Hello.

I generated an app_config.xml to use more than one core per WU.
The file looks like this:

<app_config>
<app>
<name>srbase</name>
<fraction_done_exact/>
<max_concurrent>3</max_concurrent>
</app>
<app_version>
<app_name>srbase</app_name>
<cmdline>-t4</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>4</avg_ncpus>
</app_version>
</app_config>

It is an i7-1355U with 10 cores and 12 threads.
BOINC is running 3 WUs with (4 CPUs) label but the task manager shows only 6-10% load per WU, so only about one core is used, while the idle task has about 60-75%.

I wanted to config the xml so that average use 4 and long WUs use all 12 possible threads but the cpu is only on full load when I take one core and 12 WUs.

So whats wrong about my config?
Thank you in advance.

I tried to change to

<max_concurrent>1</max_concurrent>
<cmdline>-t12</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>12</avg_ncpus>

but then I have one WU running using only one core while boinc shows (12 CPUs)

I also tried to reset the project but no change.

HT is turned on in BIOS and i cannot change this, cause it is a very minimalistic Lenovo ThinkPad BIOS.

I tried

<max_concurrent>2</max_concurrent>
<cmdline>-t5</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>5</avg_ncpus>

and

<max_concurrent>3</max_concurrent>
<cmdline>-t3</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>3</avg_ncpus>

and

<max_concurrent>4</max_concurrent>
<cmdline>-t3</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>3</avg_ncpus>

and

<max_concurrent>1</max_concurrent>
<cmdline>-t12</cmdline>
<avg_ncpus>12</avg_ncpus>


With 1 or 2 cores per WU the load per WU is about 8% or respective 16%, while 8,33% per task is a 100% usage (100% / 12 threads = 8,33%).
But if I raise the amount of cores per WU the usage goes down, like 3-6% per WU at 5 cores. At 12 Cores per 1 WU, the usage drops to 1-3%.

I tested on another system with a 5800X CPU (Win10) and 2x 8 cores on 2 WUs brings about 90-99% usage, so it is not a question of correct app_config settings.

I also tried another project (Amicable Numbers) and a 12 Core WU reaches about 80-85% usage.
But here the app itself uses all cores per WU without needing an app_config file.

So it seems to be a problem with Win11, strange configs by company policies or something else in BOINC or the srbase exe.

Partygott - Just to make sure, you are telling the client to read the updated app_config file? And that the app name is correct per the FAQ?

https://srbase.my-firewall.org/sr5/forum_thread.php?id=6&postid=698#698

List of apps:
srbase = Sierpinski / Riesel Base

I have the same issue regarding my Lenovo M70t with Intel i7 13700; Boinc will only use the slow efficiency cores. Hence I gave up running Boinc on these machines.

The -t option doesn't count on HT on prst, only on real cores.

I did some testing the last days...

It is no overheat. The CPU is held at about 70°C in "Best Performance" mode, which is ok I think. The CPU throttle comes in at over 90°C.

But I measured the runtimes of the same type of WU and found out that MT is working fine. Only all cores on 1 WU is doing a bit worse.
And using the HT-cores has nearly no impact.

Then I watched the task manager.
Normally I take a look to the detailed view, cause it is more precise.
But here it shows nonsense, with idle task at 80-90%.
The normal process view shows 100% cpu and the performance view the same.

So it only seems to be a kind of bug that the detailed view shows such a high idle percentage and I did not expect such a behavior.
Now I will keep running at 2x5, cause 2x6, 3x4, 4x3 and 6x2 have no advantage.
Only 1 core per WU (12x1) is doing slightly better, but has way longer computation time.


the numbers to compare (on Sierpinski / Riesel Base 0.49 WUs):
12 WUs x 1 core: 220 minutes per core
6 x 2: 114 >> 228
2 x 6: 38 >> 228 (2 x 5: 229)
1 x 12: 23 >> 276


No problem at all - just a display of wrong values.
Thanks for help and patience.

My Puppy Linux on E5-2697V4's had this issue (HT off, 36 total threads)
Played around with the various app_config

My Puppy Linux on E5-2697V4's had this issue (HT off, 36 total threads)

You don't need to disable HT in BIOS. Just run BOINC on 50% of your cores instead 100% if you want to run without. There are some other apps which are benefit from HT.