Process Lasso Experiments

For anyone using Process Lasso, I thought I would post this, just to take some of the mystery out of the program. I have been testing settings on two different PCs using the program. One is a 1.5 GHz Intel Pentium 4 based PC with 1.125 GB RAM (no dual channeling) and the other is a 2.13 GHz E6400 core 2 duo based PC with 4 GB RAM (dual channeled).

Quick word on Process Lasso. It's not a kill processes type of optimizer. It's more complicated than that. Instead it's a process regulator. There is a forum for Process Lasso on the Bitsum (developer) site here:

http://forum.bitsum.com/index.php?board=6.0

On to the settings.

First, only some of the settings in Process Lasso affect the performance of a system overall. The rest are process based. The settings that do affect system performance affect things somewhat like the timing on a car. This is a little bit complicated out of the box when it comes to operating systems, because your equipment affects what the timings should be. With a car, I don't know, but I suppose there are certain algorithms that have been developed to make it easier for manufacturers to know what timings should be used for a 4 cyl 2 liter engine versus a larger say 8 cyl 5 liter engine. This affects parts sizes (piston rod lengths, etc.).

I don't think the PC industry has gotten to this point with PCs. Perhaps there is some confusion over who should provide the "timings" software for the PCs...the hardware manufacturers or the OS writers. Then again, maybe it is that the PC industry just really hasn't gotten there. At any rate, it seems to me that MS is writing their OSes based on the notion that it is up to the manufacturers to solve the optimization problem. If so, I can kind of see their point. I mean the manufacturers have the equipment for testing to develop the algorithms and they have total control over the manufacturing process. They also know about parts prices, etc. (which parts to beef up and which to not worry so much about kind of thing)

That as a backdrop, Process Lasso gives you a way into the timings of your PC. Actually, I suppose it would make sense to think of what can happen using PL as software overclocking. It's really not that, though, given that you could still overclock and see the normal benefit and given that it's not really unusual for PC buyers to expect a PC that optimizes natively to a harmonious rhythm out of the box. Makes perfect sense to me to expect this, especially since it's going to affect how long the parts on your PC last and how well it works. Just can't say optimization is up to the level of the parts right now. Don't think the optimization has ever matched the parts, honestly.

All that said, if you use Process Lasso, these settings are safe. I will give a little bit of an explanation of each (defaults are fine for all the rest):

From the main settings menu (top settings menu bar)
1. Main->"Gaming/multi-media mode enabled". I believe the developers of Process Lasso are being deliberately careful to explain this setting as not recommended. They just don't like the idea of alot of complaints. I don't blame them under the circumstances. To the best of my reasoning and knowledge, there is noone else that can actually give a user an optimization algorithm that will adapt to, for example, an upgraded processor or even additional RAM. In this way, they are on their own in this field. It would be trouble if users started to blame them for equipment problems (even though I don't think it's even possible for a user using Process Lasso to hurt equipment...honestly ). Check your temperatures...mine aren't affected by this. If there were a warning sign to note, it would be in the temps.
2. Main->"Probalance enabled". This one is very important (see 4-9 below)
3. Options->General Settings->"Check processes every"->250 ms. Again the same thing. I have tested, mostly on the core 2 duo, and this setting is safe. I would say there is actually room for at least a 100 ms and a 50 ms setting here...probably many more

Now we get to the tricky part. Here:

General Settings->Probalance settings->Configuration dialog (general Probalance settings)...

On this menu, the top six drop down menus are the focus. Forget about everything below them (the check boxes in the Options area). The selections of concern are all about the timings related to regulating system functions, processes, services, and the like that run in the background. Actually, this is for any background process. While you can optimize your PC without fine tuning these settings, it isn't dangerous to explore them carefully. I have experimented and temps are not affected in any real way worthy of noting even.

So here is an explanation of each one:

*First, I have checked. The original settings for the settings (the 6 drop downs) in this area are different based on the equipment on your machine. Hats off to the Process Lasso team for creating at least these algorithms. Not going to say their judgements are completely spot on, but they are good enough to use by default. Anyway, if you have a high powered machine, your original settings on this menu would be different than for a medium or low powered machine. Be advised. If you are not the adventurous type, you can leave these settings, just going with the first three I listed above. However, fine tuning can be done here.

One other thing. The "adjustments" referred to in these settings are the Probalance adjustments. Basically, Process Lasso will take your background processes (noise) and reduce how much processor they are using. With the below settings you can adjust how much and for how long the adjustment will last. Setting 3 above affects how oftenly Process Lasso checks to see if processes need to be reduced.

So here we go:

4. Total system wide CPU usage when adjustments should begin. This process is the one that will get you to the promised land. The number you have is good to start with as mentioned, but.... Basically, this number tells Process Lasso the overall system processor percentage at which it should begin the Probalance reduction of system noise (background processes) processor use. Keep in mind that whether the process is begun at this level also depends on the 7th setting (below) being satisfied (system CPU load must go over the specified amount of processor activity for the time in setting 7 for Probalance to be enabled)
5. Per process CPU usage when adjustment should begin. This setting has to do with individual system background processes. Process Lasso will go after single background processes if one gets out of hand. Again, just like the first setting in this area, this process depends on setting 7.
6. Per process CPU usage when adjustment should stop. For system wide, all processes are taken down to the level set in this drop down (unless they are already below it). For individual processes, the single process will be lowered to this amount
7. Time allowed over CPU quota before adjustment. This is how long the system or background process must be over the limit set in settings 4 and 5 of these settings for Probalance to be activated. This is a nice tweaker number. Just playing around a little bit, you can come up with a number that gives you nice control over your PC. It's sort of like Goldy locks. Too big, too small, just right...
8. The minimum time for an adjustment. This is the minimum amount of time the Probalance feature will keep restrained processes at the level set in setting 6 above. The longer, the more restraint is being placed on background processes
9. The maximum time for an adjustment. I agree with the default setting here, which is set to 0 on both of the test machines I have used. Essentially this is sort of an override for setting 8 for individual processes.

Here is how I have changed these settings on my core 2 duo PC:
1-3...as mentioned
4. default 45->my setting 38
5. default 32->my setting 31
6. default 7->my setting 5
7. default 1100->my setting 800
8. default 4200->my setting 4500
9. default 0->my setting 0

On 4-9, I don't think I am finished, but I'm really not sure. I am confident the numbers are good, but perhaps they can be improved.

As for you guys out there with a power PC. Perhaps 4-9 might interest you to see for your machine and kind of take in if nothing else. Here (above) you have a reference for the defaults for a core 2 duo. Maybe you can find reason to use PL for your general use in the comparison between your and my default settings...

In mentioning Process Lasso, I have been running across users who say it looks too complicated. It's really a great program for the times, and I hope these settings details help some with this perception.

Here is the Major Geeks download for Process Lasso for anyone interested:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Process_Lasso_d4050.html

If anyone has any tips or knowledge or advice or questions, please fire away...