Optimizing Prime95 for Performance Cores in Windows 11

Windows 11 introduces a variety of features aimed at optimizing performance, particularly on modern processors that leverage heterogeneous core designs, such as Intel’s Alder Lake architecture. These processors typically comprise performance cores (P-cores) and efficiency cores (E-cores). For users running computationally intensive applications like Prime95, it’s essential to ensure that they are pinned to the P-cores for optimal performance. Below, we’ll discuss how to identify the performance cores in Windows 11 and configure Prime95 to take advantage of them.

Understanding Core Types

Before delving into the process, it’s important to understand the difference between the two types of cores. Performance cores (P-cores) are designed to handle heavy workloads and provide higher performance for demanding tasks. Efficiency cores (E-cores), conversely, focus on lightweight tasks and help in power-saving scenarios. For applications like Prime95, which stress-test CPUs, using P-cores is crucial to achieving maximum computational power.

Identifying Performance Cores in Windows 11

1. Using Task Manager:

• Right-click on the taskbar and select “Task Manager.”
• Navigate to the “Performance” tab and click on the “CPU” option on the left.
• Here, you can see your CPU’s performance, including a graph that indicates core usage over time.
• On the bottom right, click on “Open Resource Monitor” or “Open Performance Monitor” to gain further insight.

1. Using Windows PowerShell:

• Open PowerShell as an administrator by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting “Windows Terminal (Admin).”
• Enter the command Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Processor | Format-Table Name, NumberOfCores, NumberOfLogicalProcessors to display information about your CPU cores.
• To identify if your CPU supports P-cores and E-cores, you may need to refer to your CPU’s specifications online, as Windows does not categorize them visually.

1. Third-party Applications:

• An excellent way to see which cores are P-cores versus E-cores is by using CPU-Z or HWInfo. These applications can provide detailed information about your CPU, including core functionality.

Pinning Prime95 to Performance Cores

Once you have identified your performance cores, you can configure Prime95 to ensure it runs on those cores. Here’s how to pin it:

1. Launch Prime95:

• Start the application normally.

1. Open Task Manager:

• With Prime95 running, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

1. Locate Prime95:

• Find Prime95 in the “Processes” tab and right-click on it.

1. Set Affinity:

• Click on “Set Affinity,” which will open a window showing your CPU’s cores. Disable the E-cores and leave only the P-cores checked. For instance, if your CPU has a combination of 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores, you would uncheck all E-core boxes.

1. Monitor Performance:

• After setting the affinity, you can monitor Prime95’s performance to ensure that it is operating smoothly on the designated cores.

Conclusion

Optimizing Prime95 to work exclusively on performance cores in Windows 11 can significantly enhance its efficiency and results during stress testing. By following the steps outlined above, you can pinpoint which cores are P-cores and set your computational tasks to utilize them effectively. With Windows continuously evolving, understanding how to leverage multi-core processors is vital for anyone looking to maximize their system’s capabilities.