Sep 22, 2020
In this article we explain how to alter system performance while solving in GeoStudio.
Before You Start
- The GeoStudio System Requirements article outlines some considerations for optimal performance.
- Read this first to see if there are any factors that may be affecting the specific type of analysis you are trying to solve.
- The steps listed involve actions that require full administrator access to the computer.
- This article assumes the host operating system is Windows 10.
Altering System Performance
- By default, the priority of the solving processes are lowered below the priority of the user interface (UI) processes.
- This allows the UI to remain responsive during solves.
- If your responsiveness is being hampered by solving, there are some options available to you to limit the number of cores used for solving.
Manually Set Processor Affinity
- On the 'Windows Taskbar', click on the 'Start' button (shortcut: Windows logo key or Ctrl + Esc).
- Open the 'Windows System' folder.
- Click on 'Run'.
- Enter the following command to start the 'Task Manager':
taskmgr
- If there's a 'More details' button, press it.
- Select the 'Details' tab.
- In GeoStudio, start solving your analysis.
- Back in 'Task Manager', look for 'SolveServer.exe'.
- Right-click on 'SolveServer.exe' and select 'Set affinity'.
- Select the number of CPU's you want to dedicate to this process.
- Click on 'OK' when finished and close 'Task Manager'.
Manual Thread Management
- The environment variable 'OMP_NUM_THREADS' will specify the initial number of threads assigned to a multi-threaded block of processing.
- GeoStudio will launch n simultaneous solves and within those solves, launch n threads.
- By raising or lowering the number assigned to 'OMP_NUM_THREADS', you can increase or decrease the number of threads assigned rather than have GeoStudio manage thread assignment.
- For example, setting 'OMP_NUM_THREADS' to 3 means that for each solve, 3 threads are launched.
- So if 3 solves are launched in parallel, you would have a total of 9 threads being used.
- Be aware that using the 'OMP_NUM_THREADS' environment variable will affect all other applications running on the computer.
To set the 'OMP_NUM_THREADS' environment variable:
- On the 'Windows Taskbar', click on the 'Start' button (shortcut: Windows logo key or Ctrl + Esc).
- Open the 'Windows System' folder.
- Launch the 'Control Panel' application.
- Click on 'System and Security'.
- Click on 'System'.
- Choose 'Advanced system settings' from the pane on the left.
- Click on the 'Environment Variables...' button.
- Click 'New...' to add a new System variable.
- Set the variable name to:
OMP_NUM_THREADS
and the variable value to whatever number you deem appropriate. - Click on 'OK' when finished.
- Launch or re-start GeoStudio and begin solving.