setups have far more value in terms of threaded code in FSX than 8 core and a user would be spending a lot of money for a 8 core setup (by current offerings and pricing) they will never see back in performance and smoothness in FSX. Based on the terrain threads being processed, past 6 cores and the user is very much beginning to throw money out the window although with 6 core there is still an advantage but do NOT select a older 6 core processor over a newer class quad!


A quad core should be the minimum number for cores used for FSX.


In the future if 6 core processors become a norm for the non-extreme class offering, then go for the 6 over the quad. Although 8 core non-extreme class solutions could also become a norm in the future, anything over 8 cores, based on how much data FSX is threading really is a 'total' waste of money. "

Also:

"Intel Hyper Threading: FSX has no code to recognize or process logical core hyper thread. I don't know how many times I have read some 'guru' has come up with an assessment that FSX will make use of or runs better with hyper thread enabled. The REAL terrain 'guru' Adam from Aces as well as Phil Taylor specified years ago that FSX does not support any logical core threading (hyper thread).

The reason you SEE logical core activity in the Windows CPU monitor window is because the physical cache is used for each logical (hyper thread) core. "logical" core means there is no 'physical' hardware core but the hardware cache in use is there, and, FSX is DUMB so a thread is spawned due to the physical cache in use, but the data is never processed and used by FSX!"

So on this basis, I would go with the 4 core option without hyperthreading.

regards

Algenon.

[Sprocket]

Hi Eagle Eye.


So on this basis, I would go with the 4 core option without hyperthreading.

regards

Algenon.

Absolutely: Look at it like this:

The jobscheduler instructs the PC which of the cores to "use".
The PC can only understand this instruction in computer lingo, binary, 0's and 1's

To use all 4 cores, you need a binary word of 0000 1111 - each one of the 1' "switches on" the corresponding core.
(Now disregard the leading zero's.)
3 cores would be 0111, 2 cores would be 0011 etc.

Here's an easy way to convert this binary to human language, which is "Decimal"

Launch your PC calculator and select the "programmer" option.



Now click on the "Bin", circled in red.
Now all numbers grey out, excepting the "1", circled in green. (and also the 0)

Click on the "1", say 4 times, (setting up a binary code), and your calculator will display the decimal equivalent , marked in blue.

Use this figure in your job scheduler.

I use 1110 , job scheduler 14. The last core I reserve for Windows to use.

[Eagle eye]

Thanks Algenon & Sprocket for your very informative reply. I will probably set my [JOBSCHEDULER] AffinityMask=14 instead of 84 since you pointed to FSX's inability to recognise Hyperthreading. I am contemplating building one more computer to replace the current and as you also indicated I favour a 6 core 12 thread Intel CPU. This is to satisfy my other interests in HD & Ultra HD video editing. In FSX I concentrate on New Zealand scenery and if your interested I recommend this website here for NZ scenery. http://www.windowlight.co.nz/store/

[Algenon Lacy]

Hi Eagle Eye,

Glad to help.

Before you spend the cash, read this link. It is a bit long winded and sometimes rants, but the whole truth is in there.

http://www.simforums.com/forums/the-fsx ... 46211.html

Would like to hear how you get on in future.

Also thanks for the website link....looks interesting.

regards

Algenon.

[Eagle eye]

Thanks for the web address. I have seen this site before but have not read fully. Would be nice if someone could filter the article and compile a more concise version (read shorter). The computer spec I am considering is not just for flight sims as I explained, the highest calling will be for 4K encoding and I hope this will be a gain for the sim also. I don't expect to act on this build till later on in the year, cheers.