Unleashing true speed of Windows XP?

[webstop]

Just read an article that if F5 is pressed during a very early stage of a clean XP Pro or Home installation from the CD, it brings up a window allowing to choose the processor type. If i486 processor option is chosen, the system will turn the infamous CPUID module off, and after installation it will think that this particular box has a very old processor. As a result Windows will try to help to "speed up" the system, which will run much faster, even on modern processor.
Unfortunately there were no test results on this website to verify that claim, and I myself do not use XP.
Any comments?
Anyone is willing to try?

 

[vestast]

I dono't know if it could make your PC faster or not but here is the how to from MS:


(How to force a Hardware Abstraction Layer)


Force in a system HAL
To prevent Windows XP from automatically determining the system HAL during the upgrade or the installation of Windows XP, you can manually force in a system HAL. To force in a system Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) during an upgrade or installation of Windows XP, follow these steps:
During the Text-mode phase of the Setup program, when you receive the following message across the bottom of the screen, press F5:

Press F6 if you have to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver.
Note If you press F7, the Standard PC HAL loads and the ACPI compliance check is bypassed.
You receive the following list of computer types. A brief description of each HAL is included here:
ACPI Multiprocessor PC
Applies to a multiple-processor ACPI computer.
ACPI Uniprocessor PC
Applies to an ACPI multiple-processor board but with a single processor installed.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
Applies to a single processor motherboard with single processor.
Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor or 100% Compatible
Applies to a Compaq SystemPro computer.
MPS Uniprocessor PC
Applies to non-ACPI computers dual processor motherboard with a single processor installed.
MPS Multiprocessor PC
Applies to non-ACPI computers with a dual processor running.
Standard PC
Applies to any Standard PC, non-ACPI, or non-MPS. The CPU may be a 386, a 486, a Pentium, a Pentium II, or a Pentium III.
Standard PC with C-Step i486
Other


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;299340

 

[webstop]

So the question remains: how does choosing old processor optimisation effects the overall speed of performance?

 

[Sangram]

Where did you read this? I might try it on a new install...

 

[Ed Dixon]

I have doubts that this will do anything good. Having been a Microsoft beta tester for about 10 years has shown that trying to beat MS software at it's own game is usually a losing approach.

Ed

 

[vestast]

Well again I don't know if it will make it any faster, but I do know one member on this board that used it to reinstall his PC as a Standard PC at the advice of Tascam as he was having issues with the fw-1884. It worked for him...

 

[muskgrave]

I'm getting flashbacks about all the "codes" and "tricks" that would allow you to play as shen long in street fighter 2

 

[webstop]

Sangram,
I can give you the link, but that article was not in English
If you ever go for the test, please let us know the results.

Ed,
Usually it is like you say, but every once in a while we all hear about "easter eggs" and undocumented features...

vestast,
Standard PC and Standard PC with C-Step i486 are two different settings in the HAL menu. Standard PC can be chosen for any processor and we all know what this option does to your system settings as compared to ACPI PC option. I run Standard PC HAL of Windows 2000 on my music box, which allows me to set IRQs the way I want.

To make it clear, I am as suspicious about that claim as you are, and until somebody tries it, we won't know for sure. Nevertheless, there may be some merit to it.
First, we all remember the buzz around MS introduction of CPUID and new authorization scheme couple years ago. It was suspected back then that the CPUID was intended not only to read the unique serial number of the processor, but also to tell the system, what kind of a processor it had.
This leads to the second question: for what purpose? What exactly is the difference in the system's behaviour in case of different processors?
Third, take a look at this picture: http://www.jelezka.ru/images/uploads/i486.jpg This seems to be some kind of SP1 installation menu. Notice two menu choices only: Standard PC with C-Step i486 and everything else. According to MS this choice depends on the availability of device drivers disk. Isn't that strange? What do drivers have to do with the processor type? What if I have modern processor but want default XP drivers installed?

I have an old PIII box, which could be used for test installations, but no XP. How soon will we hear from you, Sang?

 

[Sangram]

It'll take a bit of time I'm afraid. Even though one of my installs is acting very badly, I can do nothing about it for atleast a couple of weeks. I don't get home before 1 am and that is likely to become 3 am for the next few weeks, and no weekends either.

But I will try it, maybe an email would help prod things froward a bit.

Sang

 

[Sangram]

Whoever was praying for me to try it out, your prayers worked.

After formatting the wrong c: drive (cleanly wiping out my entire working, perfectly set up audio installation) and having to install twice instead of once, I finished the installs in i-step486 mode, and let me tell you
















there is no difference. Yes it does seem a little faster, but I guess that's psychological, and since the registry is a lot cleaner, it's a fresh install, not a ghosted image, on a cleanly formatted disk, etc, not because it is installed in a different HAL. I'm not in the mood to run benchmarks and since I'm on a pretty fast system (Athlon 2600+@200 FSB, 1 GB RAM, 600 GB of hard disks) in the first place I'm not messing around more. But the upside is it hasn't borked the system. Yet. So I guess that's thumbs up for the HAL.

the i-step 486 HAL is mainly for laptops, AFAIK? And my ACPI is disabled from BIOS itself. Google has turned out zero results.

 

[Sangram]

Nevermind, I found the link. Or something like it.

Here is the text, using babelfish or Google translators.

