User guide

HP Performance
Advisor
Table of contents
3 Getting started
3 Administrator privileges
3 Internet access
3 Launching
3 Auto update
4 Navigation
4 Utility Menu items
5 White Paper Index
5 Your computer
5 Block Diagram
6 Confguration Details
7 Confguration Report
7 GPU Utilization
8 System BIOS
8 System Sensors
9 Your Software
10 Supported applications
11 Your performance
11 Memory Usage Graph
12 Workstation Monitor
13 Record Performance Data
14 Play Back Performance Data
15 Play Back Plot
17 Windows Experience Index
18 Table of fgures
User guide | Performance Advisor
Welcome to HP Performance Advisor.
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HP Performance Advisor is designed to
optimize your HP Workstation experience by providing information and tools
that beneft the administrator and end-user.
User guide | Performance Advisor
Getting started
HP Performance Advisor
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is supported on the HP Workstation family:
Desktop workstations Z230 SFF / Z230 Tower, Z220 SFF / Z220 CMT, Z420, Z620, Z820
All-in-One workstations Z1, Z1 G2
Mobile workstations ZBook 14, ZBook 15, ZBook 17, 8470w, 8570w, 8770w
The program may be run with limited functionality and support on other HP personal computers.
HP Performance Advisor website: hp.com/go/hpperformanceadvisor
Administrator privileges
Administrator privileges are required to run HP Performance Advisor. The user must be part of
the Administrators Group. See Windows Control Panel -> System and Security -> User Account
Control for more information. Windows 7 and 8 User Account Control (UAC) notifes you before
changes are made to your computer that requires administrator-level permission.
Internet access
Internet access to HPs web server is required to provide full functionality. The web server
contains the latest database, white papers, and graphics drivers. Your local network may
require a web proxy server to access web pages outside of your network, in which case
the user may be prompted to enter the name of a web proxy server when launching
HP Performance Advisor. The standard HTTP port 80 connection is used to access the
HP web server. The administrator can check for web browser connectivity using this URL:
http://isvpatch.external.hp.com/Advisor/
HP Performance Advisor will function without internet access but will be missing information
on the latest applications and workstation features. In addition, the white paper and graphics
driver download feature will not be available.
Launching
HP Performance Advisor can be started from the Windows Start Menu > All Programs > HP.
Alternatively, it can be started from an administrator command prompt by typing Advisor.
See the online help for command line options.
Auto update
At startup, HP Performance Advisor will check the web server for the latest version of the
database and application. HP Performance Advisor will automatically install the latest version
of the database and application.
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Navigation
HP Performance Advisor
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is organized into
three main sections: Your Computer, Your
Software, and Your Performance
Quick access to the main functions
Utility Menu and home page buttons
Utility Menu items
Use the right-mouse button to access
features of the block diagram component
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Table 1 Navigation hints
Utility Menu items
About Displays the application version, database time stamp, and an email alias
(ap-assist@hp.com) to contact the HP Performance Advisor
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development team
Help Mode Turns help on and of
Install Update Installs the latest application and database
Network Info Displays the database connection status. Allows the user to set the web-proxy URL,
port, and optional authentication.
White Paper index Access to knowledge-based documents
Command Line Command line options
Improvement
Program
Optionally participate in the Improvement Program. Basic system information
is sent to the HP web server each time HP Performance Advisor is started. No
personal data is included.
Table 2 Utility Menu
User guide | Performance Advisor
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White Paper Index
The White Paper Index provides access to knowledge-based documents related to
HP Workstations, ISV software applications, software, and hardware components.
The White Paper Index can be accessed from the utility menu or the home page.
Your Computer
Three views provide insight into the workstations hardware components, system management
BIOS, and software components such as device drivers. The three views include the Block
Diagram, Confguration Details, and Confguration Report.
Block Diagram
The Block Diagram view is available for HP Z Workstations, HP ZBook Mobile Workstations, and
HP EliteBook Mobile Workstations. It provides a visual representation of the architecture of the
workstation and installed components.
Figure 1 White Paper Index
Figure 2 An example of a Z820 block diagram.
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Click on a component icon to examine further details. Selectable component icons include
model, CPU, chipset, graphics, BIOS, sensors, and storage devices.
