WM6 and Performance Tweaks? - 8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario ROM Development

Most of the recent WM6 rom chefs have been advocating making NO performance tweaks, in favor of keeping as large a RAM pool as possible. As I rarely need 30mb to run a program, I am happy to give up what I don't need if it will help get data back and forth to the SD card and so on faster. Has anyone got thoughts or data about this? I don't own a benchmarking program so I can't check it out directly. I have been making all the tweaks anyway, but does it matter?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Ed
X-Plore 1.1
IPL/SPL 3.08
GSM 2.69.11

edhaas said:
Most of the recent WM6 rom chefs have been advocating making NO performance tweaks, in favor of keeping as large a RAM pool as possible. As I rarely need 30mb to run a program, I am happy to give up what I don't need if it will help get data back and forth to the SD card and so on faster. Has anyone got thoughts or data about this? I don't own a benchmarking program so I can't check it out directly. I have been making all the tweaks anyway, but does it matter?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree completely! I'd like to see a WM6 ROM with all the performance tweaks and 8 MB page pool. I know jwzg is working on an 8MB pp ROM based on Faria's up coming Vanilla WM6 ROM.
Check out this thread for more info http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299584&page=10

Thanks for the link. I really don't understand the drive for smaller and smaller page pools either...

Some Answers!
OK, here is my contribution to the WM6 literature...
I am running battery status 1.04 beta 3 with the following settings in all tests: cpu speed 247, cpu scalar min 143, boost 278. set on wakeup, remember last speed. My base setup is as per my signature. I ran SK Tools v 3.1.1.0 in demo mode. I also removed the HKLM\init launch100 key in both cases.
All tweaks, No tweaks
Integer (moves/25us) 134.0864, 134.4001
Floating point MWIPS 3.490, 3.489
RAM Access speed index 345, 328
Draw bitmaps speed index 503, 522
Main storage (w) KB/sec 607.78, 612.14
Main storage (r) KB/sec 3670.25, 3469.23
Storage card (w) KB/sec 412.76, 423.11
Storage card (r) KB/sec 3353.71, ! 1119.13
As you can see, the major difference is in the storage card read speed. This led me to retest using only the SD card speed tweak, and no others. Surprisingly, the result was unchanged from using no tweaks! So, likely there is some interaction with the other file system tweaks that is involved. (See the wiki-WM5 performance tweaks). At some point maybe I'll try to pin it down further.
Regards,
Ed
BTW: Sorry for the poor formatting, for some reason the extra white space between columns is being suppressed in the post.

When I was using NotTooSmart's ROM, it had some performance tweaks. I don't have a benchmark prog but it was definitely much faster. I would say it's comparable to when I had it overclocked to 234-247MHz...
I believe what made the most difference was the System Cache... I lost ~10MB of RAM but the ROM was flying... Start up was scary though... I think it went <2MB w/ the progs I had...
edhaas said:
Thanks for the link. I really don't understand the drive for smaller and smaller page pools either...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of people tend to be RAM fanatics... that's probably what drove cooks to have smaller and smaller page pools... Another thing is people and numbers.. many tend to feel the bigger, the better.. High IPL/SPL, High Radio, High OS, High Storage, High RAM.. I think you get the picture.. =P

Update on tweaks
I think I'm near the max. I maxed out the file cache, and filter cache, kept the SD cache at 256 and re-ran the benchmarks. Slightly higher numbers all round, but a dramatic increase in SD card read rate, now up to 6.5 mb/sec! I would expect this would speed loading those big programs and files from the SD card, and is 6 times the "stock" speed!.
Regards,

There was a post a few weeks ago (I think) where someone did comparisons with playing with PagePools and the performance. They compared 4MB, 6MB, 8MB, and 12MB pagepools. As I recall there was very little difference between 12MB and 8MB performance. I think 6MB was the worst of the 4.
Again this was all from memory, but I just remember after reading that, I no longer was that concerned about the differenence in performance over the added extra memory available by dropping to 8MB.

Performance tweaks
Actually, in thinking about the issue, it occurs to me that the standard benchmarks we are using (SPB Tools) don't measure things that would likely be changed by a change in page pool. CPU calculations, memory access speeds, would not change by changing the page pool or buffer sizes. The only measurement which would change would be the speed of swapping programs and data in and out of memory (by suppressing the actual need to do so) or accessing the memory card. However, these things *would* impact on "real life" apparent speed of the device in activation of programs and quick response times.
Thoughts?

Forgive my obvious ignorance... This is the closest thread I have found for my search, "SD card speed tweak" so can you please help me? point me to the tweak to speed up my SD card?
thanx in advance!