**Begin quote**
The next way to force to work WindowsXP is found out faster!

The given way concerns versions PROF and HOME. The matter is that code XP was
It is optimized (in late versions of assembly) for work with slow machines.
Håâåðîÿòíî, but this optimization is by default switched off. At inclusion of an option of optimization rather appreciable gain in speed of work of system - from 25 up to 175 % is felt. The essence of optimization will consist in the following:
That the sense to buy " krutejshie ïýíòèóìû4 " companies Intel © was and Microsoft © have come to an agreement - in a code of operational system Windows, since the version 98se, check CPUID and if came to light was built, that by the machine the processor is established " old and ailing ", the system began is artificial to brake work. Hè for whom not a secret, that it is possible to carry out the majority of problems and on Pentium-I-133. It is enough to recollect old kind demos which were looked not worse present graphic monsters, but have gone on 486 processor. Really, even on Z-80 the processor it was possible to make something reminding present shejdery, to lose ÌÐ3, etc.

So, how to force to work system on full capacity?

The given operation is possible only on WindowsXP for only here programmers have taken care of an opportunity of switching-off of check CPUID. For this purpose follows right at the beginning of installation WindowsXP when on the screen burns an inscription " check of the equipment " on a black background, to press F5 and from the offered list of processors to choose i486 and to continue installation. (In the original of given clause it is told nothing about formatting a hard disk, but at us at testing a way
It has turned out to achieve the necessary result only at installation on pure section.)

The additive from this number of thanks Filippych
How to choose the necessary version of a nucleus and HAL even at installation?
Right at the beginning of a text stage of installation XP at occurrence of the message " Setup is inspecting your computer's hardware configuration " press and keep a key "F5". In the list which has appeared on the screen of versions of libraries HAL choose the version corresponding to your computer, or choose a position "Other" to specify a file of library from the manufacturer of the equipment. Then continue installation Windows. The following versions of library HAL are included in delivery XP:

ACPI Multiprocessor PC - for ACPI-systems with several processors.
ACPI Uniprocessor PC - it is used for ACPI-systems with a multiprocessing system payment and one established processor.
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC - it is used for uniprocessor ACPI-systems.
MPS Uniprocessor PC - for systems without support ACPI, with a multiprocessing system payment and one established processor.
MPS Multiprocessor PC - for multiprocessing systems without support.
ACPI Compaq SystemPro Multiprocessor or 100 % compatible - for computers Compaq SystemPro or completely compatible with them.
Standard PC - it is used for any standard computer, not multiprocessing and without support ACPI.
Standart PC with C-Step i486 - it is used for computers with support of this technology.

Results of testing of system on the basis of processor AMD ATHLON XP 2500 + (256k
Cache) + mb Soltek 75-FRN2 (nF2u400) + 256mb DDR PC3200 + ATI Radeon9600 + HDD IBM
Deskstar 40gb 7200rpm.


CPUID ON CPUID vykl.

3D MARK 2001se 9896 13254
3D MARK 2003 2879 4245
AusCPUbench ' 03 11025 16811


Enough an amazing difference in the most popular tests for today.

Computers with support of this technology.


As it nadybalos in an Internet smorite also operate at own risk
!!!! Rules of this branch!!!!
1. Describe a config of iron and what Windows it was put!
2. Whether are available servispaki and what!
3. If experience suffices have noticed you a difference in zapushchenyh services!
Closely read dependence on type protsa has come to light!!!
__________________________________________________
______________________________________________

Has just checked up!
Is such punktik!
It is necessary to press at loading from CD right at the beginning F5 and to choose standart procesor I486.
__________________
Behind the tank the easy loop of pollen ? lasted


__________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
__
Yes, really, the greatest secret microsoft, arisen since times of the first Pentium is open. Instruction CPUID (hex 0fa2) is used, at presence in register EAX - 1, the coded information on a stone is given to it. By the way, this opportunity has appeared still in I486, with the following values
Bats 8...11 4...7
0100 0001 i486DX
0100 0010 i486SX
0101 0010 P-75
........
And the opportunity has appeared not casually, and practically simultaneously with output Windows 95, for what? There is OS can operate a chipset at level BIOSà with help ACPI, in the first versions of WINDOWS (95 and etc.) this interaction was carried out very much is limited, but try to disconnect in 98-th management ACPI and 100 % of a guarantee, that the AXIS will work awfully crookedly. Further - it is more, high-grade management the BIOCATFISH is built - in in NT a nucleus, and under the kind agreement with OEM-COLLECTORS the opportunity of installation of operational system with a choice of a nucleus has been entered, that in a normal kind was absent in W95-98-Me owing to their applicability first of all for systems of a SOHO-class, corporate users felt all power Windows, From here and such different estimations of a product from BG. Anybody for some reason did not have questions and concerning PR-a rating, and in fact it has appeared for the reason that the Windows should know precisely model of the processor, but communication with a monopolist - Intel did not give an opportunity directly to work with other manufacturers, AMD has tried to break a vicious circle with an output of processors of a series To 6-II and To 6-III, punishment has comprehended inevitably - as infinite problems with start of many seryoznyh programs. By the way Xeon the ID-code (!), and the truth does not give, what for to brake servers, from here frequently there are its inaccessible for other types of processors results.

**End Quote**

I cannot trust the benchmark numbers, seems too fantastic for me. 30%+ in 3DM03 is unbelieveable, but now I'll have to bench myself and see the results. Meanwhile, a good translation would help a lot.

 

[webstop]

Sangram,
Thanks for taking trouble to test it out, and sorry for your wiping out a good partition. I feel somewhat responsible for that
At the website that I have found this article few days ago there are now a lot of comments from the readers, which can be split like this:
- 60% completely dismiss this possibility. Typical comment - Crap. Can't be true. Don't waste your time.
- 20% tried but noticed no performance improvement. Most of those use modern processors.
- 20% tried and noted noticeable improvement. Most of those use old processors.
So I guess it didn't turn out to be the biggest hidden secret of Microsoft of all times. At the same time XP has some viable old processors optimization option, which deserves a closer look.