I can't remember where I got these instructions from (it was around two and a half years ago when I was researching Vista issues). I haven't had to try them myself yet but I don't see why it shouldn't work as it is just a set of commands sent to the OS on running an executable. If you give it a try then let us know how you get on. :)
Oh, and from reading the below instructions I'd always use the /d flag to set the active directory of the game just in case.
Instructions follow (but not my wording or example as it was copied from somewhere):
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If you need to run an app in single core affinity from initial loading then create a new shortcut and add the below to the Target:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "<Name>" /high /affinity 1 "<Path>"
Where <Name> is what you want the hover prompt to show and <Path> is the location of the executable file. E.g. for Tomb Raider Legend:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
For further reference, the /affinity flag is set using powers of 2 in hexadecimal as below:
1st core = 1
2nd core = 2
3rd core = 4
4th core = 8
5th core = 10 ( hexadecimal 16 )
6th core = 20 ( hexadecimal 32 )
Therefore for using cores 2 and 3 you would use /affinity 6 (2+4=6)
The priority can have any value of either: low, normal, high, realtime, abovenormal, belownormal.
Sometimes if the game needs to be run as administrator, then you get an error from not starting in the correct folder. Then also add:
/d "<directory>"
The end result being:
C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /C START "Tomb Raider" /d "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend" /high /affinity 1 "C:\Program Files (x86)\Tomb Raider - Legend\trl.exe"
Finally, you just need to change the icon since this will set it to the CMD icon. From the same window, click "Change Icon" then browse to the location of the exe.
And of course, if you need to run as admin then click the Advanced button and check the box "Run As Administrator".
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