How to maximize CPU usage for a process?

[MaxXP]

I have a compute-intensive computation (my own sw). How can I get
Windows XP Pro (SP2) to use every possible CPU cycle for my process? In
other words, I want my process to have 100% CPU utilization.

Right now, the Task Manager shows 50% CPU utilization, and ~50% System
Idle Process.

This is a 1-processor system, and the environment variable
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS = 1 (the same result if = 2). The processor is a
Pentium 4 2.40C (hyperthreading).

 

[Ron Martell]

I have a compute-intensive computation (my own sw). How can I get
Windows XP Pro (SP2) to use every possible CPU cycle for my process? In
other words, I want my process to have 100% CPU utilization.

Right now, the Task Manager shows 50% CPU utilization, and ~50% System
Idle Process.

This is a 1-processor system, and the environment variable
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS = 1 (the same result if = 2). The processor is a
Pentium 4 2.40C (hyperthreading).

I would say that your application is not capable of using more than
50% of the available CPU time. If it was then it would be using it,
instead of the CPU just sitting there idle with nothing to do (which
is what the "System Idle Process" measures and reports)

I run a low priority background application (folding@home) and when
the computer is just sitting idle it is commonplace for it to be using
over 90 percent of the available CPU time. The System Idle Process
always reports zero percent.

Check your application coding. I suspect that it is waiting for
something other than the CPU (e.g. video writes, disk i/o, etc.) quite
frequently.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Falcon]

Do a three finger salute (CTRL, ALT, DEL) then select the Processes
tab. Right click on the one you are interested in and pick "Set
Priority" and have fun.

 

[Bob I]

have you considered disable Hype-rthreading?