Installation

Requirements

• OS: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
• Runtime: .NET 8 Desktop Runtime (download from Microsoft)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen dual-CCD processor (7950X3D, 9950X3D, 7900X3D, 9900X3D, 7950X, 7900X, 5950X, 5900X, 9950X, 9900X)
• Permissions: Administrator rights (required for setting CPU affinity)

Non-dual-CCD processors and non-AMD systems are detected at startup and shown a friendly exit dialog explaining why the tool is not applicable.

Download

Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page.

Two download options are available on the releases page:

• Installer: X3DCcdOptimizer-Setup.exe -- recommended for most users. Includes .NET 8 runtime, creates Start Menu shortcuts, and handles uninstallation cleanly.
• Portable zip: Contains the application files for users who prefer not to install. Requires .NET 8 Desktop Runtime to be installed separately.

Installing

Option 1: Installer (Recommended)

1. Run X3DCcdOptimizer-Setup.exe
2. Follow the setup wizard -- the installer bundles the .NET 8 runtime, so no separate runtime installation is needed
3. The app is installed to Program Files\X3DCcdOptimizer and configured to run as administrator automatically
4. Launch from the Start Menu or desktop shortcut

Option 2: Portable

X3D CCD Optimizer can also run as a portable application:

1. Extract the zip to any folder (e.g. C:\Tools\X3DCcdOptimizer\)
2. Double-click X3DCcdOptimizer.exe
3. That's it

First Launch

UAC Prompt

The first thing you'll see is a Windows UAC (User Account Control) prompt asking for administrator rights. This is expected and required. The app needs admin privileges to set CPU affinity on running processes -- without it, Windows blocks affinity changes on most applications.

Click Yes to continue.

Trust Dialog

On your very first launch, you'll see a dialog explaining why the app needs admin rights:

X3D CCD Optimizer requires administrator privileges to set CPU affinity on running processes. Without elevation, Windows blocks affinity changes on most applications.

This app is:

• Fully open source -- audit every line at github.com/LordBlacksun/x3d-ccd-optimizer
• Private by default -- no telemetry, no tracking, no network connections. Optional game artwork downloads connect only to Steam's public CDN -- no data is ever sent.
• Minimal -- only reads process lists and sets CPU affinity, nothing else

Click "I Understand, Continue" to proceed. You can also click "View Source on GitHub" to inspect the code before continuing.

This dialog only appears once. It won't bother you on subsequent launches.

What You'll See

After the trust dialog, the main dashboard appears showing:

• Your processor model and CCD topology
• Per-core heatmaps for each CCD
• Three tabs at the bottom: Process Router, Activity Log, and Game Library
• Monitor/Optimize toggle in the top right

The app starts in Monitor mode by default -- it observes but doesn't change anything.

A background library scan (Steam, Epic Games, GOG Galaxy) runs automatically on first launch to populate the Game Library tab with your installed games.

Uninstalling

Installer version

Use Add or Remove Programs in Windows Settings, or run the uninstaller from the Start Menu. The uninstaller will ask whether to remove your user data (config, logs) stored at %AppData%\X3DCCDOptimizer\.

Portable version

1. Close the application (make sure it's not minimized to tray)
2. Delete the folder
3. Optionally, delete the config folder at %AppData%\X3DCCDOptimizer\

If you enabled "Start with Windows," remove the registry entry at HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\X3DCCDOptimizer or disable it in Task Manager's Startup tab.