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FCP X 10.0.9 – is there a way to get it to use all the CPU cores?
I have a MacBook (2012 model) with a 2.7GHz Intel Core I7 (4 Cores w/ dual processors). When doing rendering or import operations with FCP X 10.0.9, it seems to be using only one or two of the 8 processors.
In contrast, when I use Handbrake, it can load up all 8 processors.
I was wondering if there is a way to get FCP X to more fully use the multiple processors. I would think that rendering or importing multiple clips would be an obvious are where one can do many operations in parallel.
Any insights would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Mark Weber -
8 Replies
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[Mark Weber] “I have a MacBook (2012 model) with a 2.7GHz Intel Core I7 (4 Cores w/ dual processors). “
PS: Where do you find that this has dual processors, i.e. 8 cores? To my knowledge there is no such Apple laptop, but I could be wrong. It may be hyper-threading, so 8 virtual cores show up in some test/activity utilities.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Apple describes the Macbook as follows in the tech specs: “2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.7GHz)”. It is the model “MacBookPro9,1”.
In the Activity Monitor, the CPU history has 8 hyperthreads and the CPU utilization seems to be basing 100% utilization on using all 8 hyperthreads.
Mark
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[Mark Weber] “In the Activity Monitor, the CPU history has 8 hyperthreads and the CPU utilization seems to be basing 100% utilization on using all 8 hyperthreads. “
Correct. Your machine is a quad-core, single CPU. In other words, 4 physical cores in one processor. Hyper-threading lets the processor run 2 processes interleaved through a single core. That gives you 8 virtual cores. Still not as fast as 8 actual cores, when the software is optimized for multiple cores.
In any case, almost no Apple software, except maybe Compressor, takes advantage of a large amount of cores. That’s why, in many tests, a fast quad-core machine will outperform a slower 8-core machine. The Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs are single-socketed quad-core processors.
But to answer your original question, there’s nothing you can do to help the CPU usage with FCP X. It likes a lot of RAM and fast drives, like SSDs.
– Oliver
Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com -
Thanks – I have maxed the machine at 16GB RAM. So I guess we have to wait for Apple to enhance their software.
Mark
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If Apple is optimizing FCPX for the MacPro, hopefully this will include better optimization for multiple CPU cores across the board.
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FCPX is well known to be doing tasks like rendering and exporting via GPU, not CPU so your experience is entirely in line with the software’s design. More GPU power would translate to higher performance… i.e. YMMV.
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I thought the whole point of the OSX update (particularly including the new Grand Central Dispatch system) was that under OSX, tasks can be directed to the proper assets to get the best performance.
That should mean that anything having to do with graphics including video rendering should go directly to the GPU system and bypass needing the CPU to be involved for the heavy lifting.
That plus the multiple GPU system indicated to be coming in the new R2DX MacPros – and I suspect we’ll see some pretty sweet improvements running X with the new hardware.
And in the long run, as RAW workflows migrate into the video world, that kind of raw graphics horsepower is exactly what we’ll be needing.
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