100% Processor usage affects my NIC performance in K8V SE Deluxe.

[Roger Hamlett]

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed on the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe, that when processor
usage is maxed out (ie at 100% - due to media encoding, or playing
games for example), it causes the data transferred through the onboard
Gigabit Marvell Yukon NIC to slow down a great deal? It grinds to a
halt initially for about 10 seconds, and then picks up again, but
generally remains slow while the processor utilisation is at 100%.

I don't know whether this is a common problem or if it's just me. I'm
using Win2k SP4, Athlon 64 3000+, Latest Marvell Yukon driver from
Windows Update (v 7.23.1.3), MB BIOS 1004.

Any suggestions to fix this would be appreciated.

Any other device is going to suffer when processor usage is maxed out.
Even a DMA based device, requires time to use the bus, and requires
processor time to send it's configuration. Lower the processor priority of
the thread that is doing the media encoding. This will allow a fraction
more time to service the NIC. In XP, there is a general 'setting', to
maximise performance for foreground applications, which has this type of
effect (this is why the default is to disable this on 'sever'
installations...).

Best Wishes

 

[Mark Redmond]

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed on the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe, that when processor
usage is maxed out (ie at 100% - due to media encoding, or playing
games for example), it causes the data transferred through the onboard
Gigabit Marvell Yukon NIC to slow down a great deal? It grinds to a
halt initially for about 10 seconds, and then picks up again, but
generally remains slow while the processor utilisation is at 100%.

I don't know whether this is a common problem or if it's just me. I'm
using Win2k SP4, Athlon 64 3000+, Latest Marvell Yukon driver from
Windows Update (v 7.23.1.3), MB BIOS 1004.

Any suggestions to fix this would be appreciated.

 

[Mark Redmond]

In Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance Options, I
already have selected "Optimize performance for Applications" as
opposed to "Background Services" (this is the default selected setting
in 2000). I'm pretty sure this is the same as the XP setting you are
referring to.

I'll try lowering the task priority of the intensive apps in task
manager and see if this helps.

Thank you.

 

[Centurion]

Hi,

Has anyone else noticed on the ASUS K8V SE Deluxe, that when processor
usage is maxed out (ie at 100% - due to media encoding, or playing
games for example), it causes the data transferred through the onboard
Gigabit Marvell Yukon NIC to slow down a great deal? It grinds to a
halt initially for about 10 seconds, and then picks up again, but
generally remains slow while the processor utilisation is at 100%.

I don't know whether this is a common problem or if it's just me. I'm
using Win2k SP4, Athlon 64 3000+, Latest Marvell Yukon driver from
Windows Update (v 7.23.1.3), MB BIOS 1004.

Any suggestions to fix this would be appreciated.

As Roger Hamlett has suggested - high CPU load will reduce responsiveness
from the system. However, I use the same motherboard as you with native
64bit Linux 2.6.5 and haven't noticed any particlar slow-down on the NIC
when the CPU is under load. I'm running the 1004.008 beta BIOS if that
helps. However, given that you have noticeable performance problems under
Win2K, and I don't under Linux leads me to 3 possible causes of your woes:
1. Windows gawd-awful IP stack
2. Driver for the NIC
3. Windows piss-poor task scheduling and memory management.

Windows does multi-tasking...it just doesn't do it very well. Give it a
hand by reducing the priority of your media encoder (task manager -> right
click on media encoding thread -> set priority below normal). Make sure
all drivers and BIOS'es are up to date. Beyond that, investigate
alternative (native 64bit) operating systems.

Cheers,

James

 

[Mark Redmond]

As Roger Hamlett has suggested - high CPU load will reduce responsiveness
from the system. However, I use the same motherboard as you with native
64bit Linux 2.6.5 and haven't noticed any particlar slow-down on the NIC
when the CPU is under load. I'm running the 1004.008 beta BIOS if that
helps. However, given that you have noticeable performance problems under
Win2K, and I don't under Linux leads me to 3 possible causes of your woes:
1. Windows gawd-awful IP stack
2. Driver for the NIC
3. Windows piss-poor task scheduling and memory management.

Windows does multi-tasking...it just doesn't do it very well. Give it a
hand by reducing the priority of your media encoder (task manager -> right
click on media encoding thread -> set priority below normal). Make sure
all drivers and BIOS'es are up to date. Beyond that, investigate
alternative (native 64bit) operating systems.

Cheers,

James

I added a 3com netelligent 10/100 card and now use that instead of the
marvell yukon. Works a charm and performs fine at 100% cpu
utilisation. It must be the Windows NIC Yukon driver that's at fault
then.