Does NT8 use all the computer resources when optimizing / Strategy Analyzer?

I have an 8 Core / 16 Thread CPU, X570 Mobo and SSD. When looking at the Task Manager it appears that NT8 is only using 2 Cores / 4 Threads when running an optimization. This was confirmed when I looked at AI Suite 3. It does not appear to be Thermal Throttling as temps are nowhere close to the danger zone. Total CPU Utilization is always under 10%. Is this normal? Or has something gone wrong with my system? I also noticed the same thing when using Market Analyzer for an EOD Stock Screener. I have never noticed this before.

Seems like a waste of money for a dedicated NT8 machine upgrade.

If someone wants to try to duplicate I was optimizing the stock strategy 'Sample MA crossover' on the SP500 Select All.

I have a 8 core cpu too and it does the same thing

see my reply on Ninjatrader support forum

looking forward to comments

NT Forum gave a long reply. I went through it and nothing seemed to help. And I have no idea why NT8 is not using all available resources.

For what it is worth the machine is:

Ryzen 7 3700X
Asus Tuf Gaming X570 plus
Western Digital SSD 500 Gb
Corsair Vengance LPX DDR4 3600

Not finding any joy with NT right now. Maybe I will figure it out.

https://forum.ninjatrader.com/forum/ninjatrader-8/platform-technical-support-aa/1128700-does-nt8-use-all-cores-threads-when-backtesting

TAJTrades 

Does NT8 use all the computer resources when optimizing / Strategy Analyzer? I have an 8 Core / 16 Thread CPU, X570 Mobo and SSD. When looking at the Task Manager it appears that NT8 is only using 2 Cores / 4 Threads when running an optimization. This was confirmed when I looked at AI Suite 3. It does not appear to be Thermal Throttling as temps are nowhere close to the danger zone. Total CPU Utilization is always under 10%. Is this normal? Or has something gone wrong with my system? I also noticed the same thing when using Market Analyzer for an EOD Stock Screener. I have never noticed this before. Seems like a waste of money for a dedicated NT8 machine upgrade. If someone wants to try to duplicate I was optimizing the stock strategy 'Sample MA crossover' on the SP500 Select All.

NT seems to process one instrument at a time. So I don't think doing a batch run will encourage it to use more cores.

I believe it depends more so on the complexity of the strategy, and/or the difficulty in finding 'good' parameters for the strategy.

I normally get utilizations >80% for my optimizations. (4Ghz, 4 core gaming notebook)

I ran the Sample MA crossover, 1-200,1 for both fast and slow, default optimizer, SPY, 1/1/2019-11/22/2020;
and I was able to see the CPU go over 50% before it quickly finished the optimization.

You haven't revealed which optimizer you used, nor etc.; but maybe try what I tried, and see if your usage goes up.

The same. SampleMACrossover.

Backtest Type: Optimization
Fast: 10 : 10 : 1
Slow: 25 : 50 : 5
Instrument: SP 500 | Select All
Type: Day
Start Date: 01/01/2000
Trading Hours: US Equities RTH

TAJTrades 

The same. SampleMACrossover. Backtest Type: Optimization Fast: 10 : 10 : 1 Slow: 25 : 50 : 5 Instrument: SP 500 | Select All Type: Day Start Date: 01/01/2000 Trading Hours: US Equities RTH

Try it with my settings.
1:200:1 for fast and slow
SPY
1/1/2019

I went thru my code and confirmed that I had followed NT Best Practices. I have.
Then I started to think if I had changed any Windows 10 Pro settings that might have created the problem. Then I remembered that a few weeks ago I Updated the Bios. So I got into the Bios and Cliked the 'Set Defaults' option . Rebooted and started NT8. Strategy Analyzer worked has expected, single instrument optimization firing on all cores and CPU Utilization running 70's and low 80'.s. Batch Test Optimization ( SP 500 | Select All) was firing all cores with CPU Utilization in the high 40's.

So I am guessing that some setting while Flashing the Bios did not catch. Or when I was looking around the Bios screens I accidentally changed a setting. This was probably causing Windows issues and it flowed down to NT8 while the computer was under heavy load. I have no idea what setting(s) was the culprit.

If anyone following this thread is experiencing the same issues you can not rule out the Bios as a potential problem. Either from Flashing the Bios, Over Clocking or changing any Bios Settings.

Not sure if this will help anyone... But I got mixed results. I have 3 different machines with NT8. 2/3 machines reached 75%+ utilization when running the optimizer. My 3rd machine reached only about 15% utilization.



Here is what I found:

First Machine:
CPU: x2 Intel Xeon 8-core , 16 cores total
OS: Windows 10
Peak Utilization: 81%

Second Machine:
CPU: Intel Xeon 10-core
OS: Windows Server Standard 2019
Peak Utilization: 76%


Third Machine:
CPU: 4-core Intel i7 CPU
Windows 10 (Bootcamp'd Macbook Pro 15 2017)
Peak Utilization: 15%



I tried some of my own strategies, and also tried the settings recommended by Userque. Similar results for each test.

Have you tried doing a fresh install of NT8? I've run into issues like this in the past (Especially after updates) and reinstalling seemed to fix a lot.


Best of luck

Thanks for the info.

Have you tried loading up Market Analyzer with 3000+ stock and ETF Symbols? I was trying to use the Market Analyzer as an EOD Stock Screener. It is hit or miss with me. Sometimes there is high Cap Utilization sometimes not so much.

I think it would be helpful if the Brain Trust of Futures IO would create a standard Strategy for people to use and post results ( elapsed time, Cap Utilization....) as will as specs of their rig(CPU, MOBO, Storage, GPU). I have a feeling that some HW setups perform much better than others. I just don't now what they are.