CPU core management

[scottacus]

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out here.

I have noticed that occasionally (maybe 5% of the time) some VP tables will stutter with low frame rates when PinballX (v2.21) is running as the front end.  I am running Windows 10 64 bit with an AMD FX-8350 "8 core" (really 4 core) processor with two Radeon 970s (not in cross fire but with the main playfield on 1 and the Backglass and DMD on the other) in the Asus MB.  I have a core controlling program running with VP9.92 getting core 1 all to itself and all other programs on cores 2-4.  Most of the time VP's F11 function shows 500-600 FPS (I realize that I'm only getting 60 based upon my TV's but it's still a gauge of video output) but on occasion I'll get 90-120 FPS and then Medieval Madness, Monster Bash and other tables will have ball stutter.  When I look at Task Manger when this low FPS is happening PinballX is using 60+% of processor resources (even though it is not "active" at that time) and there are no other programs other than VP running at more than 1% of CPU resources.  If I force task manager to "kill" PinballX, then the FPS shoots up to 500+FPS and the ball stutter is gone.  When I look in Task Manager when PinballX is the front end and the tables are running normally, PinballX is taking up very few CPU resources.   I now have now restricted PinballX to only core 4 in hopes of stopping the stutter.  Any ideas as to what is causing PinballX to demand so much CPU resources?

[Tom Speirs]

Please provide your log and ini file.

The only reason I can think PinballX would be taking up CPU is if it is rendering a video. Ensure you set your tables not to show/render backglass and DMD or alternatively ensure you have an image file as well as a video for the table.

[scottacus]

Thanks Tom, I have made still images for all of the tables, backglasses and DMDs since I don't now how to set up the tables to not show/render videos.  Is that a setting in PinballX or VP?

[scottacus]

Spoiler

11:45:13.1  7/25/2016:  PinballX - Version 2.21
11:45:13.2  7/25/2016:  Windows 10 Home 64-bit (7.9GB)
11:45:13.2  7/25/2016:  Loading Settings
11:45:13.2  7/25/2016:  Initialize Component
11:45:13.2  7/25/2016:  Initialize Display
11:45:13.2  7/25/2016:  Loading PlugIns
11:45:13.4  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX BackGlass Window
11:45:13.4  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX DMD Window
11:45:13.5  7/25/2016:  Hiding Cursor
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Hiding Taskbar
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  CPU:  AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  GPU 1: AMD Radeon HD 6900 Series
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Displays: 3
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Load Game List
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Loading Database: Visual Pinball
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Loading Database: Visual Pinball X
11:45:13.6  7/25/2016:  Loading Custom Database: 5 Star Games
11:45:13.7  7/25/2016:  Finding and matching artwork and videos
11:45:14.0  7/25/2016:  Loading Game Statistics and Scores
11:45:14.4  7/25/2016:  Main display running full screen windowed.
11:45:14.5  7/25/2016:  Loading Surfaces
11:45:14.7  7/25/2016:  Finished Loading Surfaces
11:45:14.7  7/25/2016:  Initialize Audio
11:45:14.7  7/25/2016:  Set Keyboard Controls
11:45:14.7  7/25/2016:  Initialize Joystick
11:45:14.8  7/25/2016:  1 Joystick Attached
11:45:14.8  7/25/2016:  Started
11:45:20.3  7/25/2016:  Launch System
11:45:20.3  7/25/2016:  Waiting for threads
11:45:20.3  7/25/2016:  Disposing display
11:45:22.9  7/25/2016:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\VPinball992.exe /play -"C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Medieval Madness (Williams 1997).vpt"
11:45:22.9  7/25/2016:  C:\PinballX\vpauto.exe 
11:45:30.0  7/25/2016:  Found PinMAME ROM: mm_10.nv
11:45:30.4  7/25/2016:  Hidden Visual Pinball Editor Window
12:00:24.1  7/25/2016:  Exit System Control Pressed
12:00:27.3  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX BackGlass Window
12:00:27.4  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX DMD Window
12:00:27.4  7/25/2016:  Main display running full screen windowed.
12:37:39.4  7/25/2016:  Launch System
12:37:39.4  7/25/2016:  Waiting for threads
12:37:39.4  7/25/2016:  Disposing display
12:37:41.2  7/25/2016:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\VPinball992.exe /play -"C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Haunted House (Gottlieb 1982).vpt"
12:37:41.2  7/25/2016:  C:\PinballX\vpauto.exe 
12:37:50.8  7/25/2016:  Hidden Visual Pinball Editor Window
12:40:44.4  7/25/2016:  Exit System Control Pressed
12:40:48.6  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX BackGlass Window
12:40:48.6  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX DMD Window
12:40:48.7  7/25/2016:  Main display running full screen windowed.
12:40:57.0  7/25/2016:  Launch System
12:40:57.0  7/25/2016:  Waiting for threads
12:40:57.1  7/25/2016:  Disposing display
12:41:00.1  7/25/2016:  C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\VPinball992.exe /play -"C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables\Lord Of The Rings (Stern - 2003).vpt"
12:41:00.1  7/25/2016:  C:\PinballX\vpauto.exe 
12:41:05.8  7/25/2016:  Hidden Visual Pinball Editor Window
12:47:24.8  7/25/2016:  Exit System Control Pressed
12:47:27.9  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX BackGlass Window
12:47:28.0  7/25/2016:  Created DirectX DMD Window
12:47:28.0  7/25/2016:  Main display running full screen windowed.
12:58:27.6  7/25/2016:  Exiting
12:58:27.6  7/25/2016:  Showing Taskbar
12:58:27.7  7/25/2016:  Unhiding Mouse Cursor
12:58:27.7  7/25/2016:  Disposing Plugins
12:58:27.7  7/25/2016:  Saving Settings
12:58:27.7  7/25/2016:  Bye
 

