Inside: SereneScreen Fan Forum - View Single Post

Cleve · 03-06-2003, 05:09 PM

I'm running the full registered Aquarium on my new Windows 2000 Dell laptop with a 2 ghz processor, 256 Mb of DDR memory, and Radeon 7500 graphic chipset. I can achieve just under 160 fps at 1024 x 768, which looks great

The Aquarium has a feature built in to limit frame rate to 60 fps. This should be useful with laptop for two reasons, first it should help conserve battery life. Second, my laptop has a "smart" cooling fan. While the processor load is small, it runs at a very quiet low speed. However, as processor load increases (thus heat) the fan runs faster, faster and faster until it's quite loud.

Unfortunately limiting the frame rate has no effect on CPU utilization. Even at 60 fps, W2K Task Manager indicates 100% utilization of the 2 ghz processor.

As an experiment, I went to windowed mode and dropped the size of the Aquarium down to a diminuitive 132 x 99. I even switched from 32 bit color to 16 bit. Processor utilization remains pegged at 100%. As I type this, the fan just ratched up to near full speed, and my lap is getting noticeably warmer, so it's not a false CPU reading by Task Manager. The P4 is definitely running at maximum capacity. As soon as I close the Aquarium, CPU utilizaton drops to 1-3 %, normal background levels.

This is an issue for the developer to resolve, in my opinion. To run such a tiny 3d window shouldn't even cause a 2 ghz processor to break a sweat. I've noticed the Windows 3d screen savers like 3d Flying Objects are far more CPU friendly, with only 40 to 50% CPU utilization in full screen window. There must be a coding trick that Microsoft is aware of that they won't share with screensaver developers.

Even if I was using it on a desktop where battery power concerns weren't an issue, I'd hate for the screen saver to kick on while burning a CD; the excessive CPU utilization would likely ruin the burning process.

Cleve

03-06-2003, 05:09 PM	#1
Cleve Registered Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 5	CPU utilization issue I'm running the full registered Aquarium on my new Windows 2000 Dell laptop with a 2 ghz processor, 256 Mb of DDR memory, and Radeon 7500 graphic chipset. I can achieve just under 160 fps at 1024 x 768, which looks great The Aquarium has a feature built in to limit frame rate to 60 fps. This should be useful with laptop for two reasons, first it should help conserve battery life. Second, my laptop has a "smart" cooling fan. While the processor load is small, it runs at a very quiet low speed. However, as processor load increases (thus heat) the fan runs faster, faster and faster until it's quite loud. Unfortunately limiting the frame rate has no effect on CPU utilization. Even at 60 fps, W2K Task Manager indicates 100% utilization of the 2 ghz processor. As an experiment, I went to windowed mode and dropped the size of the Aquarium down to a diminuitive 132 x 99. I even switched from 32 bit color to 16 bit. Processor utilization remains pegged at 100%. As I type this, the fan just ratched up to near full speed, and my lap is getting noticeably warmer, so it's not a false CPU reading by Task Manager. The P4 is definitely running at maximum capacity. As soon as I close the Aquarium, CPU utilizaton drops to 1-3 %, normal background levels. This is an issue for the developer to resolve, in my opinion. To run such a tiny 3d window shouldn't even cause a 2 ghz processor to break a sweat. I've noticed the Windows 3d screen savers like 3d Flying Objects are far more CPU friendly, with only 40 to 50% CPU utilization in full screen window. There must be a coding trick that Microsoft is aware of that they won't share with screensaver developers. Even if I was using it on a desktop where battery power concerns weren't an issue, I'd hate for the screen saver to kick on while burning a CD; the excessive CPU utilization would likely ruin the burning process. Cleve