WoW:CVar processAffinityMask

Reference e
AddOns WoW API Widget API XML UI Event API WoW Lua Macro API CVars Battle.net HOWTOs Snippets UI tech Categories

→ CVars

← Console variables < processAffinityMask

Controls which processor cores or logical-cores are used by WoW. Changing this setting requires a restart to make the change effective. Use is deprecated since patch 3.3.2, and the default of '0' is now recommended. See also CVar maxAnimThreads.

SET processAffinityMask "0"

/console processAffinityMask 0

Possible settings

A number from 0 to 4294967295 as a bit-mask, with a bit for each logical CPU core and up to 32 cores total. Bit set to 1 enables a core for WoW, and set to 0 disable a core for WoW.

• 0 - (default) threads get automatically placed on cores by normal OS controlled process
• 1 - Logical core 1 only (bits 0001)
• 2 - Logical core 2 only (bits 0010)
• 3 - Logical core 1 and 2 only (bits 0011)
• 4 - Logical core 3 only (bits 0100)
• 5 - Logical core 1 and 3 only (bits 0101)
• 6 - Logical core 2 and 3 only (bits 0110)
• 7 - Logical core 1, 2, and 3 only (bits 0111)
• .... and so on

Details

Note: Manually adjusting this CVar is no longer needed as of 3.3.2, unless you're trying to run the game on specific cores. As of 3.3.2 the default setting will now already be uncapped, so it will run on whatever core your OS deems as fit. If however, you want to specify which cores wow runs on, continue reading.

Note: Mask bits are documented here Win32 SetProcessAffinityMask (MSDN) as well.

Each bit corresponds to one logical CPU core. The least significant bit corresponds to the first logical core, with the ability to control up to 32 logical cores. Logical cores on the same physical core will typically be grouped together for the mask, so that logical cores 1 and 2 are on the same HT core 0, positions 3 and 4 (bits 001100) would be for HT core 1.

Customizing your settings for multi-core processors

To customize which cores WoW uses place SET processAffinityMask "x" in your Config.wtf where 'x' is replaced with the corresponding value in the following table.

Value	Core 1	Core 2	Core 3	Core 4	Core 5	Core 6	Core 7	Core 8
0	Allows the Operating System to choose cores to run on
1	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
3	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No
4	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
5	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
6	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
7	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No
8	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
9	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
10	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
11	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
12	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
13	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
14	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
15	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
16	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
17	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
18	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
19	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
20	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
21	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
22	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
23	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No
24	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
25	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
26	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
27	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
28	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
29	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
30	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
31	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
32	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
33	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
34	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
35	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
36	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
37	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
38	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
39	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No
40	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
41	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
42	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
43	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
44	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
45	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
46	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
47	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
48	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
49	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
50	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
51	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
52	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
53	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
54	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
55	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
56	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
57	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
58	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
59	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
60	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
61	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
62	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
63	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
64	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
65	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
66	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
67	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No
68	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
69	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
70	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
71	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
72	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
73	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
74	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
75	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
76	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
77	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
78	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
79	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No
80	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
81	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
82	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
83	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
84	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
85	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
86	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
87	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
88	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
89	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
90	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
91	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
92	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
93	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
94	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
95	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
96	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
97	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
98	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
99	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
100	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
101	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
102	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
103	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
104	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
105	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
106	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
107	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
108	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
109	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
110	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
111	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No
112	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
113	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
114	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
115	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
116	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
117	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
118	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
119	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
120	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
121	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
122	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
123	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
124	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
125	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
126	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
127	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
128	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
129	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
130	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
131	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes
132	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
133	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
134	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
135	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes
136	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
137	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
138	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
139	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
140	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
141	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
142	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
143	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
144	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
145	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
146	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
147	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
148	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
149	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
150	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
151	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes
152	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
153	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
154	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
155	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
156	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
157	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
158	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
159	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes
160	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
161	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
162	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
163	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
164	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
165	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
166	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
167	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
168	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
169	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
170	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
171	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
172	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
173	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
174	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
175	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
176	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
177	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
178	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
179	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
180	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
181	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
182	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
183	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
184	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
185	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
186	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
187	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
188	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
189	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
190	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
191	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
192	No	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
193	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
194	No	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
195	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
196	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
197	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
198	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
199	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
200	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
201	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
202	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
203	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
204	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
205	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
206	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
207	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
208	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
209	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
210	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
211	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
212	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
213	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
214	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
215	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
216	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
217	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
218	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
219	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
220	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
221	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
222	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
223	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
224	No	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
225	Yes	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
226	No	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
227	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
228	No	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
229	Yes	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
230	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
231	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
232	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
233	Yes	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
234	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
235	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
236	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
237	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
238	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
239	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
240	No	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
241	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
242	No	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
243	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
244	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
245	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
246	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
247	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
248	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
249	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
250	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
251	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
252	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
253	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
254	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
255	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Note: The table lists values for up to 8 cores, but the cvar supports up to 32 cores with a max value of 4294967295.

