How to run single core on multi core

[one.123]

i have a quad-core cpu, and i found out after trying starcraft, that running it on a multi core processor generates an insane amount of lag. so im looking for a program that will let me use only 1 core when running certain programs. thanks in advance

 

[Sazar]

Simply startup your taskmanager and select the process.

Right click will bring up a menu, on the menu you will find SET AFFINITY.

You should see a small dialog box with 4 cores listed.

Uncheck all but 1 and voila, you are all set.

This is built into windows btw, you don't need other tools.

Cheers

 

[sean.ferguson]

cool, I wasn't aware of that function

 

[Sazar]

Yah, I rock

 

[sean.ferguson]

Yes you do, I tried earlier but...

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Sazar again

 

[Geffy]

Is there a way to force an application to run on only one core though, something akin to the WinXP compatibility options

 

[Sazar]

The "set affinity" does that for you. I am not sure if there is something that can be setup to FORCE it to run automatically w/o some kind of registry hacks or 3'rd party applications OR changing the command-line startup options.

The last should be, technically, the easiest route to do it.

 

[Geffy]

Yeah I got that you could do it to an actively running process, but it was the persistence I think which was desired. Yeah the command line method or potentially running the exe through another program much like the UNIX nice(1) command.

 

[American Zombie]

Is there a way to force an application to run on only one core though, something akin to the WinXP compatibility options

Yes there is with the IMAGECFG tool. I just ran it on the Far Cry executable and now Far Cry runs on one core without having to task out/set affinity. I first read about imagecfg tool here then I found the tool here. It is also on the Windows NT 4.0 CD. I would suggest making a copy of your executable before running the tool just in case the result is not what you expected.

 

[Geffy]

cool, take it it brands the exe with a big "SINGLE CORE" stamp much like cattle

 

[Perris Calderon]

cool, take it it brands the exe with a big "SINGLE CORE" stamp much like cattle

I believe you can write a bat file to do it but I wouldn't know how to do it