topic Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores) in AutoCAD Forum

Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:22:23 GMT

Hi, I'd like to know if you're going to optimize AutoCAD with multicore processors to use all available resources because AutoCAD is a poor performer when it comes to using the computing power provided by modern processors (example: Double Intel Xeon Quad core = 16 logical processors) while most cheaper pro software do better.

Thank you

Sebastien

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Shrestl — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:38:15 GMT

Welcome to the Autodesk Community, and thank you for posting your question here in the AutoCAD forum!

AutoCAD supports multi-core technology only in specific areas of the product and typically set to only using 2 of the processors. It uses 100% of the resources of a single-core processor and uses a maximum of 50% of the CPU for that same operation on a dual-core computer, and only 6% of each CPU on a 16-core computer.

With that said if you use the command WHIPTHREAD which by default set to 1 which is 'Regeneration multithreaded processing only; regeneration processing is distributed across two processors on a multiprocessor machine' selection. You can change the setting to 2 or 3 if you want.

Just remember, when multithreaded processing is used for redraw operations (value 2 or 3), the order of objects specified with the DRAWORDER command is not guaranteed to be preserved for display, but is preserved for plotting.

For more on this please look at the knowledge articles:

WHIPTHREAD (System Variable)

Support for multi-core processors with AutoCAD / AutoCAD for Mac

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 15:56:37 GMT

I am familiar with the WHIPTHREAD command, but today there are no longer mono-core processors and use 2 hearts only it is very little, we are in 2019, I expect better performance of a pro software of this price. The majority of processors aim for massively multi-threaded use with a lower clock rate. Open source software uses all the available cores for exceptional performance. Will Autodesk follow or not?

Thank you

Sebastien

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Shrestl — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 16:08:07 GMT

A good question Sabastian I am going to add @VinodBalasubramanian in to answer this for you.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

dan908 — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 16:30:12 GMT

Hello,

AutoCAD takes advantage of multi-core where there is a benefit. But, for the most part, splitting apart a pan operation or zoom operation would not make it faster. Hatch takes advantage of multi-threading, most 3d operations take advantage, but a lot of things are slowed down by it. We do push those operations out to the GPU for better performance in graphics regen and display so having a fast video card will benefit you.

We do continue to research areas where multi-threading makes sense also. I know in the update for 2020 there is a setting GSTHREADING that you can change to 0 if you want to see some of the newest improvements (but please note that you may also see some errors in some AutoCAD products turning it on). If you want to check out the latest threading improvements (and this is mainly 3d) try it out for a few hours and feel free to provide feedback here.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 17:24:38 GMT

Hello,

Unknown command "GSTHREADING". Press F1 for help.

I am on AutoCAD 2020, this command does not seem to exist.

I started using AutoCAD from version 14, then 2000, 2000i, and so on. and AutoCAD is getting slower from one version to another. I have a dual Intel Xeon E5520 2.26GHz quad core, 12GB DDR3 ECC RAM memory and a Nvidia Quadro NVS 420 graphics card (it's a Dell Precision certified for Autodesk products when it's purchased) that is powerful for all my applications except AutoCAD. AutoCAD 2018 is ok, 2019 is slower and with 2020 even slower.

Sebastien

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Shrestl — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 17:34:32 GMT

That might be because of a few things:

How old are your user settings? Some settings older than 2018 seem to not play nice with the new way AutoCAD runs. So if you are running 2017+ settings they were created in a different file format than 2018+.
Are your files located not on your C drive? If they are not in the default search paths under options than I would suggest you add those search paths by going to Options>Supported File Search Path>Add and then Browse to where the files you work in are saved.
I would also suggest you check your GRAPHICSCONFIG and make sure you are pointed at the right graphics card and that it is up to date. If its using a lower ended graphics card than close AutoCAD and right click on the AutoCAD icon and select 'Run on higher end graphics card'.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

dan908 — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 17:43:09 GMT

The GSTHREADING setting is only available with the Update 1 for 2020. You can download it from your manage.autodesk.com account. It is off by default because it is still a newer item that we are testing out, but it sounds like you are interested in it so I wanted to get you the latest on it. But, yes, so new it is only available in the update that came out in early August.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 18:04:24 GMT

I use a clean install AutoCAD 2020 with a clean install Windows 10 pro.

"""If its using a lower ended graphics card than close AutoCAD and right click on the AutoCAD icon and select 'Run on higher end graphics card'.""" I don't have this option on my Windows 10

My computer is old but still very powerful for all other applications, I think it's all the programming AutoCAD is to review and reinvent. The early version of the early 2000s was much faster. Now I am obliged to choose a computer with the only criterion a processor with a very high frequency, 3.5GHz to 4GHz see 5 GHz ditto for the graphics card because from year to year AutoCAD become more and more heavy (Bloatware ).

Sebastien

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Shrestl — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 18:44:35 GMT

Would you like me to escalate your issue into a case so we can do a deeper dive into your issue you are experiencing? I would be more than happy to.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 19:25:33 GMT

Yes

Thank you

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Tiggz1 — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:11:48 GMT

Interesting comment 'How old are your user settings?'

I typically migrate settings from one release to the next.

How can we clean up the older migrated settings? Or do we need to do a new install without migrating settings from older versions?

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Alfred.NESWADBA — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:27:38 GMT

Hi,

>> I know in the update for 2020 there is a setting GSTHREADING that

>> you can change to 0 if you want to see some of the newest improvements

>> (but please note that you may also see some errors in some AutoCAD

>> products turning it on)

Changing to 0 may show errors? Then please do not use that as default as my AutoCAD has that variable set to 0

- alfred -

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Alfred.NESWADBA — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:29:14 GMT

Hi,

>> WHIPTHREAD [...]

>> You can change the setting to 2 or 3 if you want.

Values 2 and 3 are defined as obsolete in the help >>>click<<<

Where is the mistake?

- alfred -

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

dan908 — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 21:47:02 GMT

Sorry, yes, typo. 0 off and 1 on. Default off. The impact right now is mainly if you have Advance Steel objects in your drawing. But, for now it is usable for testing out only.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

dgorsman — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 05:45:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

I use a clean install AutoCAD 2020 with a clean install Windows 10 pro.

"""If its using a lower ended graphics card than close AutoCAD and right click on the AutoCAD icon and select 'Run on higher end graphics card'.""" I don't have this option on my Windows 10

My computer is old but still very powerful for all other applications, I think it's all the programming AutoCAD is to review and reinvent. The early version of the early 2000s was much faster. Now I am obliged to choose a computer with the only criterion a processor with a very high frequency, 3.5GHz to 4GHz see 5 GHz ditto for the graphics card because from year to year AutoCAD become more and more heavy (Bloatware ).

Sebastien

What other software are you comparingbto?

For reference, I haven't seen a slowdown over multiple versions, despite doing more with each.

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

AllenJessup — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 15:06:54 GMT

@Shrestl

Is there any documentation on GSTHREADING?

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

Shrestl — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 15:12:02 GMT

There are two knowledge articles that I know on this:

Multithreading and multiprocessor capabilities in AutoCAD

Support for multi-core processors with AutoCAD / AutoCAD for Mac

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

AllenJessup — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 15:23:05 GMT

Thank you. However there are no mentions of GSTHREADING in those articles. I've known of WHIPTHREAD since it was introduced. There is also:

WHIPTHREAD (System Variable)

Re: Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

dan908 — Fri, 03 Jan 2020 15:33:39 GMT

There is not documentation on GSTHREADING setting - it is currently only a testable feature. We have gotten a lot of feedback on it though and feel free to let us know if you have additional feedback (on this thread is fine).