Confguration Details
The Confguration Details view is available for all HP Workstations. The frst part of the
Confguration Details page consists of a summary of the workstations confguration, and it
provides the most commonly required information at a glance. This view provides further
details for hardware components and is organized in an expandable table format.
Figure 3 An example of component details. Details vary by component.
Figure 4 An example of the Confguration Details windows.
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Confguration Report
The Confguration Report view is available for all HP Workstations. This view provides further
details for hardware components in a contiguous document format. For example, this document
carries almost everything there is to know about the workstation, and is therefore a useful tool
for communicating your systems confguration to a support engineer. The confguration report
can be saved to fle in XAML or text format. The XAML formatted fle can be emailed, shared, and
supported by most web browsers.
GPU Utilization
The GPU Utilization window is accessible from the graphics card component in the block diagram
and also the graphics card expandable section in the confguration details view.
Figure 5 An example of the Confguration Report window.
Figure 6 An example of the GPU Utilization window.
User guide | Performance Advisor
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System BIOS
The System BIOS window is accessible from the BIOS icon in the block diagram or the BIOS
expandable section in the confguration details view. The administrator can view and modify
BIOS settings, create a custom group, and restore factory defaults. Any BIOS changes made
here will take efect on rebooting the workstation.
System Sensors
The System Sensors window is available for HP Z Desktop Workstations and is accessible from
the system model icon in the block diagram or the system overview panel in the confguration
details view. Clicking on the sensors button opens a popup window which shows the current
thermal status of the workstation, including fan speeds and temperatures. The sensor window
will report a varying number of sensors depending on your system confguration.
Figure 7 An example of the System BIOS window.
Figure 8 An example of the System Sensors window.
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Your Software
The Your Software section is accessible from the home page. Its default view displays
icons representing the vendors of the certifed applications which are currently installed
on the workstation.
Clicking on a vendors icon opens a window which displays a list of certifed applications. An
application specifc window is available for each certifed applications installed on your system.
The application specifc page may include the following features:
View the graphics driver status and if needed download certifed graphics drivers. This
provides an easy way to ensure that the application is running in the environment it was
certifed for.
Apply recommended system BIOS settings for certifed applications to optimize performance
and stability.
Application-specifc diagnostic and tuning tools are available for select applications. In some
cases, application-related white papers are available.
Figure 9 An example of the Your Software window.
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Supported applications
Adobe After Efects Autodesk VRED Design
Adobe Photoshop Autodesk VRED Professional
Adobe Premiere Pro AVEVATM Solutions Marine
ANSYSTM ANSYS CFX AVEVA Solutions PDMS
ANSYS ANSYS Fluent AVEVA Solutions Plant
ANSYS ANSYS Mechanical AVEVA Solutions Review
Autodesk 3ds Max Avid Media Composer
Autodesk Alias Avid Pro Tools
Autodesk Alias Automotive Bentley AECOsim Building Designer
Autodesk Alias Design Bentley MicroStation
Autodesk Alias Sketch Bentley Navigator
Autodesk Alias Surface Bentley WaterCAD
Autodesk AliasStudio Cakewalk SONAR X1 Essential
Autodesk AutoCAD Cakewalk SONAR X1 Producer
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture Cakewalk SONAR X1 Studio
Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Dassault Systemes CATIA+
Autodesk AutoCAD Electrical Dassault Systemes eDrawings
Autodesk AutoCAD Land Desktop Dassault Systemes PhotoView 360
Autodesk AutoCAD LT Dassault Systemes SolidWorks
Autodesk AutoCAD Map 3D Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Motion
Autodesk AutoCAD Mechanical Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Simulation
Autodesk AutoCAD MEP Dynamic Graphics CoViz 4D
Autodesk AutoCAD P&ID Dynamic Graphics EarthVision
Autodesk AutoCAD Plant 3D ESRI ArcGIS
Autodesk AutoCAD Raster Design Google
TM
Earth
Autodesk AutoCAD Structural Detailing Google SketchUp Pro
Autodesk Composite Hewlett-Packard HP Remote Graphics Receiver
