11/28/2023 0 Comments Process lasso pro review![]() ![]() A single CPU bound thread running at Normal priority can bring an entire single-CPU system to a stall, as demonstrated by our graphical proof of concept below. Windows has a particularly bad problem dealing with threads that decide they want to consume every bit of CPU time they can get their hands on (CPU bound threads). ProBalance also has a number of exclusionary parameters, such as avoiding the foreground process (meaning you will need to click away from a problematic application to have it engage, by default settings). These are configurable. It is able to do this because it takes only a small fraction of CPU cycles to restore basic responsiveness, thus taking these from the overall pool has a negligible impact on performance, but a huge impact on responsiveness. It makes only marginal, temporary changes during its activities and has no deleterious effects. ProBalance is designed to act safely and conservatively. You don’t need to take our word for it, you can try ProBalance yourself with our synthetic test called CPUEater. Alternatively, virtually anything that puts a full load on your CPU will be a good demonstration of ProBalance. Process Lasso’s ProBalance algorithm will improve system responsiveness during high CPU loads. You should let ProBalance do its job and skip the manual priority adjustments. ProBalance works from the other direction (lowering priority classes) for a reason. This can cause complications and is usually ineffective at improving application responsiveness. Pro Tip: Don’t set your important processes to ‘High’ or ‘Real-Time’. ![]() To maintain system responsiveness, ProBalance dynamically lowers the priority class of problematic background processes. These base priority classes, combined with individual thread priorities, result in effective thread priorities. There are several process priority classes (base priorities) available in Windows. Wait, that wasn't the answer you asked for, my bad p.ProBalance restoring system responsiveness during a high CPU load Process Priority Classes Make your own demo running at normal priority - some have created demos that run at high priority, something ProBalance excludes by default because I took the most *conservative* approach in all cases. Try the graphical demo, maybe it will help open your eyes. If I hadn't seen this unnatural seeming behavior from the CPU scheduler a thousand times before I'd probably be skeptical too. Some will always be cynical and skeptical. Look, I just wanted to make 'the argument'. The overhead is minimal, as it is native C++, and the core engine is isolated from the GUI (<1MB of private memory usage and barely any CPU time used). Its ProBalance algorithm will, however, help to keep your PC responsive during high loads and possibly prevent a full system stall. Process Lasso is not the miracle cure to every PC problem you have, nor will it increase your PC's speed. Also, as seen in the graphical demo, it just takes more normal priority CPU bound (CPU hungry) threads and the same effect is seen. When you've got a couple virtual machines running, a web browser, Visual Studio, and a bunch of other applications - then it may very well help out. If you don't have much else going on, then it probably wouldn't make any difference. Now, you could say it is useless on multi-core CPUs, but I know my system stays more responsive when I've got ProBalance enabled. What I discovered was that temporarily lowering the priority (or CPU affinity) of excessively CPU bound threads mitigates this 'cycle starvation' problem almost entirely, while having no adverse effect on the process that was lowered in priority. Their reason may not be in-line with your needs though. They are surely aware of it and have a reason. In the article, I speculate some about why it hasn't been fixed, but only some Microsoft developers know the true answer. Long time Windows users have experienced it. On a single CPU system, a single NORMAL priority thread in a NORMAL priority class process can cause the system to become completely unresponsive and starve even high priority threads. I must admit I need to rewrite that page. I made 'the argument' in terrible grammar here. And it makes NO changes to your system registry settings (just BTW). Process Lasso has a lot of other features, like a process watchdog, default CPU affinities, default priority classes, etc. Unlike 'one of those software companies' that wants to sell some 'optimization' utility of whatever type that may or may not work, and may or may not cause damage, I like to think I am completely honest about Process Lasso's ProBalance (what we're actually talking about). I have a Google Alert set for 'Process Lasso', hence I came across this thread.
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