AnsweredAssumed Answered

Why is my slower CPU outperforming my faster CPU in mesh speed?

Question asked by Mahir Abrahim on Jan 31, 2018
Latest reply on Oct 17, 2018 by Jay Seaglar

Like • Show 0 Likes0
Comment • 22

I'm running the same version of SW (2016) on a computer with an i7-8700K (3.7GHz, 6 cores) and an i6-4690 (3.5GHz, 4 cores). The i5 can mesh my study in about 9 minutes. The i7 takes 12 minutes. Same model, same mesh settings. Both PCs are running off an SSD. Is there some magic setting I'm missing here? The mesh in question is mostly shell elements with several solid parts, 14k total elements, high quality, no automatic transitions. Color me confused. My client put some serious dough into a quality workstation for this project that should be at least 20% faster, but it's actually 20% slower???

1 person has this question

Outcomes

22 Replies

Christian Chu Jan 31, 2018 1:07 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
How many cores in your i5?
Like • Show 3 Likes3
Actions
- Bob Van Dick @ Christian Chu on Jan 31, 2018 1:20 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Just guessing he meant to type i-6 not i-5....
  Like • Show 2 Likes2
  Actions
  - Christian Chu @ Bob Van Dick on Jan 31, 2018 1:23 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    It doesn't make sense since there are more core in i7 which is better for both calculations and meshing
    Like • Show 3 Likes3
    Actions
    - Bob Van Dick @ Christian Chu on Jan 31, 2018 1:27 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      That's why he is asking the question.....the slower CPU is outperforming the faster one...
      Like • Show 1 Like1
      Actions
Loren Swensen Jan 31, 2018 1:15 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Are you running the same GPU on both machines?
Like • Show 2 Likes2
Actions
Christian Chu Jan 31, 2018 1:30 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Can post both of the computers specs here ?
Like • Show 3 Likes3
Actions
Christian Chu Jan 31, 2018 1:33 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Also are you running other apps while performing FEA on SW?
Like • Show 3 Likes3
Actions
Mahir Abrahim Jan 31, 2018 2:56 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Oops, I meant i5, not i6. Here are the specs.

i5-4690, 3.5GHz, 4 cores
16GB RAM
Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD
nVidia Quadro 4000
gigabit ethernet

i7-8700K, 3.7GHz, 6 cores
32GB RAM
Samsung 850 EVO M.2 1TB SSD
nVidia GTX 1080Ti (soon to be replaced by a Quadro M4000)
5G wireless NIC

I wouldn't think that the GPU matters much. I always thought meshing and solving relied purely on CPU? The i7 has a faster SSD and more RAM. There are some non-processor intensive programs running in the background on the i5, but hardly anything on the i7 since it's a new build. The i7 doesn't even have antivirus. All the variables point to the i7 being significantly faster, but that's not what I'm seeing.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- Jacob Corder @ Mahir Abrahim on Jan 31, 2018 5:43 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  that samsung M.2 is actually just a sata III (6g/s) drive. its not really an M.2. A M.2 will always say PCI-E.
  i cant find one online that is a 850 Evo that is PCI-E based M.2
  
  just so you now the ssd might not be faster.
  one possible reason is your I7 is heating up. what type of cooling do you have on the I7?
  
  Also make sure that the hyperthreading is turned on on the I7. if it is, it will show up as 12 Cores
  
  i would strongly suggest a liquid cooler. make sure you get a good one. i had a thermaltake clog up a few weeks back. just full of gunk inside.. i only use corsair, someone here though thermaltake was better. they were wrong
  
