Got a Dual/Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (Full Version)

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RyanCrierie -> Got a Dual/Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 8:32:17 AM)

This is based on some investigation I did for a Secret (TM) Matrix Project.

STEPS:

1.) Make a Copy of "War in the Pacific Admiral Edition.exe"; call it something like "WITP_Affinity.exe"

2.) Download IMAGECFG.EXE; an intel application to permanently set the affinity of a file to a certain number of cores.

I've Hosted it at my website for ya

3.) Make a file directory on your drive called C:\IMGCFG

4.) Unzip IMGCFG.zip to that directory, and copy your WITP_Affinity.exe to it.

5.) Load up the Command Prompt.

6.) Navigate to C:\IMGCFG

7.) Type

imagecfg -a 0x1 WITP_Affinity.exe

in the Command Line.

It should display:

WITP_Affinity.exe contains no configuration information
WITP_Affinity.exe contains a Subsystem Version of 4.0
WITP_Affinity.exe updated with the following configuration information:
Process Affinity Mask: 0000000001 (a lot of zeroes mang)

8.) Move "WITP_Affinity.exe" back to your WITP AE directory.

9.) Set up shortcuts for whatever options you want for WITP_Affinity.

10.) PROFIT from fast loading speeds, etc (at least on a quad core Q6600 on Windows XP SP3)




AttuWatcher -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 8:49:36 AM)

Interesting. Could this work with a core i7 , or strictly quad core?




RyanCrierie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 8:51:14 AM)

It works with anything that has multiple CPUs (cores).




AttuWatcher -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 9:03:40 AM)

should I still use the -dual command line switch with the new .exe?




AttuWatcher -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 9:09:17 AM)

Holy crap it loads fast ! [X(]

this is w/o -dual in the cmd line.

Thank you Ryan! nice improvement. GC loaded in under 10 secs [:D]




Akos Gergely -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 10:00:18 AM)

Also if you have a Black Edition AMD quad core you can give it a shot with AMD Overdirve (can be downloaded from amd.com). You can set the priority theere to high and also even tweak your CPU cores speed when you run AE. Or you can chosse which cores to run it on if you want to do something else in the background (with AE running windowed there is plenty of real estate left on a full HD screen for a manual etc. :D)




Erik Rutins -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 12:28:21 PM)

Thanks for posting this, I've pinned it in the Tech Support area.




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 12:40:49 PM)

My laptop has a dual core.  I have to try this!




JamesM -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 12:44:10 PM)

My first response upon seeing the effect:

WOW




Dixie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 1:04:17 PM)

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]




JamesM -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 1:16:56 PM)

Ryan,

Would this work with other games i.e. the original WITP, other matrix games, etc?




fcam1387 -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 1:25:46 PM)

I'm using Vista Ultimate 64x.

I created a file in "my computer": c:/ IMGCFG

I extracted the zipped file to that file and then clicked on the icon. The command prompt shows up for a split second and disappears - how should I correct this?




Peter Fisla -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 1:28:05 PM)

Does it work well with Dual core ? I got laptop with T9550 CPU (2.66 Ghz 6Mb cache)...

RyanCrierie, you wrote this program, you mention above?




treespider -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 2:01:37 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.




michaelm75au -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 2:58:20 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.


I suspect the "Unable to update" means that it couldn't write the information back into the EXE, so there would not be any change how the EXE uses the CPU.
I don't suppose there is some sort of ownership/privileges issue why it can't write back




treespider -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:18:08 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelm


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.


I suspect the "Unable to update" means that it couldn't write the information back into the EXE, so there would not be any change how the EXE uses the CPU.
I don't suppose there is some sort of ownership/privileges issue why it can't write back



Wonder if virus protection software would affect this...




invernomuto -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:19:26 PM)

Please change title if it works also with dual core!




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:39:48 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelm


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.


I suspect the "Unable to update" means that it couldn't write the information back into the EXE, so there would not be any change how the EXE uses the CPU.
I don't suppose there is some sort of ownership/privileges issue why it can't write back



Wonder if virus protection software would affect this...


Old DOS skills are lost if they are not used. [:D]

Guys, type the line at the command prompt without the quotation marks. When you added the quotes, it confused DOS. I left them off, and it worked for me. Now, to try starting......




treespider -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:41:50 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: USS America


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelm


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.


