Disabling CPU Throttling May Improve Lag/Flicker Issues
Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 1:04 am
If you're experiencing any type of lag or flicker issues, it could be caused by your computer and/or computer OS power management systems. Newer CPUs are designed to throttle CPU performance when idle to save on electricity, then raise the speed back up when you actually put a load on your system. This constant flip-flop can cause slight delays, which inevitably could effect your UO performance. UO is such a light client load on the computer, your CPU can actually throttle itself while you're sitting in a dungeon farming, then switch back to default when you attempt to run away from a PK.
CPU-Z is a great utility to see whether your computer is being throttled by your power management systems. Simply download the client (I use the non-install version), run the .exe and look at what your Core Speed is in the clock section. Let your computer sit idle, then run an application or two and see if it changes. Any change means you have throttling.
These settings do not affect your CPU temperature in anyway, they simply prevent it from throttling itself while not in use. This also means that if you're not using your computer, the CPU will continue to run at its default setting, so expect a tad bit higher electric bill if you leave it on 24/7.
You can disable/uncheck the following items to completely disabling CPU throttling.
Uncheck "Use smart CPU usage reduction" under the General tab of Razor
- This setting does exactly what it says
Disable C1E Enhanced Halt under your BIOS.
- It's usually listed as one of the following: C1E Support, C1E Function, CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E), D.O.T. Control
- This setting is essentially the setting that decreases the voltage supplied to the processor. In the low-clock state (266*6), it doesn't make sense to continually push large voltages through the chip if it's not making much use of it. Hence, if you aren't doing anything, lets save electricity and slow the CPU.
Disable Enhanced Intel Speedstep (EIST) under your BIOS.
- It's usually listed as one of the following: Intel(R) SpeedStep(tm) Tech, PPM(EIST) Mode, CPU EIST Function, Intel EIST, EIST Function
- EIST, in conjunction with C1E, tells the processor to decrease the FSB as well as the Multiplier. Lowering this decreases the performance of the CPU during idle conditions, and increases them to whats set in the BIOS when the CPU comes under a load condition.
Enable High Performance in Vista
If you're running Windows Vista, you may need to adjust the Power Settings in addition to modifying the BIOS (especially if you're using a laptop.) Changing the power settings on a laptop will use up the battery faster, so be warned. The quick and easiest method is this:
Click Start > Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Power Options > Select 'High Performance' and hit Apply
CPU-Z is a great utility to see whether your computer is being throttled by your power management systems. Simply download the client (I use the non-install version), run the .exe and look at what your Core Speed is in the clock section. Let your computer sit idle, then run an application or two and see if it changes. Any change means you have throttling.
These settings do not affect your CPU temperature in anyway, they simply prevent it from throttling itself while not in use. This also means that if you're not using your computer, the CPU will continue to run at its default setting, so expect a tad bit higher electric bill if you leave it on 24/7.
You can disable/uncheck the following items to completely disabling CPU throttling.
Uncheck "Use smart CPU usage reduction" under the General tab of Razor
- This setting does exactly what it says
Disable C1E Enhanced Halt under your BIOS.
- It's usually listed as one of the following: C1E Support, C1E Function, CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E), D.O.T. Control
- This setting is essentially the setting that decreases the voltage supplied to the processor. In the low-clock state (266*6), it doesn't make sense to continually push large voltages through the chip if it's not making much use of it. Hence, if you aren't doing anything, lets save electricity and slow the CPU.
Disable Enhanced Intel Speedstep (EIST) under your BIOS.
- It's usually listed as one of the following: Intel(R) SpeedStep(tm) Tech, PPM(EIST) Mode, CPU EIST Function, Intel EIST, EIST Function
- EIST, in conjunction with C1E, tells the processor to decrease the FSB as well as the Multiplier. Lowering this decreases the performance of the CPU during idle conditions, and increases them to whats set in the BIOS when the CPU comes under a load condition.
Enable High Performance in Vista
If you're running Windows Vista, you may need to adjust the Power Settings in addition to modifying the BIOS (especially if you're using a laptop.) Changing the power settings on a laptop will use up the battery faster, so be warned. The quick and easiest method is this:
Click Start > Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Power Options > Select 'High Performance' and hit Apply