-
Got a bunch of RAM-now how do I use it?
I just bought some more RAM for my MAC PRO. Currently I’m at 20Gigs of 800 Mhz DDR2 FB-DIMM
with 2 x 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon. When I bought the RAM I was mistakenly under the impression that the more RAM=faster rendering/playback in AE. I’m using CS4 and I wanted to know if anyone has recommendations on the best settings for the Memory Cache and Memory and Multiprocessing. I’m working with alot of lights and cameras for this project and it’s taking very long to render. If the RAM isn’t the solution, is there another way to get this machine faster. Here are my current AE settings:Installed CPU’s 8
Installed RAM 20GB
Total After Effects memory usage 17.12GB
RAM to leave for other apps; .5GMultiprocessing
(checked)Render Multiple Frames SimultaneouslyMinimum allocation per CPU 2.09 GB
Slider is set all the way to FASTER RENDERING
Foreground memory usage: .4G
Background memory usage 16.72 GB (2.09GB per CPU)
Actual CPUS that will be used 8In case this helps:
Disk Cache;
Max. Disk Cache Size 2000MB
(I set Cache to my Main Drive 400G remaining)Conformed Media Cache
Database: set to Main Storage(same as Cache)Cache; set to Main Storage(same as disk Cache)
**what do these Cache’s do, should I be cleaning the Database and Cache??*
XMP Metadata
(checked)Write XMP ID’s to Files on Import
(unchecked) Create Layer Markers from Footage XMP Metadata.
Just in Case:
I have two internal drives, MAIN STORAGE has 400G remaining. and my other has 176G remaing(all my applications are on this)
Sorry for all of the info, I just figured I’d post as much as I could now, to avoid posting back and forth just for info.
I’ve only been using AE consistently now for about five months. I love the program and love motion graphics. I just want to make sure I’m putting this Mac to its good use. Could you guys just let me know what I’m doing wrong, if anything? Also what will make this go faster if it’s not RAM? I do appreciate all the help. Thanks.
John Terrone
-
3 Replies
-
[John Terrone] ” I’m working with alot of lights and cameras for this project and it’s taking very long to render. If the RAM isn’t the solution, is there another way to get this machine faster. Here are my current AE settings: “
You have an almost identical setup as my main system (2.8 Quad core with 20GB RAM) and mine renders blazingly fast (as compared to the past systems I’ve used). I think it may be your use of multiple cameras and lights. Since I don’t use AE for 3D, I’m not sure, but the apps that I do happen to use for 3D (Cinema4D, Maya, and Motion) will all slow down considerably as more lights and cameras are added.
By the way, Your memory settings are spot-on for the best performance in AE unless you do a lot of RAM previews.
Primary System Info –
Mac Pro 2×3.2 Quadcore – 10.5.6 – QT 7.5.5 – 14 GB RAM – nvidia8800GT – SATA internal & external storage – Blackmagic Multibridge Pro (v6.7)- Open GL 1.5.9 – Wacom Intous2 tablet -
Thanks for you help. I do a lot of RAM Previews as well. Are there better settings for previewing? Also do you know what the cache is for?Thanks!!
John Terrone
-
> Also do you know what the cache is for?
You could search After Effects Help for ‘conformed media cache’ and find this explanation:
“When After Effects imports video and audio in some formats, it processes and caches versions of these items that it can readily access when generating previews. Imported audio files are each conformed to a new .cfa file, and MPEG files are indexed to a new .mpgindex file. The media cache greatly improves performance for previews, because the video and audio items do not need to be reprocessed for each preview.”
You also asked about the disk cache in your first message. Here’s what After Effects Help says:
“If disk caching is enabled, After Effects can store rendered items to your hard disk when the RAM cache is full during standard previews. The disk cache is not used for RAM previews. As with the RAM cache, After Effects only uses the disk cache to store a frame if it’s faster to retrieve a frame from the cache than to rerender the frame…. For the best performance, select a folder that’s on a different physical hard disk than your source footage. If possible, the folder should be on a hard disk that uses a different drive controller than the disk that contains your source footage. The disk cache folder can’t be the root folder of the hard disk.”
———————————————————————————————————
Todd Kopriva, Adobe Systems Incorporated
putting the ‘T’ back in ‘RTFM’ : After Effects Help on the Web
———————————————————————————————————
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up