Re: 306 Borg Winner

On Aug 3, 12:51 pm, Twisted <twisted...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Aug 3, 7:23 am, magnate <chr...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

You are correct, but have omitted on crucial factor: I won't actually
be able to do any work during those eight hours! I currently use a
delay factor of 6, which makes a negligible impact on the CPU (about
2%). It also, coincidentally, allows me to see what the Borg is
doing.

Do you do CPU-intensive tasks in this "work"? Or is it mainly I/O- and
UI-bound tasks like word processing and spreadsheets? If the latter,
running the borg at top speed with a "below normal" priority might use
100% CPU but not cripple the UI's responsiveness or make your work not
work fast enough.

No. I tried turning the priority down, but at ~99% CPU the system was
unworkably unresponsive.

I'd set it to "below normal" priority via Task Manager and set the
delay to the minimum, then if you have problems increase it. You can
probably get away with a much lower delay setting with the priority
drop. You can also certainly run it at full speed overnight.

No, the machines get switched off overnight (we're all green here).

If 100% CPU use leads to crashes or other flaky behavior of the
computer in general, then your computer is defective; it's probably a
cheap OEM built with insufficient cooling on the CPU and marketed to
people expected to mainly use it for word processing and never find
out that it will not, as built, give them full performance and their
money's worth. Have it looked at by a qualified technician, who may
provide a better heatsink, fan, or both, though it may cost you quite
a bit depending on what needs doing. COMPAQ routinely shipped PCs with
inadequate CPU cooling prior to their acquisition by HP; what HP
machines I've seen that were manufactured since then seem to have
adequate cooling though.

Er, it's a Compaq Evo. Go figure. I don't think I'll be asking for any
hardware upgrades to run the Borg though.

I will try a delay factor of 4 or 3 combined with lower priority, and
see if it's workable.

CC

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