-
Multiprocessing on MacPro
Looking for wisdom here: I’m running the new CS3 on my MacPro 2.66GHz tower with 4 Gigs of RAM. I thought that getting the extra 2 Gigs would make Multiprocessing a reality, since my computer has 4 processors. That’s a gig of memory per processor, which seems like a lot to me.
But when I turn on Multiprocessing (well, when I check “render frames simultaneously” in the Multiprocessing preferences tab), I get a 35-50 second delay every time I try to RAM preview. And I’m not talking about the first time you try it, when it has to set up the background processes. I’m saying every time I RAM preview, even after the background processes are in place. Even for a quicktime movie dropped into the timeline with no effects applied to it yet. (And I’m not working at some crazy frame size, either. This is a standard D1 720 by 540 frame.)
I have tried altering my memory allocations, as far up as 60% for RAM preview and as low as 30%. I also took the general memory usage down from 120% of 3GB down to 50%, up to 80%, and back up to 120%. It doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Essentially what happens is that the RAM preview stalls on the first 1 or 2 frames for a very long time, then renders all the frames in the work area very quickly, then stalls again on the last few frames.
When I turn “render frames simultaneously” off, the whole thing starts much faster, though it renders a little slower during the actual time it’s working.
I timed it on a particularly complex area of my project, with multiple layers using Keylight and some CC effects, and the net time was a minute forty using standard rendering vs. over two minutes and 10 seconds using multiprocessing for that particular chunk of my timeline.
What gives? Do I need even more than 4Gigs of RAM? Shouldn’t multiprocessing be faster than the good old fashioned one frame at a time method?
I have read the “freakin’ manual,” and it wasn’t much help. So any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thank you!
-
9 Replies
-
I’m with you… same problem. From what I’ve read it’s supposed to “initialize” multi-processing once per session, but it seems to do it for every preview. What gives?
-
I have a 4 processor mac with 5 gigs of ram…I do notice the delay when it is initializes or distributing the render job — or whatever it is doing.
However, I am rendering more web video stuff so I certainly have not observed the duration of delay you are talking about…
-
I guess you’re looking for a solution , not “me too” but i’m getting same “lag”. I’m on Mac Pro 8core , 8GB ram ( 4x2GB modules ) with nothing else running. It has gotten alot better when i went up from 4GB to 8GB but then again i’m running 8 instances. However lag is still there and i see good 2-3 second gaps in Activity monitor. This leads me to believe that more RAM will help to eliminate the problem.
I’m waiting for Nucleo Pro 2 , since i didnt have this lag on my PowerMac G5 Quad 4.5GB ram with AE7 and Nucleo Pro.
SUGGESTION : Upload sample aep file somewhere and let’s all try to benchmark it WITH and WITHOUT Multiprocessing checked and post results.
-
I would be into that. I’m a little swamped this week, but if no one else has posted anything by next week, I’ll get something up there.
Thanks all for the feedback. Glad to know I’m not crazy…
-
[artisanal television] “I get a 35-50 second delay every time I try to RAM preview. And I’m not talking about the first time you try it, when it has to set up the background processes. I’m saying every time I RAM preview, even after the background processes are in place.”
Are you sure that the background processes stay open after the RAM preview has completed? I’ve experienced the same delay when doing a render, but I haven’t played around with it enough to know for sure what’s going on with the processes. I haven’t done any RAM Previews with ‘Render Multiple Frames Simultaneously’ enabled.
I can tell you that if you plan on using all of your Cores to render that you should also plan on not doing anything else on your computer… I experienced massive slowdowns in other applications using all 4 Cores, this may be resolved by lowering the RAM Cache allowing for more RAM for the OS/other apps but I haven’t tried that yet either.
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
Well, I’m pretty sure the background processes aren’t quitting because I’m talking about RAM previews about a minute or so after each other. Try something, RAM Preview, make a change, RAM Preview… Like that.
And I’m definitely not doing ANYTHING else with the computer. I agree that this totally stresses the machine out.
I also need to play with it and am under a deadline right now, so haven’t gotten around to it.
But thanks for your thoughts. I’ll post again when I’ve made a more serious investigation of the problem…
-
Well, after sitting here with Activity Monitor and AE open I can safely say that AE keeps the necessary processes open between RAM previews (‘aeselflink’ in case you were curious). There was very little noticeable slowdown in between RAM Previews after the first time they booted up on my system (during which time another process ‘ATSServer’ was active).
There is still a small slowdown, but my guess would be this is just AE handing off the render to the other processes. The ‘Adobe After Effects’ process doesn’t do anything while RAM previewing if you are rendering multiple frames simultaneously, if you have this function disabled then ‘aeselflink’ disappears and the ‘Adobe After Effects’ process does all of the… erm… processing =)
Darby Edelen
DVD Menu Artist
Left Coast Digital
Aptos, CA -
I’m on a MACPRO 8-core as well, with 6GB of RAM. What are your cache settings that you’re using? I’m set at 120% and 60%. Also, are you using a disk cache?
I just got NucleoPro 2 as well but haven’t had time to play with it yet.
When I start up AE CS3, it says 4% of 3GB of RAM. I understand this is a limitation of AE. Hopefully that will get better…
Dave
-
This is just a heads up to Wvladik, there is an ongoing discussion at the top of today’s threads that includes benchmarking the performance of CS3 / AE8 on Mac Pro towers. Since you suggested doing the same thing here, just thought you’d like to know.
https://forums.creativecow.net/readpost/2/914104?pview=t#head
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up