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Tuning Cool'n'Quiet: Maximize Power And Performance, Part 2

Tuning Cool'n'Quiet: Maximize Power And Performance, Part 2
In Part 1, we showed you how to optimize the settings of your Cool'n'Quiet-equipped processor and what sort of power benefits you could expect as a result. Now it's time to run the benchmarks and see how our optimized settings actually perform. Read More

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AMD: We Turn Bad PCs into Super PCs!

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1:10 PM - September 18, 2008 by Marcus Yam

The first bit of “Fusion” that AMD is releasing today is an in-house designed software utility that was described to us as being able to “turn a mainstream PC into a lean, mean gaming machine.”

Essentially, this Fusion Gaming tool is a utility that automates many of the tweaks that hardcore enthusiasts carry out in order to free up system resources for the purpose of maximizing gaming performance. The utility works by temporarily disabling background services and processes, freeing up memory and CPU cycles in an effort to make games run more smoothly.

AMD demonstrated the application to us clicking the gigantic “Fusion” button on a Windows Vista desktop, which immediately shut down usually active applications such as Skype, Google Talk, as well as many other background services. The utility will not, however, override any applications that have a shutdown or save dialog, meaning that clicking the button will still allow Microsoft Word to prompt if you wish to save before closing.

This utility would be of great use to those who use shared computers, whose family members may have installed many unwanted, useless programs that clog up the system. Those with prebuilt machines with preloaded bloatware may also find that the Fusion button does wonders to free up system resources. AMD told us that the software is careful not to disable any crucial services that might make the system unstable, but does carry with it a disclaimer that it may disable security and antivirus software – though the utility setting does allow for custom settings so that the user may fine tune to his or her liking.

Besides just reducing system overhead, the Fusion tool also helps to boost performance by incorporating other tweaking tools, such as Auto-Tune for both CPU and ATI GPU, overclocking with AMD Overdrive. AMD also introduced a “Hard Drive Acceleration” setting, which enables the SATA mode of performance over quiet.

The AMD Phenom X4 9550 Black Edition processor used as part of the demo went from a stock 2.6 GHz to 2.8 GHz, which is a conservative and safe measure for mainstream users. Those wanting to go a bit more hardcore can set more aggressive settings.

The enthusiast user, however, likely won’t find as many advantages in using the tuning utility. The extreme PC gamer will already run a tight ship with tweaked settings and a lean OS free of excess processes.

While not being marketed as such, the tuning tool may also be applied in the other applications when pure speed isn’t the main goal. AMD said that users can set up profiles where the goal is to achieve low power consumption or decreased noise output for applications such as a home theater PC.

Regardless, the AMD Fusion tool makes isolating the full power of the system easier than ever, and is the first demonstration of the chipmaker’s new company direction.

Those with AMD and ATI systems can download a beta version of the utility here, found on the new AMD Fusion site. Be sure to share your findings in the comments below!

Source : Tom's Hardware

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RADIO_ACTIVE 09/18/2008 7:38 PM
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Sounds good for people that are not familiar with OCing or there system utilities and such.

NuclearShadow 09/18/2008 7:50 PM
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I'll give it a try right now. May be a good option for my computer illiterate family.

Anonymous 09/18/2008 7:54 PM
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-4+

This is useless to anyone savvy enough to read Toms.

NuclearShadow 09/18/2008 7:56 PM
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Well it seems like I need a AMD CPU just to get it running it doesn't care that I have a AMD/ATI videocard. I wonder if this means it won't work with a AMD CPU and a Nvidia videocard... If they expect people to go 100% AMD products and for this software to become popular than they are out of their minds.

nezuko 09/18/2008 8:13 PM
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-6+

LOL, just the word fusion means you must use all AMD brand in order to use this software, and read those sentence: Fusion is a new brand campaign that AMD hopes to promote a combination of technologies, both with CPU, GPU and software tools. Means that if you want to use Fusion then you should use CPU from AMD, GPU from AMD, and Software from AMD, in this case the software is Fusion Driver Utility itself.

NuclearShadow 09/18/2008 8:29 PM
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kcherdch 09/18/2008 8:45 PM
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-3+

Well first off, it doesn't support vista x64 yet so I can't really test it.

eklipz330 09/18/2008 8:46 PM
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-6+

this actually sounds really great for those computers that are completely filled with bloatware

Anonymous 09/18/2008 8:52 PM
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I think it's cool for those who don't care about OC'ing or those who don't know how. It doesn't really bother me that it only does it's stuff with AMD CPUs and GPUs... They should have to test and develope for the competition. It seems like a brand-loyalty feature. You don't have to use this software to get the end result, but it's a little benefit for purchasing AMD/ATI hardware. I, for one, am just glad to see AMD trying to push outward in so many areas. They haven't been able to keep up with intel's performance-per-clock since the unveiling of the core-2-duos, so they're trying to make up for it in other ways in the meantime. I think they're on the right track. Keep up the innovation AMD.

dagger 09/18/2008 9:00 PM
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kidswithguns 09/18/2008 9:18 PM
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Quote :The AMD Phenom X4 9550 Black Edition processor used as part of the demo went from a stock 2.6 GHz to 2.8 GHz, which is a conservative and safe measure for mainstream users. Those wanting to go a bit more hardcore can set more aggressive settings.


