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Adjust the Level 2 cache setting


Rbreb13

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I found the neatest tweak for my system. I checked and sure enough my P-4 2.53 that has 512Kb of L2 cache was set to use 256 in the registry, Performance is much better now. Check it out.

During Windows XP installation, Setup queries the system processor to determine the size of the Level 2 cache. However, it doesn't always succeed. When this happens, Setup configures a default setting of 256 KB in the registry.

If your computer has a larger Level 2 cache than Setup configured in the registry, your system won't perform optimally. To significantly increase the performance of your system, change the value in the registry to match your Level 2 cache.

Here's how:

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management.

3. Double-click SecondLevelDataCache DWORD value.

4. Using the options below, change the value in the Value Data text box to a number that matches the size of your Level 2 cache. Then click OK. Level 2 cache Value Data setting

256 KB........................... 0

512 KB........................... 200

1024 KB........................... 400

5. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.

You may need to restart the system or log out of Windows XP for the change to take effect.

If you're not sure of the actual size of your system's Level 2 cache, copy this script and save it as L2Cache.vbs:

Set ProSet = GetObject("winmgmts:").InstancesOf("Win32_Processor")

For each Pro in ProSet

WScript.Echo "Level 2 Cache:" & " " & Pro.L2CacheSize & " KB"

Next

Double-click the script to run it, and you'll see a dialog box that displays the size of your system's Level 2 cache.

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.

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I found the neatest tweak for my system. I checked and sure enough my P-4 2.53 that has 512Kb of L2 cache was set to use 256 in the registry, Performance is much better now. Check it out.

During Windows XP installation, Setup queries the system processor to determine the size of the Level 2 cache. However, it doesn't always succeed. When this happens, Setup configures a default setting of 256 KB in the registry.  

If your computer has a larger Level 2 cache than Setup configured in the registry, your system won't perform optimally. To significantly increase the performance of your system, change the value in the registry to match your Level 2 cache.  

Here's how:  

1. Launch the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).  

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management.  

3. Double-click SecondLevelDataCache DWORD value.  

4. Using the options below, change the value in the Value Data text box to a number that matches the size of your Level 2 cache. Then click OK. Level 2 cache            Value Data setting

256 KB...........................                       0

512 KB...........................                       200

1024 KB...........................                     400

5. Click OK and close the Registry Editor.  

You may need to restart the system or log out of Windows XP for the change to take effect.  

If you're not sure of the actual size of your system's Level 2 cache, copy this script and save it as L2Cache.vbs:  

Set ProSet = GetObject("winmgmts:").InstancesOf("Win32_Processor")

For each Pro in ProSet

WScript.Echo "Level 2 Cache:" & "  " & Pro.L2CacheSize & " KB"

Next  

Double-click the script to run it, and you'll see a dialog box that displays the size of your system's Level 2 cache.  

Note: Editing the registry is risky, so be sure you have a verified backup before making any changes.

you may also use WCPUid from http://www.h-oda.com to detect the cache level, as well as other things.

Great Find.

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WCPUID detects the L2 cache just fine. Windows XP was not utilizing all of it.

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512 working here. Sweet find, though.

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great!!!!!!... one of my systems reports '0'
That means its useing 256kb.
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Thats wierd.

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DorMaxx"]Same applies for Windows 2k?
The tweak I found said for XP. You could probly check the registry in W2K to see. It's probly the same key or very similar. I don't have W2K installed on anything right now so I can't check.
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