Did default "helper threads" get changed in patch?

Sweed · 03-25-2017, 11:08 AM

I was just looking at my preferences and noticed my "helper threads" was set to 0. Pretty sure default in both OOTP 17 and beta 18 it was set to 8 on my machine. Did something change? Mistake in the update? Something weird my machine did on it's own? First time I've looked at the preference screen since updating so don't think there is any way I inadvertently I did it myself. But then again who knows?

spleen1015 · 03-25-2017, 11:12 AM

What is this setting for?

jabail · 03-25-2017, 11:15 AM

I also noticed this when I went to change the skin as soon as I installed the full game, and I am pretty sure it was set differently in the beta. So it's not just you.

spleen1015 · 03-25-2017, 11:15 AM

Just did dome searching. Wonder if this change to the default now being 0 versus 8 in ootp17 is the reason why people are seeing slower sim speeds.

Déjà Bru · 03-25-2017, 11:22 AM

I asked about this last year and got a good response from Matt and a couple of other guys:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=265727

I think spleen1015 may be onto something. I also noticed the "0" here and changed it back to "Use Recommended (8)." I have a moderately aged laptop and I have seen no difficulties yet as to sim speed.

Déjà Bru · 03-25-2017, 11:41 AM

So, reading that thread again, I believe you may want to set Helper Threads to 0 if you don't want OOTPB to take away any RAM and processing capability from other programs that you may be running at the same time.

To me, I want OOTPB to have all the help it can get because it is top priority when I am playing it. So, I give it the recommended 8 helper threads so it will run smoother and faster. That is my take-away.

So, developers perhaps should look at this in conjunction with any complaints about slow sim speed? Last year's default was the "Use Recommended (8)" IIRC.

The Yurpman · 03-25-2017, 11:56 AM

Mine also switched to "0" after downloading the full release, as compared to the beta. Had to switch it.

Matt Arnold · 03-25-2017, 12:10 PM

Damn, looks like when I snuck in the ticket price history widget that bumped some saved values around. I'd recommend verifying your settings page to make sure things are set appropriately. And yes, I would generally recommend setting the helper threads to "use recommended" and leave it there, unless if you know of a reason to do differently.

spleen1015 · 03-25-2017, 12:30 PM

The game definitely sims faster for me with this set to 8.

Sweed · 03-25-2017, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

I asked about this last year and got a good response from Matt and a couple of other guys:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=265727

I think spleen1015 may be onto something. I also noticed the "0" here and changed it back to "Use Recommended (8)." I have a moderately aged laptop and I have seen no difficulties yet as to sim speed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

So, reading that thread again, I believe you may want to set Helper Threads to 0 if you don't want OOTPB to take away any RAM and processing capability from other programs that you may be running at the same time.

To me, I want OOTPB to have all the help it can get because it is top priority when I am playing it. So, I give it the recommended 8 helper threads so it will run smoother and faster. That is my take-away.

So, developers perhaps should look at this in conjunction with any complaints about slow sim speed? Last year's default was the "Use Recommended (8)" IIRC.

I remembered that thread from last year but wanted to verify I remembered things correctly so searched for it before starting this thread. I should have linked it in the OP but just didn't occur to me

.
After reading I reset mine to 8 and posted here to make sure there wasn't a reason for the switch.

I too thought it might be related to sim times, at least for some users.

mitchkenn · 03-25-2017, 12:51 PM

i didn't even think of this when my sims started slowing down .... thanks ever so much!

Déjà Bru · 03-25-2017, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Arnold

Damn, looks like when I snuck in the ticket price history widget that bumped some saved values around. I'd recommend verifying your settings page to make sure things are set appropriately. And yes, I would generally recommend setting the helper threads to "use recommended" and leave it there, unless if you know of a reason to do differently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by spleen1015

The game definitely sims faster for me with this set to 8.

Well, thank goodness for these forums.

Royalsusedtorule · 03-25-2017, 07:46 PM

Under settings, it looks like (Use recommended) is 4. So, is everyone saying to set this up to 8? Or to set it as (Use recommended) 4?

endgame · 03-25-2017, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Royalsusedtorule

Under settings, it looks like (Use recommended) is 4. So, is everyone saying to set this up to 8? Or to set it as (Use recommended) 4?