Setting WoW to run on all cores

Important: Intel and AMD have both recently in last few years dramatically changed which processor models support HT, especially in lower model processors. As of 2017, nearly all new major brand processors will have something similar to HT, or more than one logical processor per core. Also, cores and HT can be disabled for the system, even if you know the maximum your processor model supports.

Firstly, knowing how many actual logical core you have is important to knowing which mask to use. The easiest way on a PC to tell how many system logical cores are running, is to open Task Manager and switch to the Performance tab (and then "CPU" on win 8 and 10) and read the number logical processors value. As an aside, setting a mask for a larger value than the number of logical cores you have, should produce the same result. So setting value to "7" would limit WoW to first 4 logical cores available, would still be safe and produce the same result of up to 4 cores as available on any CPU.

• Dual-cores without HT, Core 2 Duos, most older Pentiums, i3s, and i5s, some i7s (2c):

   SET processAffinityMask "3"

• Tri-cores without HT, many older AMD (3c):

   SET processAffinityMask "7"

• Quads without HT, some older i5s and i7s (4c):

   SET processAffinityMask "15"

• Quads with HT, many older i7s (4c/8t):

   SET processAffinityMask "255"

• Hex-Core with HT (6c/12t)

   SET processAffinityMask "1344"

• 16-core / Generic 8-core hyper-threaded (8c/16t):

   SET processAffinityMask "65535"

Optimal settings for multi-core processors (pre-3.3.2)

Originally pre-2010, the general idea was to not only enable wow for all cores, but to also limit each physical core to one logical core, in an attempt to avoid letting WoW use HT or Hyper-Threading. Even though the original issues no longer exist post-3.3.2, the affinity mask itself is well documented, and still a hot topic in general inside and outside of WoW. Limiting the number of wow cores can still be a useful tool as a form of throttling WoW, or dealing with WoW specific performance/cooling, animation, or GPU issues, or for running VMs, or can even help in running multiple games at the same time.

Here are the original pre-2010 optimal settings for reference:

• Dual-cores (both of the 2 logical):

   SET processAffinityMask "3"

• Tri-cores & i5s (all 3 logical):

   SET processAffinityMask "7"

• Quad-cores no HT (all 4 logical):

   SET processAffinityMask "15"

• I7s with HT enabled (primary logical of every physical core, 4 total, bits 01010101):

   SET processAffinityMask "85"

• 16-core/8-core hyper-threaded (primary logical of every physical core, 8 total, bits 0101010101010101):

   SET processAffinityMask "21845"

AMD Ryzen

Summit Ridge and Pinnacle Ridge

Processors based on AMD Zen microarchitecture are internally divided into two core complexes (CCX) with separate cache. Running WoW on a single CCX can improve performance by reducing cache latency. FPS improvement is around 10% in CPU-bound areas.

• 4-core/4-thread (all Ryzen 3):

   SET processAffinityMask "12"

• 4-core/8-thread (Ryzen 5 1400/1500/2500):

   SET processAffinityMask "240"

• 6-core/12-thread (Ryzen 5 1600/2600):

   SET processAffinityMask "4032"

• 8-core/16-thread (all Ryzen 7):

   SET processAffinityMask "65280"

Raven Ridge and Threadripper

Ryzen processors with integrated graphics (with a "G" in the model number) have a single CCX so no mask should be set. Threadripper processors contain more CCX.

Patch changes

• Template:Patch 3.3.2
• Template:Patch 3.1.0
• Template:Patch 3.0.2