I suspect the "Unable to update" means that it couldn't write the information back into the EXE, so there would not be any change how the EXE uses the CPU.
I don't suppose there is some sort of ownership/privileges issue why it can't write back



Wonder if virus protection software would affect this...


Old DOS skills are lost if they are not used. [:D]

Guys, type the line at the command prompt without the quotation marks. When you added the quotes, it confused DOS. I left them off, and it worked for me. Now, to try starting......



Nope...notice the screen shot. The OP used quotes the first time...second time he did not and received the "Unable..." message




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:47:27 PM)

OK, I have a dual core laptop, and I have a lot of other applications running right now.  With this change, I'm pretty sure the game loaded more quickly, and I know the save game loaded much faster.  Here's the bonus for me.  I always play in windowed mode, keeping a .doc file open with my notes.  There was always a bit of lag when I switched back to WitP from any other window, sometimes almost anoyingly long.  After this fix, AE becomes the "active window" lightning fast!  [&o]

Thanks very much, Ryan!  [sm=00000436.gif]




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 3:49:13 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: USS America


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: michaelm


quote:

ORIGINAL: treespider


quote:

ORIGINAL: Dixie

Hmmm. Has this worked properly? [&:]

[image]local://upfiles/20142/AB2444804C6C4FF9A9E92C695DE11E08.jpg[/image]


I received the same "Unable to update...." line and I did not see a noticeable change in Loading Speed.


I suspect the "Unable to update" means that it couldn't write the information back into the EXE, so there would not be any change how the EXE uses the CPU.
I don't suppose there is some sort of ownership/privileges issue why it can't write back



Wonder if virus protection software would affect this...


Old DOS skills are lost if they are not used. [:D]

Guys, type the line at the command prompt without the quotation marks. When you added the quotes, it confused DOS. I left them off, and it worked for me. Now, to try starting......



Nope...notice the screen shot. The OP used quotes the first time...second time he did not and received the "Unable..." message


Oops, my mistake.

I guess I'm not good, just lucky. I'll take that. [:D]




fcam1387 -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:00:51 PM)

Does anyone know why when I try to open the command prompt it appears for a split second then vanishes? I'm using Vista 64x.




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:29:39 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: fcam1387

Does anyone know why when I try to open the command prompt it appears for a split second then vanishes? I'm using Vista 64x.


Have you tried Start > Run, and then type cmd and enter?




USSAmerica -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:32:59 PM)

I've now tested both modified and unmodified versions of WitP and AE.  The increase in load times for the program and a save game are remarkable!  Both modified versions started and loaded my save games in just under 25 seconds.  I have a dual core and lots of other applications open.  I'm thrilled.  [8D]




RyanCrierie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:48:23 PM)

This program was written by Intel; when they first began to get serious about hyperthreading, etc, which meant that instead of just one CPU being visible to the OS and it's programs, there would be multiple.

Normally, you could set the core affinity by hitting CTRL ALT DEL and right mouse clicking on the thread you want to set the affinity for:

The problem is, you have to do that each time you start up the program.

What IMGCFG does is writes a little flag into the executable that "locks" it to that core affinity, so you don't have to keep doing it over and over.

[image]local://upfiles/18450/CBBF026ED1E84E8FBDE2A6585765121C.gif[/image]




treespider -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:52:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: RyanCrierie

This program was written by Intel;



So would the fact that I have an AMD Quad be the issue then?




RyanCrierie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:53:25 PM)

quote:

So would the fact that I have an AMD Quad be the issue then?


Probably. Let me go look if AMD has released any programs like this.




Toddr22_slith -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:55:25 PM)

If you were setting it manually, each time, which core boxes would you check?




RyanCrierie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:57:42 PM)

CPU 0




RyanCrierie -> RE: Got a Quad Core? Here's how to speed up WITP:AE (7/29/2009 4:59:24 PM)

Here's a link to a guy's website for SETAFFINITY - which might work with AMDs:

Link to SetAffinity

Install:
These programs were made for 32-bit Windows XP for administrator user, there is no install.
Extract archive to a new folder, read the included Help and run the exe.

Vista/Windows 7
* When run on Vista/Win7 you will need to run the program as administrator to see & set all running files.
* When run as administrator and UAC is enabled you will no doubt get UAC prompts.
* See user feedback below.

I can't verify that this works with AMDs, since my household is all intel.




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