Believe it's dependent on your system. Recommended maxes it out to a point that should, theoretically, not cause issues. You can set it higher, but if it slows down again or causes lags, etc... then returning to recommended is a good course of action.

I don't know. This is guy who gave up listening to music, other than on Pandora, because I could never get the hang of d/l iTunes materials.

Matt Arnold · 03-26-2017, 06:12 AM

Yeah, the recommended will be different for each system. Essentially, if you don't exactly know why you would want to pick something other than the recommended value, then please stick to the recommended value

03-25-2017, 11:08 AM	#1
Sweed Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Iowa Posts: 6,683	Did default "helper threads" get changed in patch? I was just looking at my preferences and noticed my "helper threads" was set to 0. Pretty sure default in both OOTP 17 and beta 18 it was set to 8 on my machine. Did something change? Mistake in the update? Something weird my machine did on it's own? First time I've looked at the preference screen since updating so don't think there is any way I inadvertently I did it myself. But then again who knows?

03-25-2017, 11:22 AM	#5
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,738	I asked about this last year and got a good response from Matt and a couple of other guys: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=265727 I think spleen1015 may be onto something. I also noticed the "0" here and changed it back to "Use Recommended (8)." I have a moderately aged laptop and I have seen no difficulties yet as to sim speed. __________________ - Bru Last edited by Déjà Bru; 03-25-2017 at 11:36 AM.

03-25-2017, 11:41 AM	#6
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,738	So, reading that thread again, I believe you may want to set Helper Threads to 0 if you don't want OOTPB to take away any RAM and processing capability from other programs that you may be running at the same time. To me, I want OOTPB to have all the help it can get because it is top priority when I am playing it. So, I give it the recommended 8 helper threads so it will run smoother and faster. That is my take-away. So, developers perhaps should look at this in conjunction with any complaints about slow sim speed? Last year's default was the "Use Recommended (8)" IIRC. __________________ - Bru

03-25-2017, 12:51 PM	#11
mitchkenn Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Oregon, not by design Posts: 2,872	i didn't even think of this when my sims started slowing down .... thanks ever so much! __________________ "This is my opening farewell " - Jackson Browne “They make a desolation and call it peace.” ― Agha Shahid Ali "Maybe she just has to sing, for the sake of the song - And who do I think that I am to decide that she's wrong." - Townes Van Zandt "I saw a young man leaning on his wooden crutch - He called out to me, 'Don't ask for so much' And a young woman leaning in her darkened door She cried out to me, 'Why not ask for more?' " - Leonard Cohen "Hello darkness, my old Friend ...." - Paul Simon Before Mays, before DiMaggio, there was Oscar Charleston. "All the lies about Babe Ruth are true." - Waite Hoyt Avatar is the late great Townes Van Zandt. rip.

03-25-2017, 11:12 AM	#2
spleen1015 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,000	What is this setting for?

03-25-2017, 11:15 AM	#3
jabail Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 45	I also noticed this when I went to change the skin as soon as I installed the full game, and I am pretty sure it was set differently in the beta. So it's not just you.

03-25-2017, 11:56 AM	#7
The Yurpman Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 320	Mine also switched to "0" after downloading the full release, as compared to the beta. Had to switch it.

03-25-2017, 12:10 PM	#8
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 15,833	Damn, looks like when I snuck in the ticket price history widget that bumped some saved values around. I'd recommend verifying your settings page to make sure things are set appropriately. And yes, I would generally recommend setting the helper threads to "use recommended" and leave it there, unless if you know of a reason to do differently.

03-25-2017, 12:30 PM	#9
spleen1015 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 6,000	The game definitely sims faster for me with this set to 8.

03-25-2017, 07:46 PM	#13
Royalsusedtorule Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Nebraska Posts: 278	Under settings, it looks like (Use recommended) is 4. So, is everyone saying to set this up to 8? Or to set it as (Use recommended) 4?

03-26-2017, 06:12 AM	#15
Matt Arnold OOTP Developer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Here and there Posts: 15,833	Yeah, the recommended will be different for each system. Essentially, if you don't exactly know why you would want to pick something other than the recommended value, then please stick to the recommended value