Re: Speed tweaks
Sure, If you want awesome numbers on SK Tools SD read benchmark, (particularly when combined with overclocking) make these registry changes:
HKLM>Drivers>SDCARD>ClientDrivers>Class>MMC_Class:
Change BlockTransferSize to 256 decimal
HKLM>Drivers>SDCARD>ClientDrivers>Class>SDMemory_Class:
Change BlockTransferSize to 256 decimal
HKLM>System>StorageManager>FATFS:
Change CacheSize to 4096, 8192, or 16384 decimal
HKLM>System>StorageManager>Filters>freplxfilt:
Change ReplStoreCacheSize to 4096, 8192, or 16384 decimal
The larger the numbers the faster the benchmark. However, some of the other benchmarks run slighly slower, and I'm not sure I see significant "real life" improvements in responsiveness. I'd be interested in your impressions. One thing to watch out for, particularly when using the 16384 settings, is that available memory can drop to "dangerously" low levels on start up from soft reboot. If you're using batterystatus you can monitor this. As long as you stay above 2mg or so at the minimum you're ok, as the situation resolves after the start up routines finish. If you do go below, I've had the screen blank temporarily and hang for a moment, but it eventually booted fine anyway.
Have fun!

Thank you for your prompt and courteous answer!! I am still learning this PocketPC stuff. Someday I hope to be able to contribute. It already seems faster!

email tweaks
is there anyway to make my pics in emails auto download?
(instead of having to click "download pics" every time...)
and to create shortcuts to my text messages and other applications, how can i do that?

b.mann said:
is there anyway to make my pics in emails auto download?
(instead of having to click "download pics" every time...)
and to create shortcuts to my text messages and other applications, how can i do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This question is slightly offtopic, but I'll answer you anyways.
Go to the email account you want to change:
Menu/Tools/Options/Choose The Account (it will take you into email setup):
Next/Next/Next/Options/Next/Next/Download size limit (drop down menu - choose what you want)/Finish

Hi,
I saw the benchmarking results that you guys posted and the difference between "with tweaks" and "without tweaks". The numbers sure show a difference with the benchmarking results but what i'd like to ask and what i'd really like to know is - have you noticed a significant difference in actual/real life performance on ur wizard? Was it obviously faster?
I mean, for me and IMHO, i'm not much of a fan of "benchmark" results and all that unless I actually see a "real" difference in speed when i use my PPC. I don't think i'll go for the performance tweaks if i'll loose 10+MB of RAM and am only able to see "benchmark" results being better instead of overall actual performance. That's why i'd like to get ur inputs on this whole performance tweaks thing...is there a noticeable difference in speed? (not just benchmark data)

WM 6.1 Tweaks
Hi,
Even the thread is quite old,
after some time of using WM6 and 6.1 and test meny mor etweaks, there I post some of them who i found usefull.
TKS to all contributors form xda or another.
1. Stop 3G services: settings\phone\ HSDPA must be disabled; RAT set to GSM; the internt still accesible trought GPRS for the most operators
Result in: less batery consumption 1-2 days stdby increase to 3-4 days
reduce blockings and wake-up problems
2. Disable Power management for SD card: use poket toolman or others and uncheck Enable Power Mgmt for SD card; or use regedit and change to
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Drivers\SDCARD\ClientDrivers\Class\SDMemory_Class]
“DisablePowerManagement“=dword:00000001
Other option:
Change reg into
[HKLM\System\StorageManager]
“PNPUnloadDelay“=dword:8196
[HKLM\System\StorageManager]
“PNPWaitIODelay“=dword:8196
Note that the 8196 should be entered as a DECIMAL value. The HEXADECIMAL (HEX) equivalent is 0×00002004.
Result in: Less blocking and sd diseaparing fix or slow upload sd when wake-up
More consumption on batery, about 10% more, but with tweak 1 still OK
3. Uncheck today timeout: settings\items\ uncheck Today timeout
Result in: less delay when a phone call income o r standby resume
4. Try to instal the alarm programs and sounds files direct into main memory instead of SD; to avoid sd blocking when standby resume
5. Install .NET Compact Framework 3.5 (last vers) to your device, as:
1. Download .NET Compact Framework 3.5 from Microsoft and save it on your PC.
2. Run the downloaded MSI file and let it install.
3. Connect your device to Activesync/Windows Mobile Device Center and finish the automatically launched installation on your device.
4. Soft reset your device.
5. Open a Registry editor and navigate to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\.NETCompactFramework where you will see two entries for the (now two) existing version references: the old one, which came with your device and the new one you just installed.
6. Change the DWord value of 3.5.7283.00 from 0 to 1 (thus enabling it) and all the other values (i.e.: 2.0.7045.00) from 1 to 0 (thus disabling it/them).
7. Soft reset your device.
Result in: shorter time (gain 0.5 sec) to navigate trough windows menus and buttons actions.
6. Activate lock applet on today menu; Without this function when the phone is in stand-by and a call income the phone delay has about 8-10s to wake-up.
Result in: the wake-up on call is shorter (gain 4-5 sec) than without this lock checked in today settings; somehow WM use this library to pass trowght to wake up.
7. Speed-up the SD card read; tks to edhaas contributor from xda-developers.
Action: increase some SD cache into registry:
a) HKLM>Drivers>SDCARD>ClientDrivers>Class>MMC_Class:
Change BlockTransferSize to 256 decimal
b) HKLM>Drivers>SDCARD>ClientDrivers>Class>SDMemory_Class:
Change BlockTransferSize to 256 decimal
c) HKLM>System>StorageManager>FATFS:
Change CacheSize to 4096, 8192, or 16384 decimal
d) HKLM>System>StorageManager>Filters>freplxfilt:
Change ReplStoreCacheSize to 4096, 8192, or 16384 decimal (16384 is dangeours high, some blank screen at startup)
a), b) settings are regulary set by default to 256; c), d) is by default to 0, so change-it and see if gain some perf.
All of them has tested and works fine.
Apply and now I found my i-mate ultimate 6150 OK, instead of first phone impression when I blame-it.

