Ultra Fractal is fully multi-threaded and can take advantage of multi-processor computers to speed up fractal calculations. This is done by splitting the fractal to multiple parts so the processors can work on each part in parallel. You can even distribute calculations to other computers with the network calculations feature.
This works well with most Mandelbrot-type fractals, where each pixel of the fractal can be calculated independently. However, with fractal types such as IFS and Flame Fractals [1], the entire image is calculated in one step and it cannot be subdivided. Therefore, multiple processors and network calculations will not speed up these fractal types. In Ultra Fractal 3, rendering these fractal types was not recommended, but that limitation does not apply anymore.
If you have a processor with HyperThreading, Ultra Fractal will recognize it as a dual processor and split up its calculations accordingly. In most cases, this will result in a modest speed improvement. Otherwise, you can force Ultra Fractal to use just one processor.
Open the Options dialog and go to the Fractal tab. In the Advanced calculation options area, the Minimum number of threads option sets the minimum number of threads that Ultra Fractal will use for a single fractal window. If this is set to 1, calculations will not be subdivided. Typically, this should be set to the number of processors on your computer.
The Maximum number of threads option limits the number of threads for a fractal window. Ultra Fractal uses the minimum number of threads for each layer, subdividing calculations as necessary, until the maximum number of threads is reached. This ensures that complex fractals with many layers will not saturate the system by using too many threads. If you would like more layers to be calculated simultaneously, you can increase this setting.
[1] To use IFS and Flame Fractals, you first need to download the set of public formulas from the online formula database. Select Pixel in mt.ufm as the fractal formula and either Iterated Function Systems in mt.ucl, or Flame Fractals in enr.ucl as the outside coloring algorithm.
Next: Default fractal
See Also
Fractal windows
Playing animations