LiveTuner - Simply improve Windows performance smartly


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I started reviving my old Windows optimizer project recently. Windows optimization software was my first published work and last one I made was Optimizer XP which was turned obsolete by the flow of time. So I decide to rebuild it properly this time with MSDN reference and test before apply without any obsolete, not working, and bad tweaks.

 

The cool thing I like in this project is how you choose optimizations based on your hardware and application instead of ticking on fancy options in most faster-booster-optimizer apps. This program will detect hardware specs like CPU/RAM and apply suitable optimizations smartly. What user needs to choose aren't group of lines containing optimize-cache-tweak-improve-increase and so on but Something simpler that everyone understands like is your device Desktop/Laptop/Tablet/Server or how you use it for like Workstation/Office/Internet/Online Gaming/Enterprise Server.

 

You can check on development progress from my website with LiveTuner tag. The current build is beta 2 now. I think I'll release few more builds before releasing proper version. Please give me feedback and suggestions so I can improve this project in later builds. Optimizations are based on Microsoft knowledge base and discussion so it's safe to apply without trouble.

 

LiveTuner beta 2 page for more information and download

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I honestly never really trust those things. I can't believe Microsoft engineers wouldn't be able to optimize stuff better for a general config than some random Windows tweaker. Especially things that mess with the timer stuff, you can cause a lot of performance loss with that outside of benchmarks. Wouldn't do this on a laptop if your battery life is dear to you.

 

A more precise timer would mean a possible much higher amount of interrupts at CPU level. If you know any low-level computer stuff you know what kind of a performance hit that can cause.

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I understand what you're trying to say. Let me correct my statement. By applying tweaks based on Microsoft website, I mean I use only tweaks those are confirmed working in Microsoft website to prove that I'm not using myth tweaks and many of them are tweaks Microsoft engineers themselves suggested in community and hotfix to solve various problems like these.

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee377058(v=bts.10).aspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/973366

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304101

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996786(v=exchg.80).aspx

 

All of my tweaks are tested thoroughly from my own music server project to my family and friend's devices so I'm quite convinced in its performance and effectiveness. I also take interrupts in consideration having only NTTimerResolution applied only instead of all timer tweaks like HPET/clock rate and tick. Some apps like Chrome set to 1.0 but mine for 0.5 and it's optional.

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When people say "confirmed working" I never happen to see "confirmed benchmarks" after doing the tweaks...

 

Like Ambroos, i'm reluctant to use any sort of tweaking tool or tip without a good reason to do so.

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I agree that there's necessity part to find this kind of program being helpful. If you don't have performance problems to the point you need it, you won't look for cure like this. Same goes to me. I used to be tweakaholic when I was a child because I got very slow PC running modern OS. At some point I graduated from that using faster PC/laptop and stopped developing this kind of software.

 

Weeks back, my dad asked me why didn't I continue improving Windows optimizer software. He got Chrome slowdown problems with facebook page so I developed this tool again from scratch and that solved my dad's Chrome slowdown problems with facebook page. If my dad didn't need good reason for this kind of software and asked me, I would have not revived this project myself so I agree with you guys there.

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I have to Agree with Raa

General. Tweek tools give you a plicibo effect... Windows X is Generally Optimized for End users to begin with.

Tools like Cleanup Utilities for example Tend to actually slow down the system not speed it up or optimize it.

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Is there anybody actually tested this software before calling it snake oil and placebo effect? As you don't have to force yourself trying this kind of software when you don't need to solve performance problem, you don't have to force people who need to fix their performance problems not trying this. I'd rather hear problems about using this software rather than groundless assumptions bashing someone's work without giving a try.

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If someone's computer is slow, you fix it properly.  You don't encourage them to try something that just does random "performance" tweaks and has a 1 in 1000 chance of actually accidentally fixing their problem, or a 1/4 chance of making something worse.

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Resolving differences like this is very easy. Just run any number of the standard performance benchmark tools before and after applying the updates and post the results. Then we can see if this is "snake oil" or actually does something valid.

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Read above, my dad said it improved his Chrome slowdown problems and that's one of real world tests for you. If no one in this topic ever tried and say something back, I don't know how we could continue this constructively.

