Setting max CPU usage for an application

[Chris Hayes]

Greetings,

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm not sure
where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I would like to
know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of an application (in a
global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry about an app running away with
my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet Explorer)
tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and sometimes more than 90%)
when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use. I'm
tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using a web
browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other control).

I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the latest
patches.

Thanks for any insight.

Chris

 

[Richard Urban]

You are saying that you want to "slow down" an application that is honestly
calling for high CPU usage?

Not a good idea in my mind. If an application can not get the resources it
needs to run it may well crash.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm
not sure where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I
would like to know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of
an application (in a global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry
about an app running away with my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet
Explorer) tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and
sometimes more than 90%) when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use.
I'm tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using
a web browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other
control).
I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the
latest patches.

You can control most applications "priority level" in the task manager
(CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) under the processes tab. Right click on the name and "Set
Priority".

Notes directly from Windows Help..
-----
To change the priority of a running program
- On the Processes tab, right-click the program you want to change, point
to Set Priority, and then click the command you want.
Notes
- To view the priority of running programs, on the Processes tab, on the
View menu, click Select Columns. In the Select Columns dialog box, select
the Base Priority check box, and then click OK.
- Changing the priority of a process can make it run faster or slower
(depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also
adversely affect the performance of other processes.
------


If you have multiple processors, you can set processor affinity and point a
process to a certain processor.


You can also look here:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20719700.html
Interesting read.

Also I learned about "ThreadMaster" lately - althoughg it may do what you
want - I think it may only do it on a server OS.
http://threadmaster.tripod.com/

 

[Chris Hayes]

Believe me, I now it's not desirable, but Flash seems to really ratchet up
the CPU requirements of web browsers. I would disable Flash, if it didn't
ruin my browsing experience!

I don't want to view a web site and while I trying to read it have the CPU
to need the cooling fan to turn on because the browser is running at a
ridicoulously high percentage of utilization because some stupid FLASH ad is
on the page...

I tend to use FireFox for my personal web browsing and Flash objects tend to
eat up the CPU. I use Internet Explorer for Application Development.

I guess I am becoming an "Old Grumpy B@st@rd" in that I'm tired of my system
resources being hijacked for things that SHOULDN'T NEED MY PRECIOUS SYSTEM
RESOURCES!!!!!!! (I also despise system tray "things"... it is not necessary
to load "your" application into my system tray!!!)

Sorry, I'm getting old and grumpy...

Chris

You are saying that you want to "slow down" an application that is
honestly calling for high CPU usage?

Not a good idea in my mind. If an application can not get the resources it
needs to run it may well crash.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

Greetings,

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm not
sure where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I would
like to know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of an
application (in a global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry about an
app running away with my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet
Explorer) tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and sometimes
more than 90%) when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use. I'm
tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using a web
browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other control).

I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the latest
patches.

Thanks for any insight.

Chris

 

[Chris Hayes]

I know I can set the priority in Task Manager, does this set it for every
time I use the app?

I want to set the MAX CPU usage for a and not think about it again...

I'm not a big Flash fan...

Thanks,

Chris

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm
not sure where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I
would like to know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of
an application (in a global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry
about an app running away with my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet
Explorer) tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and
sometimes more than 90%) when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use.
I'm tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using
a web browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other
control).
I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the
latest patches.

You can control most applications "priority level" in the task manager
(CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) under the processes tab. Right click on the name and
"Set
Priority".

Notes directly from Windows Help..
-----
To change the priority of a running program
- On the Processes tab, right-click the program you want to change, point
to Set Priority, and then click the command you want.
Notes
- To view the priority of running programs, on the Processes tab, on the
View menu, click Select Columns. In the Select Columns dialog box, select
the Base Priority check box, and then click OK.
- Changing the priority of a process can make it run faster or slower
(depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also
adversely affect the performance of other processes.
------


If you have multiple processors, you can set processor affinity and point
a
process to a certain processor.


You can also look here:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20719700.html
Interesting read.

Also I learned about "ThreadMaster" lately - althoughg it may do what you
want - I think it may only do it on a server OS.
http://threadmaster.tripod.com/

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Believe me, I now it's not desirable, but Flash seems to really
ratchet up the CPU requirements of web browsers. I would disable
Flash, if it didn't ruin my browsing experience!

I don't want to view a web site and while I trying to read it have
the CPU to need the cooling fan to turn on because the browser is
running at a ridicoulously high percentage of utilization because
some stupid FLASH ad is on the page...