Autodesk Design Review Hewlett-Packard HP Remote Graphics Sender
Autodesk HSMWorks Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Autodesk Infraworks Intergraph ERDAS Imagine
Autodesk Inventor Intergraph GeoMedia
Autodesk Inventor Professional Intergraph GeoMedia Viewer
Autodesk Maya Paradigm Advanced Subsurface Software
Autodesk Mechanical Desktop Paradigm GOCAD
Autodesk MotionBuilder Paradigm SKUA
Autodesk Mudbox Parallels Workstation Extreme
Autodesk Navisworks Freedom PTC CoCreate Modeling
Autodesk Navisworks Manage PTC Creo Direct
Autodesk Navisworks Simulate PTC Creo Elements/Direct Modeling
Autodesk PC Performance Rating PTC Creo Elements/Pro
Autodesk Revit Architecture PTC Creo Parametric
Autodesk Revit MEP PTC Creo Simulate
Autodesk Revit Structure PTC Pro/ENGINEER Wildfre
Autodesk Showcase Red Digital Cinema REDCINE-X Pro
Autodesk Simulation CFD Schlumberger Petrel
Autodesk Simulation Mechanical Siemens PLMS NXTM
Autodesk SketchBook Designer Siemens PLMS NX I-deas
Autodesk Softimage Siemens PLMS Solid Edge
Autodesk VRED
User guide | Performance Advisor
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Your performance
Memory Usage Graph
The Memory Usage Graph is an interactive color enhanced view of the system memory usage.
The per process memory usage is shown in a both a graph and table format. Programs that are
associated with certifed applications are automatically highlighted. Tool-tips report detailed
process information when the pointer is located over a highlighted process. Additional functions
such as capacity meters and process afnity are shown by right-clicking on a highlighted
process in the table.
Figure 10 An example of the Memory Usage Graph window.
User guide | Performance Advisor
Workstation Monitor
The Workstation Monitor is useful for recording system and application resource usage
over a period of time such as a typical work day, while running an application benchmark,
or investigating system sizing criteria while running a series of applications and workfows.
Overview:
Set the duration.
Optionally choose
applications
to watch.
Start recording
performance data.
A Workstation Monitor icon
will be located in the
system task tray
while recording
performance data.
At the end of recording
period, a new log
notifcation, summary
of resource usage,
high-resource usage alert
button, and time-based
plot will become available.
Use the plot play back
window to review usage
over a period of time,
view top resource
consumers for each
sample period, and view
device specifc details.
1. Confgure and start
recording resource usage
with HP Performance
Advisor.
2. Run the workloads,
benchmarks, and
applications you are
interested in measuring.
3. Analyze, and
play back resource
usage history with
Performance Advisor.
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User guide | Performance Advisor
Record Performance Data
Use the record Performance Data window to confgure and start the Workstation Monitor.
The Workstation Monitor icon is located in the system tray while it is in record mode. Right-click
the Workstation Monitor icon to access additional Workstation Monitor features.
Figure 11 An example of the Workstation Monitor Record Performance Data window.
Figure 12 The Workstation Monitor icon and runtime options.
Table 3 Workstation Monitor runtime options.
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Workstation Monitor
menu Item
Action
Show current activity Open the Workstation Monitor recording window. The recording
window displays a time based plot with up to 10 minutes of
performance data samples.
Add a note to the log fle Enter a note into the performance log at specifc times or events.
Close log now The current performance log fle is closed by the Workstation
Monitor and made available to HP Performance Advisor. The
Workstation Monitor continues recording in a new log fle.
Stop capture and exit Stops the Workstation Monitor. The current performance log is
closed and made available to HP Performance Advisor.
User guide | Performance Advisor
Play Back Performance Data
The Play Back Performance Data button will be highlighted yellow when a new performance
log fle becomes available to HP Performance Advisor.
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A new log becomes available when the
Workstation Monitor completes the recording period, when the Workstation Monitor is manually
stopped, or the current log fle is manually closed.
The Play Back Performance Data window displays a list of previously recorded performance
logs. Each performance log includes a button to open the play back plot window, a performance
alert notifcation, export and delete buttons, and a textual summary.
Figure 13 An example of the new log fle notifcation.
Figure 14 An example of Workstation Monitor Play Back Performance Data window.