There is an Phenom 9550 BLACK EDITION @ 2.6GHz?

GlItCh017 09/18/2008 9:34 PM
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kidswithguns :



I think they mean 9950 but one number can make such a difference...Oh TH you so silly!

GlItCh017 09/18/2008 9:37 PM
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Apparently I can't quote kidswithguns >_>

Area51 09/18/2008 9:39 PM
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Anonymous 09/18/2008 9:57 PM
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OK. HAVE ANYONE OF YOU TRIED IT?
IT'S PRETTY COOL. lET'S SAY YOU HAVE A BRANDED LAPTOP WITH INTEGRATED ATI X 1XXX(250 OR 300 OR WHATEVER). There is almost no possibility to overclock it whatsover. Even for gurus the crash will happen.
On the other hand press that fusion button and see what happens.
It's pretty OK.

Area51 09/18/2008 9:57 PM
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Area51 09/18/2008 9:59 PM
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armistitiu 09/18/2008 10:27 PM
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You don't have to brag about it C2D guy. It's just an application for the new brand 'Fusion' . just wait until the real thing comes out. I guess AMD fanboys will have the last laugh then.

Anonymous 09/18/2008 10:29 PM
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godmode 09/18/2008 11:19 PM
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i really hope the real fusion processor is still coming out in 09........

otherwise...WTF AMD!?

godmode 09/18/2008 11:27 PM
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i can get XP down to 12-13 processes at best for my gaming PC. Vista down to about 23-24, and thats on an HTPC. if i was to put vista on the gaming PC then i'm sure i can it down to about 20. can fusion do better? maybe, i need test that.

this fusion software sounds like a good idea but i still what to see the fusion processor.

goonting 09/18/2008 11:52 PM
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it makes thing simple in one click

falchard 09/19/2008 1:27 AM
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I personally like it. I don't use my machine fully as a Gaming PC so its nice to turn all that worthless crap off when I am in a game, then turn it back on when I am off without doing anything too complicated. Plus its free and not some $29.99 type deal. It not like many of us go AMD for Quad Core anyway right now, we go with them for the cheapness of the Dual Cores, so having something that frees performance can be nice.

inglburt 09/19/2008 1:44 AM
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I like the idea of it turning off all the unneeded background programs. Not that I don't know how, but for one, it can be somewhat of a pain, and 2, I don't always know what should be left running in Vista. Especially if I can just activate it and deactivate it whenever. Of course I will expect some issues with the first version or two.

shadyi 09/19/2008 1:46 AM
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It won't install, it says it doesn't support my version of windows (Vista x64 Ultimate)

modtech 09/19/2008 1:53 AM
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Sure you can tweak stuff by hand but as someone already mentioned this is just a once click effort. It can restore everything back in one click and reload the profile at your fingertips.

adamk890 09/19/2008 2:05 AM
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Sounds cool to me. I think they will eventually adapt it to support Nvidia cards to but for the moment good job AMD you have finally put together processor related that im really happy about!

adamk890 09/19/2008 2:06 AM
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Only flaw in there ideology is that any one who cant proform these tweaks probably wont notice the change in what they do.

ZootyGray 09/19/2008 2:13 AM
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I have spent hours doing tweak experiments in the past. This sounds like a nice alternative.

It seems the spintel antitrust supporters are pretty scared since every time AMD does anything they feel compelled to call it down. AMD is doing a lot more than you know. You disruptors will have lots to whine about soon. And you can start with nihilim - as soon as it falls on it's face. Just watch - ($$$$ flop). but u will find a way to justify it. especially with all the rigged benchies hahaha. dig deep. support an7i7rus7. you live in the world you create. the spintel marketing machine owns your thinking.

I am an AMD fanboy for ethical and personal reasons.

roofus 09/19/2008 3:47 AM
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armistitiu :
You don't have to brag about it C2D guy. It's just an application for the new brand 'Fusion' . just wait until the real thing comes out. I guess AMD fanboys will have the last laugh then.



lol...unless this is really what they meant.

Pei-chen 09/19/2008 4:09 AM
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