Related

Set application/thread/process priority to processor? (WM5)

hi everyone,
is it possible to set the process or thread or application priority to the processor to enhance its performance? is there any tool that can accomplish that? there is one for PC!
when i play a game and have an audio playing in the background, i noticed that the game performance becomes sluggish and sometimes unplayable, but some games let you set the level of priority that they have to the processor. i noticed that if i give the game the highest priority, its performance becomes excellent without impacting the audio...it also depends on the audio player and the game that's being run.
anyhow, is there a system tool that'll let me assign priority for those applications that don't explicitly offer this feature?
thanks,
There is not way you describe like for a Computer.
But you can consider install PocketHackMaster or CpuOverclock and assign a higher Turbo frequency for a definded application or game.
If you get a crackled audio in games this is setted by low-priority audio into the registry,install GB Soft Tweak-Higher priority for audio media,will solve this problem.
You can consider install big games into Program memory-RAM as they load much faster.
You can increase the amount of Cache of your Windows Mobile 5 performance up to 20 percent by
[HKLM\System\StorageManager\FATFS] CacheSize = 4096 EnableCache = 1 [HKLM\System\StorageManager\Filters\fsreplxfilt] ReplStoreCacheSize = 4096 * Soft reset for changes to take effect. Default values for all keys are 0
or search for GlyphCache if you are using Win2003-SE
Good Luck!
unapproachable2kx,
thanks for the information and help. unfortunately, pocket hack master is not compatible with my WM5 HTC Wizard. As for CpuOverClock, i couldn't find it on the web. do you have a direct link?
i don't have an isolated crackled audio problem; the whole game, including the animations, stutters, so i don't think GB Soft-Tweak is of use to me.
i don't want to install games on my Main Memory as i don't have enough room.
i have done the WM5 cache trick. i have tweaks2k2 and SKTools.
thanks,
Sorry I mean: XCPUScalar
http://www.immiersoft.com/
XCPUScalar doesn't do what i asked for and it isn't compatible with my HTC Wizard's OMAP processor
Just searched the whole Web!! Nothing is done yet for an OMAP processor.
But seems something is going on..
http://www.antontomov.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=835&st=0&p=5249&#entry5249

New ROMs: could page pool & remaining mem be posted, too?

For those of us who know just enough to make some real toast with a kitchen, or people who want to just sit down and eat at your fabulous restaurants and consume your delectible cheffery, page pool, even if it hasn't been changed, and an estimate of what the remaining memory might be w/o any changes, would be welcome additions to the menu, as it were.
(I've been having some trouble with the page pool tutorial/editing, myself, and if I could pick one that suits it would be much easier than, well, thinking. Isn't everything easier than thinking?)
i can tell you about my ROM free mem: 33-35 mb mem free, 36-38 mem free with camera driver off. with 4 mb pp, all systems operational.
now: decrease stats by 2mb and you have 3 mem for 6mb pp, it is not worth it imo.
1413:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...t=pagepool+hex
screen to prove working method:
http://i11.tinypic.com/624359e.png
on 6mb pp system seems to be more fluid in general, but it IS slower in tests(tcpmp movie test, emu test etc).

Analysing RAM Usage on the device [DevHealth] - How to Change PagePool size ?

