Processor Core Management

[Craig Waddell]

We are all in search of the smoothest possible RF2 experience with the best stable frame rate. Linked to that is CPU usage, particularly with the newer multi-core, multi-thread CPU's that most of us use.

Typically when running RF2 I have the following running.

1. Windows OS
2. RFactor2
3. Crew Chief
4. Sim Hub

After reading this article which is old but still valid, I'm thinking about forcing Rfactor2, Crew Chief, Sim Hub and Windows to use different cores. In theory as I only use my machine for gaming it could work well.

https://www.windowscentral.com/assign-specific-processor-cores-apps-windows-10

Does anyone know by default how many cores RF2 uses and can anyone see a good reason why what I'm suggesting would not be worthwhile?

 

[Seven Smiles]

I'm going to set up a RAM disc as well... I'm sceptical that manually managing processor cores will do a noticeably better job than leaving it to Windows. But then I really can't be arsed faffing with things like this, try it and let us know how you get on.

 

[Craig Waddell]

I'm going to set up a RAM disc as well... I'm sceptical that manually managing processor cores will do a noticeably better job than leaving it to Windows. But then I really can't be arsed faffing with things like this, try it and let us know how you get on.

I wouldn't mind you educating me on the benefits of doing that and how to do so.

Anyway, after some fiddling this afternoon I've found that setting all four RFactor2 processes to run in "Realtime Priority" makes the game massively smoother on my system, no glitches or stutters. If you search about Realtime Priority online then there are plenty of fear stories but for the most once you look at the dates you realise that CPUs have came a long way since many of those articles were written. I've got a fairly average CPU (Ryzen 3600), but even so it has 12 threads. As such giving Just Rfactor2 Realtime priority doesn't seem to affect much else. Not sure it would work so well on a lesser system.

More testing required but looking promising. A decent article here on how to do this ,plus links to a program which will allow you to permanently change the process priority rather than changing it at each start in task manager.

https://winaero.com/change-process-priority-windows-10/#:~:text=The Realtime priority level is,Windows 10, do the following.

https://www.raymond.cc/blog/permanently-set-process-priority-in-windows-task-manager-with-prio/

https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/System-Explorer.shtml