I've got a computer with graphics and sound on the motherboard. I'm
wondering if upgrading to pci-e and pci (sound) parts would reduce cpu
utilization?
Is CPU utilization a specific problem? Or is this just a
random thing you wonder about?
Generally integrated video and sound do not have inherant
CPU utilization issues at all, the question is not relevant
except in specific situations.
Onboard sound is often lower quality, lesser featured, but
towards CPU utilization the main issue is whether you're
trying to do 3D gaming with more than 2 channel output, in
which case most (all?) onboard sound uses software and host
(CPU) processing for these 3D gaming sound effects. Many
PCI/PCI-e cards do (or will) do this too... the main reason
why Creative Labs cards with hardware EAX are popular for
gamers, but mostly a waste for typical non-gaming uses.
Onboard video is in itself a bottleneck that has little to
do with the CPU. The video processor itself is slower at 3D
and certain (HD) 2D uses, but mainly it has inherant system
memory bandwidth issues. System memory is simply slower
than video card onboard memory on most modern video cards.
This is most apparent in CAD or 3D gaming but you make no
mention on your needs or the use of the system so...
It's been my experience that cpu utilization is a concern for performance in
general.
Untrue.
For instance, I had a computer where the hard drive showed
relatively high cpu utilization (as measured by HDTune) when connected to
the onboard IDE controller.
I added a separate pci controller and cpu
utilization dropped significantly. I found the system more responsive (i.e.
faster) afterward.
The issue is figuring out if a new card is actually
going to take on the processing that was previously done by the cpu. How do
you figure that out <g>?
It's been my experience that cpu utilization is a concern for performance in
general. For instance, I had a computer where the hard drive showed
relatively high cpu utilization (as measured by HDTune) when connected to
the onboard IDE controller. I added a separate pci controller and cpu
utilization dropped significantly. I found the system more responsive (i.e.
faster) afterward. The issue is figuring out if a new card is actually
going to take on the processing that was previously done by the cpu. How do
you figure that out <g>?
If that was the case, you must have had something configured improperly.
A seperate PCI controller is no different than an onboard controller
except for the fact that is connected through the PCI bus via one of the
mobos expansion slots.
The "processing" is done by your mobos chipset, not the CPU.
With specifics... like those I already mentioned previously
in my prior post.
OK, I'm noticing that when I play DVD's the image is fine in a window, but
in full-screen mode there are occasional artifacts. I tried a different
codec which didn't seem to make a difference. Would replacing the mobo
graphics with a PCIe video adapter improve the full-screen image? If so,
would you recommend a particular chipset? Thanks!
If that was the case, you must have had something configured improperly.
A seperate PCI controller is no different than an onboard controller
except for the fact that is connected through the PCI bus via one of the
mobos expansion slots.
I thought the chipset on the promise controller was doing some of the work
(?)
There isn't any particular "new" work to be done except in
the case of RAID arrays.
Perhaps your system has some other problem only revealed
when a higher data rate device is added and used
significantly. I presume you do have your motherboard
chipset drivers installed.
You should not have high CPU utilization for a single drive.
Specifics might go a long way here... exactly what
utilization during exactly what test scenario. What drive,
controller, motherboard/& chipset, OS, files, etc. ?