I tend to use FireFox for my personal web browsing and Flash objects
tend to eat up the CPU. I use Internet Explorer for Application
Development.
I guess I am becoming an "Old Grumpy B@st@rd" in that I'm tired of my
system resources being hijacked for things that SHOULDN'T NEED MY
PRECIOUS SYSTEM RESOURCES!!!!!!! (I also despise system tray
"things"... it is not necessary to load "your" application into my
system tray!!!)
Sorry, I'm getting old and grumpy...

Do the web pages in question have non-flash versions?

 

[Chris Hayes]

Well, unfortunately, if there are Non-Flash versions available they are not
readily aparent. But as far as I can tell there are typically no Non-Flash
links. Most of the Flash are in ads... and ads are wayyyyy too important to
many sites... so they won't offer something that doesn't show the ad.

Chris

 

[t.cruise]

You do not give your system's stats. I do not have any problems, using broadband on a
year old loaded system. On an older system I had similar problems, and downloaded a
utility for disabling Flash on the fly, which put an icon in the notification area (system
tray). I could right click that icon, then left click Disable Flash. When I wanted Flash
for a specific site, I would right click the icon, and left click Enable Flash. If it is
Flash ads that are giving you a problem, try using an ad blocker.

http://johnhaller.com/jh/useful_stuff/disable_flash.asp

http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=disable+flash&tg=dl-2001

http://browsertools.net/Flash-and-Pics-Control/

--

T.C.
t__cruise@[NoSpam]hotmail.com
Remove [NoSpam] to reply

Well, unfortunately, if there are Non-Flash versions available they are not
readily aparent. But as far as I can tell there are typically no Non-Flash
links. Most of the Flash are in ads... and ads are wayyyyy too important to
many sites... so they won't offer something that doesn't show the ad.

Chris

 

[Richard Urban]

I use a pop-up utility called PopUpCop (great, by the way). With it I can
control almost all aspects of web browsing - including Flash. I can disable
Flash across the board, or leave Flash on and disable only by web site.

For a computer low on resources you can block as much eye candy as you deem
necessary!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

You are saying that you want to "slow down" an application that is
honestly calling for high CPU usage?

Not a good idea in my mind. If an application can not get the resources it
needs to run it may well crash.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

If you knew as much as you thought you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

Greetings,

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm not
sure where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I would
like to know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of an
application (in a global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry about an
app running away with my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet
Explorer) tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and sometimes
more than 90%) when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use. I'm
tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using a web
browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other control).

I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the latest
patches.

Thanks for any insight.

Chris

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Chris,

No, it's a one-shot deal that has to be reset every time.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

I know I can set the priority in Task Manager, does this set it for every
time I use the app?

I want to set the MAX CPU usage for a and not think about it again...

I'm not a big Flash fan...

Thanks,

Chris

I'm not a network admin (I'm a [shudder] software developer) so I'm
not sure where to do what I want to do, or if it is even possible: I
would like to know if there is a way to set the maximum CPU usage of
an application (in a global sense, so that wouldn't have to worry
about an app running away with my CPU's capacity).

I have obeserved that web browsers (Firefox, Netscape and Internet
Explorer) tend to eat up a lot of CPU utilization, 60%+ (and
sometimes more than 90%) when Flash is involved.

I would like to cap how much of the CPU these web browsers can use.
I'm tired of the CPU cooling fan kicking on notebook when I am using
a web browser and viewing a website that uses Flash (or some other
control).
I am using Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 and all the
latest patches.

You can control most applications "priority level" in the task manager
(CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) under the processes tab. Right click on the name and
"Set
Priority".

Notes directly from Windows Help..
-----
To change the priority of a running program
- On the Processes tab, right-click the program you want to change, point
to Set Priority, and then click the command you want.
Notes
- To view the priority of running programs, on the Processes tab, on the
View menu, click Select Columns. In the Select Columns dialog box, select
the Base Priority check box, and then click OK.
- Changing the priority of a process can make it run faster or slower
(depending on whether you raise or lower the priority), but it can also
adversely affect the performance of other processes.
------


If you have multiple processors, you can set processor affinity and point
a
process to a certain processor.


You can also look here:
http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/WinXP/Q_20719700.html
Interesting read.

Also I learned about "ThreadMaster" lately - althoughg it may do what you
want - I think it may only do it on a server OS.
http://threadmaster.tripod.com/