  who built the new system?
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions
Loren Swensen Jan 31, 2018 3:02 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I cant say I know why your i5 is faster, but this article might shed some light on the matter.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Solidworks-2016-Multi-Core-Performance-741/
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- Mahir Abrahim @ Loren Swensen on Jan 31, 2018 3:40 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Good article. It did point me to a possible solution. When I look at performance in the task manage, I only see one CPU. There should be 6. I didn't build this PC, but I know there was some meddling around in the BIOS. It's possible that there is only 1 core available for processing. I also only see one CPU in Task Manager. I can definitely believe that 4 i5 cores would outpace a single i7 core. I'll check back once I take a look at the BIOS.
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions
  - Bob Van Dick @ Mahir Abrahim on Jan 31, 2018 5:18 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    How many cores does the task manager say you have on the i-5 computer? Does it say 4?
    Like • Show 1 Like1
    Actions
    - Mahir Abrahim @ Bob Van Dick on Jan 31, 2018 5:49 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Yes, the i5 shows 4 CPUs. And I was wrong about the inactive cores on the i7. Task Manager was just showing overall CPU utilization, but the other cores were there. The i7 actually has 12 total logical CPUs (2 per core).
      Like • Show 1 Like1
      Actions
  - Jacob Corder @ Mahir Abrahim on Jan 31, 2018 5:46 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    in resource monitor on the right it will show you cpu. you should see 12 with that processor
    go to resource monitor
    click monitor up top.
    select Select Processors....
    you should see CPU 0 through CPU 11
    Like • Show 1 Like1
    Actions
    - Mahir Abrahim @ Jacob Corder on Jan 31, 2018 5:51 PM
      Mark Correct
      Correct Answer
      Yesk you're right. Task manager just wasn't set to individually show each processor. Back to square one. No idea why the new PC is lagging. It's not like I'm overclocking or doing anything special to tweak my i5's settings.
      Like • Show 1 Like1
      Actions
Mahir Abrahim Jan 31, 2018 5:54 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I'm going to run a benchmark on both computers. I don't know if it will tell me anything, but more info can't hurt.
Like • Show 3 Likes3
Actions
Mahir Abrahim Feb 1, 2018 1:05 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Yep, this is what I would expect, but it's not what's happening in real world performance. Although, the I/O performance is puzzling. You'd think a faster newer Samsung drive would outperform the older Samsung drive.

i5 Results

i7 Results
Like • Show 2 Likes2
Actions
- Jacob Corder @ Mahir Abrahim on Feb 1, 2018 9:22 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  make sure power options in windows isn't set to save power mode. set it to high performance if it isn't.
  
  IN REGARDS TO YOUR IO BEING SLOWER.
  the IO performance is as i said before. you don't actually have a Real M.2. you have a SATA III M.2 which is a Msata. the industry is stupid right now and they are calling everything that fits in a M.2 slot, and M.2.
  
  Everyone reading this, make sure that if you buy a M.2 SSD that it says PCI-E!!! otherwise your just buying a ssd that fits on the motherboard.
  Like • Show 4 Likes4
  Actions
Jaja Jojo Feb 1, 2018 2:13 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Turn of Hyper-threading then try to benchmark again. i did try this to my mobile workstation when hyper-threading is on it slightly slower.
Like • Show 2 Likes2
Actions
- Mahir Abrahim @ Jaja Jojo on Feb 2, 2018 12:33 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  That helped a little. Took a little doing to find it in the bios.
  Like • Show 2 Likes2
  Actions
Richard Huang Oct 17, 2018 1:19 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
I recently went though a noticeable performance degradation with my Dell Precision M6800 i7-4900MQ 2.80GHz laptop. I experienced better performance with a lower spec Dell E7250 i7 5600U, 2.6GHz: rebuild times for the same model were 25 seconds for the "weaker" machine vs. 90s for the "workstation". Very frustrating, indeed.

My fix was adjusting the laptop's Control Panel Power Options from "Balanced" to "High Performance". The setting had been inadvertenly changed to the lower setting. Rebuild times are now about equal and problem fixed.
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
- Jay Seaglar @ Richard Huang on Oct 17, 2018 2:58 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Power settings can definitely have a negative effect on the performance, especially in software that is resource-intensive. Here's a list of things to check for anyone else who experiences such behavior and finds this post:
  1. Power Management Options (not only in Windows but through any software specific to the system vendor that might be present)
  2. That all your files including the Simulation Results Folder location specified in Study Properties are on a local drive (instead of a network location/mapped drive)
  3. Whether your local disk drivers/firmware are appropriately installed
  4. (Less common causes, but especially likely on custom-built systems from third party vendors): insufficient cooling, insufficient power supplies, incompatible hardware, etc.
  
  For more information, please search the SOLIDWORKS Knowledge Base (KB) for the following solution IDs:
  S-060851
  S-061622
  S-038234
  S-068478
  S-072291
  
  Your SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller (VAR) can also help you troubleshoot.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions

Why is my slower CPU outperforming my faster CPU in mesh speed?

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content