Dual Core + XP SP2 = Power Problem....*Hot Fix Here*

http://www.amdzone.com/images/topics/windows.gif You can now download the Windows XP SP2 dual core hot fix here. This fixes performance issues with systems running XP and using a dual core CPU with Cool 'n Quiet enabled. You must also modify the registry. Remember you patch and modify your registry at your own risk. Make sure to read the instructions at the Windows page here. We also have it posted below.

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. The following conditions are true:
• You are using a Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer.
• The Windows XP SP2-based computer has multiple processors.
• The multiple processors support processor power management features. For example, the multiple processors support Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) processor performance states.
• The Windows XP SP2-based computer requires Windows XP SP2 to use the processor power management features.
Additional updates that can optimize the performance of the Windows XP SP2-based computer are also available. However, without these updates, the Windows XP SP2-based computer exhibits decreased performance or unexpected behavior.

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support (http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Date Time Version Size File name
--------------------------------------------------------------
23-Jun-2005 00:05 5.1.2600.2705 134,272 Halmacpi.dll
23-Jun-2005 00:30 5.1.2600.2705 2,136,064 Ntkrnlmp.exe
23-Jun-2005 00:05 5.1.2600.2705 2,015,744 Ntkrpamp.exe

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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MORE INFORMATION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Windows XP SP2 is required on computers that have multiple CPUs that support ACPI processor performance states. This requirement includes computers that support the following items:
• Multiple physical sockets
• Multiple-core designs
• Multiple logical threads such as Intel HyperThreading Technology
Windows XP was not originally designed to support processor performance states on computers that have multiple processors. Therefore, changes are required to support processor performance states on computers that have multiple processors. Windows XP SP2 includes changes to the kernel power manager. These changes make it possible for the kernel power manager to work correctly on computers that have multiple processors that support processor performance states.

This hotfix also addresses the following issues on computers that have multiple processors that support processor performance states:
• Possible decrease in performance on single-threaded workloads when processor performance states are using demand-based switching.
• Makes sure that synchronization of the processor Time Stamp Counter (TSC) registers across processors if the processor TSC uses the ACPI Power Management timer.
• Corrects ACPI C-state promotion and demotion issues in the kernel power manager.
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Hotfix details
Possible decrease in performance during demand-based switching
Demand-based switching refers to the changing of ACPI processor performance states in response to system workloads. For example, demand-based switching can change voltage and frequency in response to system workloads. Windows XP processor power management implements demand-based switching through the Adaptive processor throttling policy. The Adaptive processor throttling policy dynamically and automatically adjusts the processor current performance state in response to the computers CPU use. The Adaptive processor throttling policy works without user intervention.

If you run Windows XP on a computer that has multiple processors, single-threaded workloads may move across available CPUs. This migration behavior is a natural artifact of how Windows schedules work across available CPU resources. However, if a computer is running with the Adaptive processor throttling policy, this thread migration may cause problems. For example, the Windows kernel power manager may not be able to correctly calculate the optimal target performance state for the processor. This problem occurs because the individual logical or physical processor core may appear to be less busy than the processor package actually is. On performance benchmarks that use single-threaded workloads, this artifact may become evident in the following ways:
• Decreased performance
• A high degree of variance between successive runs of the same benchmark tests
The hotfix that is described in this article includes changes to the kernel power manager. These changes make it possible to track CPU use across the processor package. This tracking helps calculate an increased target performance state.

Note This solution favors performance gains over power savings. Although benchmark performance scores may improve, battery life could be negatively affected. Therefore, this kernel policy change must be enabled in the registry to allow for maximum flexibility.
Enable the new performance state policy behavior
After you install the hotfix that is described in this article, follow these steps to enable the new performance state policy behavior:
1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Right-click HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager, point to New, and then click Key.
3. Type Throttle for the new key name.
4. Right-click Throttle, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
5. Type PerfEnablePackageIdle for the value name.
6. Right-click PerfEnablePackageIdle, and then click Modify.
7. In the Edit DWORD Value box, type 1. In the Value data box, make sure that Hexadecimal is selected, and then click OK.
8. Quit Registry Editor.
Correct TSC Synchronization
On some operating systems, the processor TSC may change the rate at which the processor TSC counts. Additionally, the processor TSC may stop counting when specific processor power management features are used. On computers that have multiple processors, the TSC is typically the operating system hardware timer that backs calls to the kernel KeQueryPerformanceCounter function. When TSC does not increment monotonically, system components that use the kernel KeQueryPerformanceCounter function may not work correctly. Microsoft has addressed this problem by making it possible for the ACPI Power Management Timer to be used as the platform hardware that supports the kernel KeQueryPerformanceCounter function. However, some programs may access the TSC directly by bypassing the Windows timer APIs. The multiple-processor Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) makes sure that the TSC registers on all processors on a multiple-processor computer remain closely synchronized. Therefore, access by system software that may be directed to different processors does not return different results. This change makes sure that the multiple-processor HAL continues to correctly synchronize the TSCs across all processors on multiple-processor computers even if the ACPI PM Timer is used as the platform hardware timer.
Correct C-state promotion and demotion
This change corrects C-state promotion and demotion issues in the kernel power manager. The kernel power manager now correctly handles processor ACPI C-state promotion and demotion on multiple-processor computers.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about a related topic, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
835730 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/835730/) Sound may play slowly or music may not play continuously in Windows XP or Windows 2000
For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/) Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP2
• Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005


Liam

where can u find the dutch version plz?

Hi and Welcome to Virtual Dr. :)

I would contact Microsoft using this link: http://support.microsoft.com/contact...rt/?ws=support and you may want to send them a link to this page to show them what hot-fix you are referring to.


Liam