Spoiler

[Display]
Monitor=0
rotate=270
windowed=False
windowwidth=1516
windowheight=853
windowx=-21
windowy=-23
PlayFieldBrightness=230
WheelTextColor=ffffffff
WheelTextOutlineColor=ff000000
InfoTextColor=ffffffff
InfoTextOutlineColor=ff000000
FilterTextColor=ffffffff
FilterTextOutlineColor=ff000000
MenuColor=ffffa500
ShowExitImageFor=3
FullScreenWindowed=True
[BackGlass]
monitor=1
x=0
y=0
width=1920
height=1080
AutoPositionB2S=False
[DMD]
Enabled=True
monitor=2
x=0
y=49
width=1360
height=476
AutoPositionPinMAME=False
[FileSystem]
EnableFileMatching=True
[Interface]
DesktopModeEnabled=False
EnableAdditionalDetail=True
ShowSystem=True
ShowRatings=True
EnableDefaultFilters=False
[Audio]
StreamVolume=90
SampleVolume=90
PlaySoundInVideos=True
[Startup]
playsound=True
playvideo=False
StartWithWindows=No
[KeyCodes]
quit=27
left=160
right=161
select=49
rotate=82
pageleft=162
pageright=163
exitemulator=50
ingame=80
screenshot=83
screenshotbackglass=66
instructions=73
volumedown=109
volumeup=107
credit=53
plunger=164
[JoyCodes]
quit=1
left=4
right=3
select=0
rotate=
pageleft=
pageright=
exitemulator=
ingame=
instructions=
[Text]
Line1=Free Play
Line2=Press Start
Featuring=Featuring
Tables=Tables
PlayGame=Play Game
Instructions=Instructions
Information=Information
Flyer=Flyer
Gameplay=Gameplay
Tutorial=Tutorial
ExitGame=Exit Game
ReturnToGame=Return to Game
Return=Return
Exit=Exit
Shutdown=Shutdown
[FuturePinball]
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=h:\-PINBALL-\-FUTURE PINBALL-
TablePath=h:\-PINBALL-\-FUTURE PINBALL-\Tables
Executable=Future Pinball.exe
Parameters=/open "[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]" /play /exit /arcaderender
LaunchBeforeEnabled=false
LaunchBeforeWorkingPath=
LaunchBeforeExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchBeforeHideWindow=False
LaunchBeforeWaitForExit=True
LaunchAfterEnabled=False
LaunchAfterWorkingPath=
LaunchAfterExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchAfterHideWindow=False
LaunchAfterWaitForExit=True
MouseClickFocus=True
[VisualPinball]
Enabled=True
WorkingPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball
TablePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables
Executable=VPinball992.exe
Parameters=/play -"[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]"
LaunchBeforeEnabled=false
LaunchBeforeWorkingPath=
LaunchBeforeExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchBeforeHideWindow=False
LaunchBeforeWaitForExit=True
LaunchAfterEnabled=False
LaunchAfterWorkingPath=
LaunchAfterExecutable=notepad.exe
LaunchAfterHideWindow=False
LaunchAfterWaitForExit=True
AutoConfigure=False
[ExitScreen]
Enabled=True
EnableExit=True
EnableShutdown=True
ConfirmExitGameTimer=False
[StartupProgram]
Enabled=false
WorkingPath=
Executable=notepad.exe
Paramaters=
HideWindow=true
WaitForExit=false
[ExitProgram]
Enabled=false
WorkingPath=
Executable=notepad.exe
Paramaters=
HideWindow=False
WaitForExit=
[AttractMode]
Enabled=True
Timer=1
ShowFor=15
MuteAudio=True
[System_1]
Name=MAME
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=C:\- EMULATORS -\- MAME -
TablePath=C:\
Executable=mamep64.exe
Parameters=[TABLEFILE]
SystemType=0
[AutoExit]
Enabled=False
Minutes=10
[Login]
Enabled=False
[PinballFX2]
Enabled=False
WorkingPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
Executable=steam.exe
Parameters=-applaunch 226980 [TABLEFILE]
Process=Pinball FX2.exe
Rotate=False
WaitFor=20
[Internal]
lastwheelcachematchsize=-1123
lastselected=Attack and Revenge From Mars (Bally 1999)Attack and Revenge From Mars (Bally 1999)VisualPinball
filter_year=
filter_company=
filter_custom=
filtername=Tables
[PinballArcade]
WorkingPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam
Executable=steam.exe
Parameters=-applaunch 238260
Process=PinballArcade.exe
WaitForSelect=50
[GameListManager]
onlinemode=false
[RealDMD]
EnableColor=True
Color=ffff1414
[SetupWizard]
EmuPath1=C:\Emulators
AssetPath1=C:\Assets
RomPath1=C:\Roms
DefaultPathPrompt=True
DownloadDatabasePrompt=True
DownloadEmulatorPrompt=True
WizardMode=1
CustomArray=
SearchArray=
SavePosition=False
SectionIndex=20
SearchText=custom
EmulatorIndex=0
EmulatorGroupIndex=0
DaphneIndex=0
HTMLAppsIndex=0
ExternalAppsIndex=0
RadioStationsIndex=0
NewsFeedsIndex=0
MappedDrivesIndex=0
SystemIndex=1
ShowPanel=True
FontSize=1
WindowState=0
WindowSize=830,888
WindowLocation=655,82
[Plugin_1]
Enabled=False
Name=PlugInLED.dll
[Plugin_2]
Enabled=False
Name=PlugInSpeech.dll
[Plugin_3]
Enabled=False
Name=QuickLaunch (PinballX Edition).dll
[Plugin_4]
Enabled=False
Name=Xpadder Plugin.dll
[System_2]
Name=Visual Pinball X
WorkingPath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables
TablePath=C:\Program Files (x86)\Visual Pinball\Tables
Executable=VPinballX.exe
Parameters=/play -"[TABLEPATH]\[TABLEFILE]"
Enabled=True
SystemType=1

