above normal instead of high priority

[zenki]

Could zsnes give an option for above normal instead of just high priority? I find that sometimes above normal is just enough to get something to run smoothly but above normal makes the system slow down.

[DEFIANT]

Whoa! Thats a big avatar.

[franpa]

...

[Jipcy]

franpa_9: Shut up, don't be Aerdan.

Zenki: Yes, your avatar is too big. If you're on Windows 2000/XP, you should be able to set the ZSNES thread priority to anything you want, using the Task Manager.

[Joe Camacho]

shrink your avatar or you will suffer a terrible death.

If you continue like this, *you* will be the one to suffer a terrible death.

[pagefault]

Why do people have to continue to hijack threads?

To go back on topic. Can Windows 9x support this?

[Deathlike2]

Win9x does not support this unfortunately.

This problem sounds like there's a slow CPU issue or something...

[pagefault]

Perhaps on 2k/XP we can use above normal and high on 9x. This would make more sense anyway.

[zenki]

I don't think that my CPU is slow. It's a 1.8 P4. Most of the time games do not slow down, but if I have a lot of things running in the background, (which I usually do), I can detect a little slowdown sometimes. In other programs they have the option to use "above normal" priority, and I find that this gets rid of these little slowdowns. However if I select high priority this causes the whole system to slow to a crawl.

Win9x does not support this unfortunately.

This problem sounds like there's a slow CPU issue or something...

[Jipcy]

Most of the time games do not slow down, but if I have a lot of things running in the background, (which I usually do), I can detect a little slowdown sometimes. In other programs they have the option to use "above normal" priority, and I find that this gets rid of these little slowdowns. However if I select high priority this causes the whole system to slow to a crawl.

This is all completely normal behavior. By the way, what OS are you running? Windows 9x series or Windows NT series (NT, 2000, XP)?

Also, just keep in mind that it will be easier to just deal with occasional slow-down than to make it so that ZSNES never drops a frame.

Running lots of tasks that require processor time *will* slow down other tasks. There's simply no way to get around this.

However, Windows tries to intelligently handle processor priority for all open windows and threads. For example, windows that are in focus (active) get more processor time than windows that are un-focused (in the background) or windows that are minimized. So, make sure to minimize any windows/tasks that you want to have lower priority.

When you raise the "Base Pri" (Base Priority) (as its called in Windows XP) of a particular program, it starts taking away processor time from other programs you are running. If you look at the task manager under the "Base Pri" column, you can see how this works.

The higher a programs's priority, the sooner it gets processor time when it asks for it. Under no circumstances should you set a program to have "Realtime" priority. This will probably freeze your whole system.

All "Realtime" programs get first dibs on processor time, followed by all "High" priority programs (I assume multiple programs of a particular priority get equal time). Then followed by Above Normal, Normal, Below Normal, and Low.

So, the more programs you are running at Above Normal and High priority, the less processor time your Normal, Below Normal, and Low programs get. These programs will take longer to complete their various tasks.

My suggestion to you is to cut down on the number of simultaneous programs you run. You really can't expect to run an infinite number of programs all at full speed. Windows is designed to multi-task and share processor time, and that's what it's doing.

[zenki]

I'm running Windows XP. I have a lot of things running, but they don't do much. I usually have firefox running with multiple websites opened in it. I find that if I close this, it makes a difference. However it's a hassle, because that might mean having to bookmark all the websites so that I can find them again, and sometimes I like to switch between surfing the web and playing games, so I prefer to keep it open. Setting a program's priority to above normal is enough so that I can keep firefox and all my other little programs running at the same time without having those little slowdowns.

[-_pentium5.1_-]

zenki: Not exactly on topic, but the ~Tab Mix Plus~ extension has a "session saver" feature. This is inherently limited with regards to dynamic content, though, which brings us back to the main point of this thread about changing process priorities...
EDIT: The words "Tab Mix Plus" above are a link.

[Deathlike2]

Zenki, shrink your avatar or some mod will remove it soon enough.

Relating to the topic, I have no idea what Toaster support really is, but there are prior threads on it.. and it is game specific to my knowledge.

http://board.zsnes.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... 63&start=0

[adventure_of_link]

Zenki, shrink your avatar or some mod will remove it soon enough.

here we go again with forum authority confusion:

Mods: Delete/Move/Edit/Lock/Sticky/Announce topics and threads.
Admins: Do all things mods do, but they also set permissions, configure global board configurations, set ranks, change people's nicks, "profile rape" someone, ban, remove avatars, etc.

And toaster support was a joke.

[Jipcy]

And toaster support was a joke.

How so?

[Deathlike2]

Zenki, shrink your avatar or some mod will remove it soon enough.

here we go again with forum authority confusion:

Mods: Delete/Move/Edit/Lock/Sticky/Announce topics and threads.
Admins: Do all things mods do, but they also set permissions, configure global board configurations, set ranks, change people's nicks, "profile rape" someone, ban, remove avatars, etc.

Meh.. I don't pay that much attention to that... Someone will get to the avatar sooner or later anyhow.

[Jonas Quinn]

And toaster support was a joke.

It's no joke it's an easter egg.

[Agozer]

And toaster support was a joke.

You should damn well know that it exists.

[adventure_of_link]

I know it exists; I was referring to it as a joke, probably because of this time where everyone kept suggessting inane features for ZSNES (eg: emulate the channel 3 in the corner, emulate the dust in the cartridge, and toaster support.)

[Joe Camacho]

People, please stay on topic.

[Deathlike2]

Ok, the current behavior is now changed in SVN. Win9x will use High Priority while non-Win9x will use Above Normal Priority.

That avatar still seems a tad too big... but meh.

[Master O]

I know it exists; I was referring to it as a joke, probably because of this time where everyone kept suggessting inane features for ZSNES (eg: emulate the channel 3 in the corner, emulate the dust in the cartridge, and toaster support.)

1) I want to see the dust in the cartridge get emulated.

"THAT WOULD ROCKZORZ, LEET HACKZORZ SKILLZ, 1337 ZSNES 15 d4 shiznit!!!!"

2) "Is Zsnes going to support microwave ovens so that I can cook small pizzas in them, or just ordinary toasters for toast?"

(Extreme Sarcasm)

--------

Anyway, Zenki's suggestion sounds reasonable enough, but that isn't for me to decide.

Random Question: what anime is his avatar from?

[Firon]

1) I want to see the dust in the cartridge get emulated.

It needs to randomly not boot. And require a microphone for you to blow in.
And sometimes need to hit the PC's case.
Maybe jam q-tips with alcohol into the floppy drive (if you still have one).