core I7 quad core only 50% usage while rendering

[Greg Lewolt]

Hi
I just learned that my internet is down at the house, so i will not be able to respond to this thread until tomorrow afternoon (after I leave work in an hour.)
I found something about Vegas 8.0.c not being to use more than 2.5 gigs of memory, but nothing yet about Vegas not using the quad processor to it’s full strength?

thanks, Greg

[John Rofrano]

The number of cores that get used is dependant on the codec. MainConcept MPEG-2 uses all 4 cores at 100%. As you have seen, Windows Media only uses 2 (probably one for audio and one for video). If the codec is not multi-threaded then Vegas cannot process on more cores. Vegas Pro 8.1 in Vista 64 will gladly keep 8 cores busy rendering to MPEG-2 if you have them.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Greg Lewolt]

Thank you very much for the answer. Makes sence.

Greg Lewolt

[Frank Langham]

Go to the “options” pull-down menu and select “preferences”

Select the tab labeled “video”

The 2nd data field is labelled “Max # of rendering threads”

Change this integer value to “8” (the number eight) brcause …

Core i7 Quad has 4 HYPER-THREADING CORES (2X threads per core)

Then, select “Apply” & “OK” at bottom of Options dialogue box. …

Exit Vegas, Saving changes … (BTW, I’m referencing Vegas-P9)

Verify that Windows Hyperthreading *IS* “Enabled” (look it up).

If you had to “Enable Hyper-threading, you must now “Re-boot”.

Start Vegas and re-check your CPU% Utilization.

=Cheers=

[Greg Lewolt]

Ok,
I tried to change the setting from 4 to 8 but when I hit “apply” the number changes back to 4.

I also tried to find how to check and enable hyperthreading on my system and so far all I can find is that you have to re-install windows?

As this is windows 64bit ultimate there does not seem to be a lot to google about hyperthreading yet.

Greg

[Frank Langham]

OK, then,
Iread about “all that” on some Vegas forum and tha thread was concerning a Core2 Duo Proc.

So, firstly, I’m not too surprised that Vegas tops out at 4 threads and I apologize for raising your hopes with that bit of “bad dope”, but, you may take solice in knowing that most NLEs only use one or two procrssing threads and, then, not very efficiently and only during certain operations (usually compression renders) …

Secondly, Hyper-threading is just a way to run two sets of instructions through the same core at the same time and this feature pre-dates the implementation of desk-top multi-cores (non Xeon based systems, anyway). The proc just performs operations on the second thread while the first thread is waiting for slow stuff like disk-read data and other off-die slaves (to over-simplify).
Regardless, if you already had you preferences set to four cores and you were reading 50% CPU Utilization, then that sounds about right, as 4 threads are half of eight (50%).
I can think of several ways things might be made faster but you are unlikely to like ANY of them. But if you were to do all of them, your system NLE performance would likely double. They are . . .

1. Get a faster Core i7 Quad chip.
2. Over-clock your CPU, Memory and Graphics.
3. Wait till Vegas releases support for 8 threads or get NLE that does.
4. Study (at sites like videoguys.com) how to tweak your version of Windows for Max NLE performance.
5. Put your OS on boot drive, your apps on another (VEGAS), your content (clips) on a 3rd drive (fast RAID 0) and most of your Windows swap file allocation space on yet another, dedicated drive. This allows all the various drive access head armatures to stay parked over pertinent data.
6. Do everything in step 5, above, but first replace all your drives with server class extreme SSDs (Solid State Drives).

I really could go on but I don’t want to get too cute, though, I would look into VISTA performance tweaks, VERY ardently, if I was in your position.

Sorry, but except for VISTA performance tweaks, most other options require spending too much or waiting too long.

Best of luck! BTW, “Nice system!” and, “I hate you!”

P.S. At least you know where those switches are and we all found out the current thread limit, in Vegas. Anyone else know anything or want to correct my statements? I am not always right! …mostly.

=cheers=

[Greg Lewolt]

How great that you take the time to provide this info.

Pudget systems makes solid systems, I bought an internet computer too and its very good.

It’s for work, so It’s not mine to play with anyway…

As It would void my warentee i don’t want to mess with over clocking etc. The system renders fine as is, just wanted to use more than 50% of the CPU If possible. As you say the new versions of Vegas should help.

This is why I send everyone to see the COW!

Greg

[John Rofrano]

> 3. Wait till Vegas releases support for 8 threads or get NLE that does.

Ahh… that would be Vegas Pro 8.1 for Vista 64. It’s been out since last fall and will use all 8 cores.

~jr

http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasst.com

[Terry Esslinger]

That is correct and my i7 uses all 8. The percentage varies depending on what effects etc you have going at the time. My last project varied from 45-98% on all 8 cylinders.