eFMer TThrottle
Please close all programs and put BOINC into suspended mode, before starting the program “TThrottle.exe” (Just to make sure if anything happens this will not result in losing something).
There is always a possibility that something goes wrong, although is has been tested on a lot of Vista / XP /2003 machines. But as always run it at your own risk.
TThrottle measures the processor core temperature and can adjust the amount of time a certain process (program) may run. What it does; it stop all threads of the process for a short amount of time. This will keep the temperature below the “Set Temperature”.
If the temperature is below this value the Run Time will be 100%.
Supported systems
At the moment only Intel and AMD Processors are supported that have an internal temperature sensor to measure the core temperature and an internal register (see FAQ for more details).
This program comes as a 32 or 64 bits version.
Installation
The installation file setup_Throttle_XXX.exe, will extract all files int the directory [program files][efmer/tthrottle]
Modes of operations
Temperature regulation
This is the normal mode, the program throttles the programs according to the "set temperature".
Throttle only
The program can run without the temperature regulation. By setting Min and Max runtime at the same value e.g. 60. The programs in the list will run 60% of the time.
Quick Start
This is all you have to do to run TThrottle.
Type in the temperature at "Set" e.g. 55 (C).
Select "Auto Active" and you are done....
To hide TThrottle press "Hide" and TThrottle will not show itself the next time you start your computer.
And hides itself in the taskbar.
To start TThrottle every time you login, go to the preference tab and select.
Settings
"Temperature" "Core” The actual processor core temperature.
“Set Temperature” Is the temperature you want TThrottle to maintain.
"Run Time" “Max” The maximum time (in %) a task is allowed to run. Default 100.
"Run Time" “Min” The minimum time (in %) a task is allowed to run. Default 5. And can’t be set below 5. Otherwise the task may freeze.
"Run Time" “Running” The time the tasks are running at the moment, in %.
“Auto Active” Activates the throttle and checks every minute to update the running programs.
Icon
The TThrottle icon in placed in the taskbar. Clicking the right mouse over the icon, will display a menu.
When the throttle, Cpu or Gpu, is not at 100%, this icon will be displayed instead.
The top bar is the Cpu and the bottom one the Gpu. In this case the Cpu is at 50% and the Gpu is at 100%.
Colors: green: 100%, blue: allowed % and red: throttled %. So the more red the more throttling.
BOINC
This tab appears automatically and only if a BOINC data directory is found.
Projects are automatically added.
If for some reason you want to exclude a program from throttling add it to the "Exclude" list.
This list should at least include all CUDA enabled programs.
Graph
View the temperature in minutes or hours.
Press "Scalable Graphic" and the following window will pop up.
"Enable Graph" must be checked for the graph to appear.
Select a specific core, "Core 0" for the 1e core, or select "All Cores".
Fahrenheit
The core temperatures are read in Celsius.
To get a conversion to Fahrenheit, check "Temperature in Fahrenheit"
Make sure to check the set temperature after changing!
Gpu CUDA
To regulate Gpu (CUDA) temperature type in the desired temperature at "set Gpu".
And check "Auto Active"
The Gpu task, if one is running, will be regulated from this point on.
Gpu's run hot. Check the logging and 20C below the max Temperature reported by the Gpu.
Should by quite safe. 68C as in this example is extremely low.
Mini window
A small floating window, can display the temperatures of all Cpu and Gpu cores. This window can be placed anywhere on the desktop, even over the taskbar.
Dragging is performed, by pressing the left mouse button, while over the window. Drag slowly, because this is a very small window.
Clicking on the window with the right mouse will display this menu. Select small to get a tiny window
To enable or disable the window go the preference tab.
Settings Expert
Check "Expert" for more detailed throttling of non BOINC tasks.
“List Programs” lists all running processes on your computer
“Programs” For specials only. BOINC project are automatically added. All processes that start with this name will be found. So you don’t have to type the complete name. But be sure there are no other processes starting with the same name.
"v Add v" Add a program to the list.
"^ Remove ^" Remove a program from the list.
“Set Temperature” Is the temperature you want.
"Run Time" “Max” The maximum time (in %) a task is allowed to run. Default 100.
"Run Time" “Min” The minimum time (in %) a task is allowed to run. Default 5. And can’t be set below 5. Otherwise the task may freeze.
"Run Time" “Running” The time the task runs, in %.
“Auto Active” Activates the throttle and checks every minute to update the running programs.
Example adding programs
This is normally not needed as projects (and all the programs in it) are automatically added from the BOINC data directory.
The following is for exceptional cases only.
Type "einstein_S5R" or copy it from the list after pressing the "List Programs" button.
Next press the "v Add v" button.
The name is added to the list.
Select Auto Active, to activate TThrottle.