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Beta 4 build is out now with the following changes.

 

-Added disabling file system tunneling for faster delete
-Added network optimizations for TCP/IP protocol
-Increased paged/nonpaged pool scaling size
-Memory 4096MB or higher will be reported as 4096+ due to x86 app limitations
-Updated graphics and branding

 

Info and Download: LiveTuner beta 4

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'd be willing to test this application but there is one problem : no revert.

I need to know what is modified but, at least, I need to be able to revert modifications brought by an application.

I don't understand that the developer proposes an application with no return ticket. This is imperative IMO.

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Uninstalling program will revert all permanent optimizations back to Windows defaults. I wouldn't have made a few betas and forget to add restore function like that so no worries. :)

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Uninstalling program will revert all permanent optimizations back to Windows defaults. I wouldn't have made a few betas and forget to add restore function like that so no worries. :)

Why not include an option to restore to defaults in the app itself? Basically, by having the revert be the uninstall you are actively encouraging users to remove your app (especially if they want to do testing) and the likely hood they'll reinstall after uninstalling it is pretty low.

 

I also see no option to view a log. You can't expect a poweruser following without providing an exact log of what you are doing to our systems.

 

Lastly, the days of "themed" looking applications are going the way of the dodo...give it a native look and feel. An application's appearance is a strong indicator of usability...

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1. It did have 'Restore' button during beta but no feedback from neowin.net because none tried it. They all bashing with what they're capable off and left like a silenced duck after I showed them benchmark result proving it's not placebo as some suggested. It's just like someone saying 'Haters' gonna hate.'..... 'nuff said.

 

2. This program already have clean appearance and good usability. You can see important information clearly and have only few important and easy to understand options without cluttering. If there's any suggestion to improve UI and usability, I'd like to hear you out for further improvement.

 

3. I changed wording 'Restore' to 'Uninstall' because the only difference in stable build is adding program to run on startup performing startup tasks so user won't have to run it every time manually like beta. In a sense, restore and uninstall does the same reverting reg back to defaults. Since most users assuming to have Install/Uninstall, I changed wording for them to understand it easily. Should I change wording back to 'Restore' instead so power user won't get confused?

 

4. Power user wanting to monitor the changes should be familiared with regmon-like app and they can view log and whatever they want themselves. Some users told me to keep it simple like that because he's tired of app showing lots of options and hardly find anything simple but useful like this.

 

5. I once planned making separated dialog for power user but there're few issues below

-designing options with automatic choice selection is pain to implement. You'll have tons of checkbox and combo box items with a long list or scaler. Even myself wouldn't want to use app that way. Too complicated and too much headache.

-choosing randomly regardless of specs can actually harm PC rather than improving it. And lead me to continue duplicating autotune feature from current into this with some safety measure and yet some people still screw it up blaming LiveTuner later on.

-Some tweaks may have some people bashing this is bad tweaks. Why did you add it and so on without even giving a proper test and research for while it has such thing and what situation it can be used for good.

 

6. Aside from difficulty and support for technical implementation in power user stuff, I don't get positive sign from so called power users in neowin.net. I did all I could to encourage people trying it and giving some feedback to improve it making better tool for community but visiting neowin.net is one of main decision to dump power user stuff for now.

 

I think one of the main problem about this kind of software is people who don't use it acting cocky and saying non-constructive things to developer and users. If this isn't your cup of tea, just leave it as I'm not forcing anyone here to try and use it.

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"Power users" who know what they're doing don't touch software like this.

 

"Power users" who think they know what they're doing and spend ages tweaking services, messing about with msconfig boot settings and making constant tweaks to the registry might use this.

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Or power 'end user' thinking default environment is the best for every hardware/application and will only wait for fixes to be applied from Windows Update don't touch software like this?

 

Some tweaks included in here are from update hotfix pages and most registry fixes through update has only one constant safe values while it should be optimized accordingly to hardware specs. Well, it's user's choice to decide what's best for them. Maybe not this kind of thing isn't suitable neowin.net. Even single HPET tweak got 6 pages long and some people're still debating it for bad tweak regardless of benchmark and applications. I'm not saying HPET is always good though. It's just some people don't really know why Microsoft added it and who needed it.

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