differentiate between number of CPUs to use in idle and busy mode

[KSMarksPsych]

Posted by: Date: 3:05 PM 04-07-2007 BOINC detects if the machine is busy and can limit the number of CPUs to use. I'd like to see a feature, that I can define 2 numbers of CPUs to use, one if the machine is idle and one if the machine is busy. Right now I've got a dual processor machine and allow BOINC to use one of them so that my work is not slowed down. But when the machine is idle, BOINC could use both CPUs. Right now, this is not possible. With the advent of multi-processor/core machines spreading out to end users, this would allow more CPU power to be used by BOINC and the necessary preconditions are already implented.

[romw]

What do you think?

[davea]

I'm not in favor of this. I don't think limiting the number of CPUs used while busy will increase system responsiveness. Limiting the RAM usage will.

E.g.: if you use 1 CPU and it causes thrashing, your system will be sluggish. If you use N CPUs (at zero priority) with small working set, your system will not be sluggish

[Pepo]

According to numerous requests, I'd like to suggest this being implemented arbitrarily. Currently the client considers just whether to go or sleep and how much memory to use, according to user's idleness.

Both Working and Idle states should contain a separately manageable set of "resources usage preferences" (CPU % throttling, %/number of CPU cores, memory usage, exclusive_app, etc.) just like it is now with preference sets for venues.

[Nicolas]

http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=3343

[Pepo]

This way of managing BOINC preferences gets requested multiple times a year, again and again and again... Thus, let's not forget the ​proposal from a year ago. And best wishes to the ​related followup discussions.

[Ageless]

And the latest request.