If Einstein is running the following list, or something similar will appear.
Example removing or changing programs
To remove a program from the list, select a name.
Next press the "^ Remove ^" Button.
Rules
The rules tab allows for:
The general throttle to engage.
The alarm to sound.
Sending an E-Mail.
Shutdown or reboot of the computer
These actions take place, when a temperature goes below or above a certain setting.
What is the general throttle? Normally TThrottle only throttles the BOINC tasks, or additional added programs. The general throttle on the other hand, throttles every running program on the computer, including BOINC projects.
Use the general throttle only in emergencies and not all the time, because this feature takes up more time than the regular throttle.
More information can be found, or requested at the forum.
Expert mode settings
Sometimes the GPU throttle is working too fast or too slow.
Select "desktop" for slow regulating an "laptop" for fast regulation.
Normally the program list is rebuild every 60 seconds.
Sometimes this is not fast enough. Set this value to a lower value to get a faster rebuild
On some projects the rebuild generates a lot of threads lost messages.
Set this check to take it easy and rebuild only at the set interval.
GPU preset values
Up to three preset GPU temperatures can be added to the TThrottle taskbar popup menu.
If you want to do this: copy the tthrottle.xml file from C:\Program Files\eFMer\TThrottle\examples to C:\Program Files\eFMer\TThrottle\
You can open tthrottle.xml with notepad.
The text that is displayed when you click on the TThrottle icon in the taskbar, can be customised.
This text "Gpu Full" is placed between <Name>Gpu_Full</Name>, you can change it into any text you like.
A space between the words will be removed, use _ instead. So Gpu_Full is displayd as Gpu Full.
The temperatures 80,70,60 can be adjusted to your need. (<High> <Normal> <Low>)
WARNING: Experimental
Everything in this Tab is a bit experimental, so take extra care and report any problems to me.
You need to enable TThrottle, by setting "Auto Active" in the programs tab, otherwise this will not work.
If you don't need the throttle, set the temperatures to a high setting.
"Enable Graph"
A graph is drawn, of the total runtime (process and threads).
The white line, is the overall total run time so far, in a percentage of the core run time.
The yellow line, is the actual run time per second, in a percentage of the core run time.
"Enable Text"
Text is displayed, with info about the Process and its Threads.
You can see the Kernel (Windows) and User (Program) run time as well as the current priority assigned to the process and its threads.
The CPU/GPU feeder program, called something like MB_6.08_CUDA.exe, feeds the CPU with data (CUDA).
To keep the GPU busy, it is essential that the CPU keeps sending data as fast as possible, failing to do so can mean that less work is done.
The priority setting by default, is set to "Keep Current", this means TThrottle doesn't change a thing.
By clicking on "Enable Text", you can see the current priority settings of the program and its threads.
Elevating the priority, to "Below Normal" or "Normal" can get you a better feeding of the GPU.
The downside is, that other programs get less time assigned, so this may cause the keyboard to freeze at times. If this features gives some results (feedback please) I will add a method to switch this on, only when the computer is not in use.
WARNING: A priority setting, above Normal, may create an instable system, as there may not be enough time for other critical tasks! So be aware of the danger. A higher setting than normal, is only to be used on a system with at least 4 cores and even than the results may be unpredictable.
Thread: Is a program started by the main program.
Priority: The higher the priority, the more likely the program or threads get time assigned to it to run.
From high to low the priorities are: High - Above Normal - Normal - Below normal - Low (idle).
Idle threads run only, when the system is not busy with anything else. This is the normal project setting, of projects running in BOINC.
PID: Program identifier, all running programs and threads have a unique number assigned to it.
Kernel: The Windows program, doing something for the program or thread.
User: The program or thread itself.
As of version 1.73 this feature is no longer part of the default installation. On the download page look for TThrottle Special Edition.
Limitations
Will work as temperature monitor only on CPU’s with a build in temperature sensor and converter.
See FAQ for a complete? list.
On Vista, with BOINC don’t install it as a service, so it will run as user. This is the default setting in BOINC anyway as of version 6.4.5.
What’s to do / wishlist
If you have anyting for the "wishlist" please add it to the list on our forum .
Testing
For testing purposes the program “Stress.exe” is included. This program can load 1-8 cores with a pulsating load or with a continuous load (setting the idle time to 0).
So use “stress” as process name before you do some real testing.
Contact
b*o*i*n*c*at*efmer.eu. (without the * and @ instead of at)
or use contact at the efmer.eu page.
To report problems or if it works just fine:
Read the chapter "How I can help" in the FAQ section and send this information to me.
Why a donation? The program is absolutely free, but we like to improve TThrottle and supply you with signed drivers.
If you like our program, help us to continue our work.
If you want to give us a donation the minimum amount is $1.
