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Software Vault: The Gold Collection
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WINTIP.TXT
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1993-05-30
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Win Tips
by Dave Dryer
Background
An Operating system is a collection of tasks that manage the
resources of a computer. One of the most important of those
resources is time. In a multitasking operating system like windows,
many tasks can run concurrently.
For Computers, the word concurrent means "appears to be happening at
the same time." A PC with only one processor can only do one task at
a time. However, if windows divides computer time into small enough
slices, many tasks can get a slice of computer time often enough to
fool the user into thinking all the tasks are running all the time.
In the windows 386 Enhanced mode, the time slice is measured in
milliseconds. When windows installs, the slice is set to 20
milliseconds. This default value was chosen because it works well
on all machines that windows must run on.
Tuning the time slice length improves overall windows performance.
WinTip:
In windows, under the program manager, double click on the icon for
the group called "Main." In this group, double click on the icon
for "386 Enhanced." Set the minimum time slice based on the
following rule of thumb:
Processor
cpu speed (MHz) time slice
386 less than 25 18
386 25 or more 15
486 25 or less 12
486 more than 25 10
This will improve the throughput of windows on your machine.
Note: If the time slice is too small, performance goes down. If the
time slice is too large, performance suffers. While the numbers
suggested are not absolute, they are a better choice than the
generic, handles-the-worst-case default that windows installs. The
best number depends on many variables including RAM speed size of
RAM cache, and even the programs being run. Trial and error is the
only way to find that elusive personal best for a pc.