Does hyper-threading have ANY performance impact on games?

[Monkey_Business]

Does Intel hyper-threading technology have ANY performance impact on games? What is HT best used for? Would a hyper threaded i7 run games any faster than a non-HT i5?

 

[Mussels]

Yes.
Multi threaded apps.
Yes, assuming clock speeds are the same and the game can use more threads.


A quick google of hyperthreading could have told you all this.

 

[Monkey_Business]

Yes.
Multi threaded apps.
Yes, assuming clock speeds are the same and the game can use more threads.

A quick google of hyperthreading could have told you all this.

Most modern games are multi-threaded for Two CPU cores. With the exception of a very few titles like GTA4, World in Conflict, and race driver GRID, which are fully multi-threaded through Four CPU cores.

I would imagine that in the not too distant future, we'll be seeing many more games fully using quad cores.

 

[FordGT90Concept]

No, no games (I know of) use more than four threads (ehm, they have no more than 4 heavy threads, or threads heavy enough to burden more than 4 logical cores). Until quad-cores become the norm, octo-core won't be of much use in gaming.

 

[travva]

Most modern games are multi-threaded for Two CPU cores. With the exception of a very few titles like GTA4, World in Conflict, and race driver GRID, which are fully multi-threaded through Four CPU cores.

I would imagine that in the not too distant future, we'll be seeing many more games fully using quad cores.

monkey business: why you always ask a random question and when someone replies you basically answer your own question? kinda makes you look silly imo.

 

[Mussels]

Most modern games are multi-threaded for Two CPU cores. With the exception of a very few titles like GTA4, World in Conflict, and race driver GRID, which are fully multi-threaded through Four CPU cores.

I would imagine that in the not too distant future, we'll be seeing many more games fully using quad cores.

if you knew all that, why bother making the thread?

 

[overclocking101]

bfbc2 loads all 8 of my cores.

 

[erocker]

Well, I don't have hyperthreading, but as you can see most games/applications spread the workload out. The more cores/threads the merrier.

GRID

Battlefield Bad Company 2

Unreal Tournament III

Left 4 Dead 2

Specs:
PII 965 4ghz
DDR3 1400 6 6-6-18
2750mhz Memory Controller/North Bridge
2 x 5850's 925/1100

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Note how not one core took 100% load on any of those games (UT3 got close but only on alt+tab). In order to benefit from more cores, you have to max at least one core. The more you max (given that the game is designed to utilize more than four cores) the more likely greater than four cores would be beneficial.


Process Monitor will tell you exactly how few cores the application can run on without taking a performance hit.

 

[Mussels]

one thing to remember too, is that the thread you're running can jump around between cores seemingly at random.

just because you see activity on all cores, doesnt mean you're getting any benifit (4 cores with an average of 40% aint any faster than 2 cores at 80%)

 

[FordGT90Concept]

It depends on the game. Some sets affinity on threads to specific cores, others don't.

 

[Hayder_Master]

monkey business: why you always ask a random question and when someone replies you basically answer your own question? kinda makes you look silly imo.

if you knew all that, why bother making the thread?

yeah it's become boring he do many threads of google titles

bfbc2 loads all 8 of my cores.

+1 for bc2, first came use all cores and threads