-DevHealth.exe
To get a summary of where the RAM is going on the device, you can use the comprehensive DevHealth application to create a snapshot of the memory usage on the device at any point. DevHealth.exe is available in the Windows Mobile 6 Adaptation Kit and you can run it several ways.
To run DevHealth using SD/MMC card (recommended method)
Create a folder named "2577" on an SD/MMC card.
Rename DevHealth.exe to autorun.exe and copy it to "2577" folder.
Insert the SD/MMC card into the device. This automatically runs autorun.exe from the card, which is really the DevHealth application.
To run DevHealth using ActiveSync or another method
Copy DevHealth.exe to \Windows\Start Menu folder on the device.
Run DevHealth from Start menu.
The device displays a wait cursor while DevHealth.exe is running. At the end of the process, you will have a log file named mem_N.txt, where N is the run number starting with 1 and the highest N is the latest run. The log is saved on the SD\MMC card if it is present, otherwise the log file is saved in the "\" directory of the device.
Now guys, with this tool, we can view the available Page Pool for RAM. On my vox it is 6 MB. How to change this value to say 10 MB ??
Any ideas??
Regards,
Chandan
page pool
I'd like to know how to change the pagepool, too.
On my wizard the larger pagepool made my device far more responsive.
pagepool of 10MB will not make any changes in performance.
it will just waste your ROM space.
6 MB is more than enough for Vox. Many people have found 4MB to be giving similar performance. So 6MB is a safe bet.
If you do increase it to 10MB you will be wasting 4MB of ROM.
PagePool uses RAM space and not ROM space. Yes, 6 MB is the sweet spot as suggested by Microsoft.
pagepool
So can i conclude from your comments that this has been tried?
Again, on my wizard i used a 16(!) mb pagepool with a very minimal rom. This gave me a far more responsive device. In fact, my wizard is a lot more responsive then most "high performance" wm devices such as kaisers.
Since the vox has a similar (or actually the same) processor, i was expecting similar performance.
If there was a tool to change the pagepool, as there is for the wizard, i'd be happy to find out for myself and of course post the results to this forum.
Thank you for your answers so far.

Pagepool Question

does increasing the pagepool DECREASE battery life?
what is your pagepool?
WHAT IS A RECOMMENDED PAGEPOOL?
Pagepool size doesn't affect the battery life of your phone.
It affects the performance & the available program memory of the phone.
This is how it goes: small pagepool means more memory & less performance, big pagepool means less memory & better performance
I have a Wizard & the most used pagepool sizes are 2,4,6mb. It is a matter of taste .-
samxein said:
Pagepool size doesn't affect the battery life of your phone.
It affects the performance & the available program memory of the phone.
This is how it goes: small pagepool means more memory & less performance, big pagepool means less memory & better performance
I have a Wizard & the most used pagepool sizes are 2,4,6mb. It is a matter of taste .-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do u think of a 8mb pagepool?
are u sure it doesnt lessen the battery life?
and does changing the pagepool higher make the startup quicker?
I am sure it doesn't affect the battery life.
For my Wizard 8mb pagepool is too large. I prefer 4mb.
Maybe for your phone it's perfect. I don't know what phone you have & what are it's specifications, especially the size of the Program Memory. My phone has only 64mb .
Try searching at your phones thread about recommended pagepool size.
I am not sure about the startup time. The logical is to be faster with bigger pagepool but I haven't test it.-
Page pool
the page pool varies on some devices.... wich one do you have?
It cant increase the startup time... it allows you to use many tasks at same time.
+ Que PPC said:
the page pool varies on some devices.... wich one do you have?
It cant increase the startup time... it allows you to use many tasks at same time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have a cingular 8125

[Q] RAM management - Swap, Compcache, Memory Manager

I did a cursory search of the forum, but did not really find anything that answered my questions to my satisfaction. Anywho, I would like to gauge other users' opinions of how they run their particular memory management on their phones. From what I've gathered so far between the xda forums and cyanogenmod wiki, the hierarchy of how memory space is managed by the OS is as follows:
1. Compcache (if using compcache & backing swap)
2. Swap
3. Memory Manager (MM)
In any use-case scenario, I believe that once Compcache and/or Swap are exhausted, MM steps in and kills off processes with high OOMs. Frequency of Compcache/Swap is regulated by "swappiness", which can be set to a value [0-100] (lower values correspond to less paging out by the OS, and visa-versa). What I am still concerned/confused about is the following:
A. To what extent does the scaling of swappiness affect paging? Is there a ratio between swappiness and the number of pages stored/retrieved per tick?
B. If the above hierarchy is valid, then when is the MM activated to kill processes? Does this only occur if the worst-case is reached (RAM and Compcache/Swap partition are filled)?
C. My handset (HTC Hero CDMA) has 195204 KiB of RAM. A quick browse of that phone's forum has shown me that most users keep their swap partitions between 32-64 MiB. A number of users within that forum have also mentioned that raising swap size beyond those values can lead to performance degradation. Is that due to how the Android kernel functions? I know that in a desktop OS environment (Windows/OS X/Linux), swap partitions can be as large as users want them to be, and that there is no performance degradation (with respect to swappiness, that is).
Well, I guess that's all of my lingering concerns/questions. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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