Multicore processors (MORE 2 cores)

[Anonymous]

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

[Shrestl]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[Shrestl]

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

[dan908]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Shrestl]

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'.

[dan908]

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.

[Anonymous]

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

[Shrestl · Accepted solution]

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.

[Anonymous]

Yes

Thank you

[Tiggz1]

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?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

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 -

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

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 -

[dan908]

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.

[dgorsman]

---

@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.

[AllenJessup]

@Shrestl 

Is there any documentation on GSTHREADING?

[Shrestl]

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

[AllenJessup]

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) 

[dan908]

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).