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User guide | Performance Advisor
Each performance log is analyzed and assigned a performance alert notifcation.
No alerts found in log fle Performance issue found in log fle.
Figure 15 An example of log fle button.
Figure 16 Import and export performance logs
Play Back Plot window
The Play Back Plot window displays:
A time-based plot for the selected samples. The selected samples displayed in the plot
window can be either all of the samples recorded in the performance log or a user-selected
subset of the total samples. A subset of samples can be selected by using the zoom function.
Pointing the mouse on the plot will highlight a single sample period.
A column of expanders organized by performance category and device type. The current
value column displays the performance value for the highlighted sample. The average and
maximum values are determined from the selected samples displayed in the plot.
Zoom function: The user can zoom-in on selected samples by right-clicking and sliding the
mouse over the desired samples. Shift+right-mouse will un-zoom.
Plot control: Performance metrics represented by relative capacity (0-100%) can be shown or
omitted on the plot by using the check box and the plot line color can be adjusted by the color
palette button.
Figure 17 An example of the Play Back Plot window showing system and application CPU usage.
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The performance log is a plain text fle located in the Windows application data folder.
No personal identifable information is included.
Each performance log can be exported to a text fle. Export button.
The text fle can then be imported into another
administrator system.
Import button
User guide | Performance Advisor
Alert button: Located on the plot window is an alert button. The alert button will open a window
to explain the potential performance limitation and possible remedies.
Figure 18 An example of an alert that reports high GPU usage.
Notes: During the recording period, the Workstation Monitor allows the user to enter notes into
the log fle. For example, the notes can designate the start or end of a specifc activity. During
play back the note will appear at the top of the play back plot window. Each note is designated
by a yellow sticky icon and a dashed vertical line. Hovering over the note icon will show the content.
Figure 19 An example of the Play Back Plot window that includes several user added notes.
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User guide | Performance Advisor
Figure 20 An example of the details available from the WEI test.
Windows Experience Index
HP Performance Advisor
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provides a more detailed look at the Windows Experience Index (WEI).
The WEI is useful for establishing a base rating and then running it periodically as new software,
driver, OS, or hardware components are added or modifed. The program exposes details of the
WEI results showing specifc sub-scores that have been run on each of the main components.
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User guide | Performance Advisor
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Copyright 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein
should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.
Intel is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Google and other marks are trademarks of Google Inc. AMD is a trademark of Advanced
Micro Devices, Inc. Adobe, Photoshop and Creative Cloud are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.
Autodesk, Autodesk Product Design Suite, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, Showcase and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., and/
or its subsidiaries and/or afliates in the USA and other countries. Avid, the Avid logo, Eleven, FluidMotion, M-Audio, Mbox, NewsCutter, Nitris, Pro Tools, Pro
Tools|HD, Pro Tools M-Powered and SpectraMatte are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/
or other countries. RED and all other trademarks, service marks, trade names logos, and product names of RED used on this site are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Red.com, Inc. in the USA and other countries. ESRI and ArcGIS are trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks or service marks of Esri in
the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
4AA5-1659ENW, April 2014
Table of fgures.
Figure 1 White Paper Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Figure 2 An example of a Z820 Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Figure 3 An example of component details. Details vary by component .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Figure 4 An example of the Confguration Details windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Figure 5 An example of the Confguration Report window.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Figure 6 An example of the GPU Utilization window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Figure 7 An example of the System BIOS window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Figure 8 An example of the System Sensors window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Figure 9 An example of the Your Software window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Figure 10 An example of the Memory Graph window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Figure 11 An example of the Workstation Monitor Record Performance Data window . . . . . . . . . 13
Figure 12 The Workstation Monitor icon and runtime options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Figure 13 An example of the new log fle notifcation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Figure 14 An example of Workstation Monitor Play Back Performance Data window . . . . . . . . . . 14
Figure 15 An example of log fle button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Figure 16 Import and export performance logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Figure 17 An example of the Play Back Plot window showing system
and application CPU usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Figure 18 An example of an alert that reports high GPU usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Figure 19 An example of the Play Back Plot window that includes several user added notes .. . 16
Figure 20 An example of the details available from the WEI test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
1. Internet access required.