Holdem Manager 2 Performance & Speed Modifications

Overview:

Tips and solutions to performance and speed related issues. Even if there are no issues at the moment, these suggestions will keep the databases running efficiently.
NB: Some of these procedures are for advanced users only.

Hardware

PostgreSQL

Holdem Manager

Operating System

3rd Party Software 
 

Hardware

Hard Drive:

Get a fast hard disk. It is more important to have a fast hard drive than having a quad-core processor over a dual-core processor. 

• Preferably two+ SSD hard disks in a RAID-0 array. (fastest)
• Get one SSD just for your database and Windows (Intel X25-M G2 Postville)
• Or two new 7200 RPM hard disks in RAID-0
• Or just a really fast SCSI/SAS 10k RPM / 15k RPM hard disk (requires an expensive SAS/SCSI controller) or a VelociRaptor
• A new 7200 RPM IDE/SATA hard disk (slowest)

The SSD not only wins on Sequential Read/Write speeds (of big files), they win the most with access time. The SSD has 4K Read/Write speeds (small files) and just "overall" I/O operations per second. 

A Western Digital VelociRaptor used to be easily twice as fast as the best 7200 RPM hard disk. However, currently it is only about 10% faster than the latest Seagate Barracudas, Hitachi Deskstars, Western Digital Caviar Blacks and Samsung Spinpoints F1/F3.

So for the best price/performance, a new high-end 7200 RPM hard disk is your best choice)....

Note: a brand new high-end 2009 model 7200 RPM hard disk will be twice as fast as your 3-4+ yrs old 7200 RPM hard disk!... get a SSD if you can afford it.

LAPTOP: get one with a SSD. ALL 7200 RPM laptop hard disks are slow (Make sure the Power Options are set to HIGH PERFORMANCE).

RAM:
Get a lot of RAM (at least 2+ GB RAM recommended if you have a 10+ GB database) (note: when using more than 3 GB RAM, use a 64-bit version of Windows)

CPU's:
-3 PostgreSQL love multiple CPUs. So the more CPUs the better. (Intel i5 / i7 or AMD Phenom) Also "Holdem Manager will be adding improvements that will take advantage of quad core/64 bit versions."

PostgreSQL

Edit PosgreSQL.conf file in the SQL C:/Program Files/8.x/data folder.
Do not use the Tuning Wizard. On some systems it will make unecessary changes to the postgresql.conf, resulting in being unable to connect to the database!
If this problem occurs, go to the 8.4/data folder, delete postgresql.conf. Rename the backup postgresql.conf.2009(data xxxxxxxx) to "postgresql.conf". Now reboot.

Recommended changes:
shared_buffers = MB (set this to 20% of your system memory, but not more than 1000 MB.... round it off to 128 MB, 256 MB, 512 MB or 768 MB)
effective_cache_size = MB (set this to 2x the size of the shared_buffers)

Decrease the size of the databases:

• How to optimize the database size in 3 steps: -1 Vacuum, -2 Reindex, -3 dump/restore
• VACUUM: Analyse databases regularly(How to do a manual VACUUM)
• REINDEX (see Vacuum, but choose Reindex instead of Vacuum in pgAdmin)
• Dump/restore (for advanced users) Step by step how to dump/restore the database

How to make PostgreSQL stop making those big log files:
http://www.holdemmanager.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8423

Holdem Manager:

How to improve Holdem Manager performance

• Please install the latest version: http://www.holdemmanager.com/downloads/HmBetaUpdate.exe
• Remove the WinnerName, WinnerCards and WinnerWon from the Hands View Column Selector
• Disable Multiple Panels if it is unnecessary. 
• In HUD Options > Table Preferences, select Force on Top. (If this does not help, turn it off afterwards. Restart Holdem Manager for it to take effect). 
• Make sure to display only the "last 100" hands in the Hand View 

• In Holdem Manager, move the opacity sliders in HUD Options >  Config Properties completely to the right.
  
   

Operating System:

• Update Windows (use Microsoft Update, and make sure you have the latest Service Pack (SP2 for Vista, SP3 for XP) and update all system drivers (including the main board and video card driver).
• Turn off indexing and turn off "compress this drive to save disk space" in hard disk properties.
• Optimize Windows for "best performance" (in Control Panel/System/Advanced/Performance/Setting/Visual Effects). 
• Advanced users only: save space by turning off System Restore (System/System Protection) and moving (or make it smaller if you have enough RAM) the Virtual Memory system page file (System/Advanced/Performance/Setting/Advanced).
• Windows 7 users, General Windows 7 Performance Tweaks guide (SSD hard disk tweaks will also be in that guide)
• In the PC, go to Control Panel > Power Settings and make sure it is running on high performance. Power Save mode can sometimes affect the performance. 

Sometimes Anti-virus programs scan all the folders in a file. It is advisable to set exceptions for all the auto import folders, Holdem Manager folders and PostgreSQL folders.

The instructions below include details for setting exceptions to the firewall. 

If there is anti-virus software running, add all the files mentioned below in Windows Defender. If it is not possible to add these files, uninstall the anti-virus completely and restart.

Exceptions can be added by following these instructions. See the anti-virus manual for instructions on adding exceptions. It should be very similar.

• Adding Exceptions to Windows Firewall
• Adding Exceptions to Windows Defender 

3rd Party Software

• Defrag the non-SSD hard disk, using Defraggler by Piriform. Or use Disk Defrag by Auslogics or htmlPower Defragmenter (all FREE software and better than the Windows Defrag feature). It is recommended to stop postgreSQL from running before you use defrag! (To stop and start the service: Start > All Programs > PostgreSQL > Stop Service / Start Service)
• A near-empty hard disk is faster than a near-full hard disk. Delete unwanted programs CrapCleaner by Piriform and Windows Disk Cleanup can help.  
• For a Poker Stars specific fix: In the lobby, go to Options > Advanced Multi-table Options. Unselect popup table whenever user action is required, click OK and restart Poker Stars.