Config and Log above.

 

[Tom Speirs]

All looks fine to me. Easiest way to check the hide dmd/backglass is with the game manager app. It will be right there. They should be ticked.

[scottacus]

Thanks Tom, I was under mistaken impression that the "Hide DMD and "Hide Backglass" options in Game Manger were for displaying those options in PinballX thus none of them were checked.  I have gone through and checked them all.  Thanks!

[scottacus]

Thanks Tom that seems to have solved the low FPS problem!  In Windows 10 I usually (but not always) have the task bar show up briefly on the edge of the main playfield when PinballX is launching a VP table.  I have the task bar hidden and have even ended the windows explorer program in task manager with no success in hiding the task bar upon VP launch from PinballX.  Is there a way to prevent the task bar from showing up?  BTW the task bar never shows up when VP is turning focus back over to PinballX upon exiting tables.  

[scottacus]

The problem with the task bar was fixed by juts not hiding it in the first place.  Must be an issue of "focus" switching during the launching of VP tables and not a PinballX issue because the task bar used to appear when launching tables in VP without PinballX running in the first place.

[Tom Speirs]

I'm not sure I follow. PBX does hide the taskbar though as far as I know. It always has.

[scottacus]

Yes, PBX works perfectly, the problem was this.  I had selected "hide Windows Task Bar" in Windows 10.  When I launched tables in PinballX the Windows task bar would briefly show up at the edge of the playfield which was annoying.  At first I thought PinballX was involved which is why I added it to this post but later I tried running the tables in VP 9.92 and the task bar showed up then so I knew it was a VP issue.  In fact the task bar never showed up when the focus changed from VP to PinballX so PinballX worked perfectly at preventing this.

 

I asked around on the VP forum and both mjr and Drybonz said that it was an issue of VP and Windows Task Bar exchanging focus so the solution was to not hide Windows task bar so the battle for focus would never take place.

 

Thanks Tom for PBX it is a wonderful program!