WHATSNEW.TXT for CpuIdle Win95/98 CpuIdle is Copyright (C) 1997,98 Andreas Goetz. goetz@stud.uni-hannover.de http://www.stud.uni-hannover.de/~goetz FREEWARE CpuIdle runs a HLT command in an idle priority thread under Win95/98. That allows modern microprocessors to save power and stay cool. Great for overclocking. CpuIdle's is also the best and most complete CPU optimizer for Win95/98 that exists. Most CPUs include performance increasing options that are disabled by default. CpuIdle activates them all! Due to the overwhelming number of questions and requests I received via email, users that require additional assistance are now strongly encouraged to register. Version 3.01 (June 1st, 1998): - removed direct95.vxd which is no longer needed Version 3.00 (April 25th, 1998): - removed -alt switch CpuIdle now uses the same idle method as implemented in v2.4 This should fix the performance problems some people reported - removed -loadonly switch - changed function of -quit switch - added Control Panel plugin, to install run CpuIdle and open Control Panel sheet Using Control Panel plugin CpuIdle consumes only 64K of memory - fixed minor bugs Version 2.51 (April 2nd, 1998): - added -alt switch for alternative idle loop use this switch if you experience performance problems (uses same method as v2.4) - bugfix for some Cyrix CPUs (blue screen when CPUID disabled) - identifies all AMD and UMC 486 CPUs (at least those I know about) - removed "Tips" - experimental PIIX4 Slow Clock mode for notebooks, please give me feedback Version 2.5 (March 29th, 1998): - program code completely rewritten - CpuIdle now completely and automatically optimizes your CPU for performance enhancement - added far better power saving for P5 and P5MMX (1.5A..1.8A less) - added -quit switch to exit CpuIdle after CPU optimization (no power saving) - removed all Cyrix specific switches from 2.4 (default is now enabled) - removed -noID switch (nobody used this anyway) - removed -wait switch (no longer needed) - added new switches to selectively disable optimization settings (read "Command line switches" section) - workaround for Cyrix and IDT clock rate bug - added CPUID for Cyrix CPUs even if disabled (no more "CPUID instruction not available on this machine" error messages) - DOS based optimizers like set6x86 no longer needed for complete Cyrix support - added new direct95.vxd driver to get access to MSRs (Thanks to Andreas Stiller) - extremely undocumented -debug switch Keep out and do not use. Nice for turning off L1 cache... Also included in the release archive is -= DosIdle 2.00 =- by Marton Balog Used in conjunction with CpuIdle, DosIdle and CpuIdle provide a complete power saving and optimization solution both for Win95/98 and DOS, even incompatible DOS programs in Win95 DOS boxes are supported. Please notice that DosIdle is not a CpuIdle addon but a standalone program. These programs are best used together and packaged for greater convenience. Version 2.4 (February 21th, 1998): - comes with DosIdle 1.32 for DOS written by Marton Balog - added CPU feature detection like extended vendor name, MMX - detects "Suspend on HLT" and "Write Allocation" on Cyrix CPUs - added some nice bitmaps - fixed bug in clock rate display after beeing in suspend mode - split readme.txt into readme.txt, history.txt and result.txt files - file_id.diz for catalog tools - added "Tips" for people who don't read readme's - better error messages for finding errors - failsafe mode for overclocked CPUs New command line switches for Cyrix processors: - cxsusphlt: enable "Suspend on HLT" - cxnolock: enable "NO_LOCK", locked bus cycles are disabled, leading to higher performance - cxwtalloc: enable "WT_ALLOC", write allocation increase performance - cxall: enable all of the above options (recommended) Version 2.3 (February 10th, 1998): - added /loadonly switch to reduce memory usage - fixed wrap around bug that appeared when computing clock rate after running for more than an approx. 80 minutes (nice one, eh?) Version 2.2 (February 9th, 1998): - added clickable "Enabled" item to popup menu - double-clicking on icon enables/ disables idle thread - added CPU type identification and clock speed measurement - new installation (no need to copy the VxD) - more Results in readme.txt Version 2.1 (January 31th, 1998) - turning off idling in "About" box fixed - VxD is correctly unloaded when CpuIdle is closed - better error handling - better startup code - added /wait switch to fix startup problem - added /hide command line switch to hide taskbar icon - better documentation (yes, it also has wrapped lines!) - added Results section to readme.txt - added whatsnew.txt When CpuIdle is placed in StartUp group idling should now always be enabled due to better startup code. If that still doesn't work use the /wait switch. Version 2.0 (January 17th, 1998) This is the first release that really does what is supposed to do. I apoligize to all persons that tried CpuIdle 1.0 Known bugs: - idle percentage display does not work - VxD is not unloaded at end of program - idling was accidentally disabled after displaying about box - idling can sometimes not be enabled when placed in StartUp group Version 1.0 (December 97) First release. This release did not use a VxD and therefore didn't work. Sorry for the inconvenience. See readme.txt and cpuidle.faq for further information. If you feel that this program is just what you've been waiting for and would like to encourage further development and express your gratitude you may want to send $20 or whatever amount you think appropriate to the address given below, though there is no obligation to do so. Please don't send cheques since cashing is extremely expensive in Germany. All donations will be happily accepted. Andreas Goetz Suedring 11 31275 Lehrte GERMANY Special thanks to Virgil Smith for coding the VxD. Without him this program would never have been possible. DISCLAIMER THIS SOFTWARE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FILES ARE DISTRIBUTED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. NO REPONSIBILITIES FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGES OR EVEN FUNCTIONALITY CAN BE TAKEN. THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THIS PROGRAM. ALL TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.