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- 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 3.02 (Jule 8th, 1998):
-
- - changed the icon to something for friendly for the eye (due to popular
- request)
- - changed handling of VxD handle (now correctly unloads if CpuIdle is closed)
- - finally decided to add -nosplash option (no guess what this does?)
- - updated FAQ (please, do read at least the new items)
-
-
- 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.
-