RAM Allocation per background CPU?

[Walter Soyka]

Multiprocessing (the “Render multiple frames simultaneously” feature) launches background instances of the After Effects renderer. Each instance can render one frame at a time, and each instance is separate, loading its own private copy of your project into its own private area of RAM. The “RAM allocation per background CPU” dictates the minimum amount of RAM that must be available to each instance of the renderer.

Although there is no “right” setting for this — RAM usage is highly dependent on what it is you are rendering — I think that your settings are entirely too aggressive, and that by asking so many instances to use so little RAM each, with so little RAM left over for the operating system, you are probably actually slowing your renders down. I suggest leaving a quarter of your RAM available for other applications, and using a higher allocation per background CPU. This may leave you fewer instances, but each one will be able to work much more efficiently.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Adrian Vayn]

i left so little ram for the system cause i have 2 computers and while im rendering i switch to other pc, also i’ve put 2 GB on allocation and now i seem to get constant 100% cpu usage, is this fine or should i increase the allocation?

[Walter Soyka]

[Adrian Vayn] “i left so little ram for the system cause i have 2 computers and while im rendering i switch to other pc, also i’ve put 2 GB on allocation and now i seem to get constant 100% cpu usage, is this fine or should i increase the allocation?”

If your car is stuck in mud and you stomp on the accelerator, your wheels will spin. Your engine’s RPMs will shoot up, but you won’t actually go anywhere.

Your goal is the fastest render, not the highest RAM or CPU utilization.

I’d suggest leaving more than 3 GB for the OS and see if it improves your overall performance.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Adrian Vayn]

CPU for other applications
RAM for other applications

Which one? and how much

[Alex Lindblom]

Well for CS6 it’s very well explained in this link. The good stuff is at the end.
https://tv.adobe.com/watch/digital-video-cs6/how-to-optimize-after-effects-cs6-for-high-performance/

I use to same set up on 32 gig system and it works fine.

6 GB for other applications

4 real cpus, in your case it will be 6 cpus he explains why in the video.

3 GB per core and you can afford 4 GB since you have more memory.

[Adrian Vayn]

Is this better? or should i lower the RAM allocation

[Walter Soyka]

Try some test renders and see if they’re faster.

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]

[Adrian Vayn]

alright this is what i put

RAM reserved for other applications – 8GB
CPUs reserved for other applications – 2GB
RAM allocation per background cpu – 2GB

and i seem to get overall best performance, is this good setting?

[Adrian Vayn]

Anyways i was testing yesterday and these are probably best settings now that i’ve got, what do you think?

[Walter Soyka]

I think if that’s giving you the lowest render times, then those are good settings.

Again, there are no hard and fast rules; a lot of this is dependent on what you are rendering. I have had some projects where I had to reserve a minimum of 12 GB per background CPU; others have been fine with 3 or 4 GB. If you’ve found something that’s working well for you, go for it!

Walter Soyka
Designer & Mad Scientist at Keen Live [link]
Motion Graphics, Widescreen Events, Presentation Design, and Consulting
@keenlive   |   RenderBreak [blog]   |   Profile [LinkedIn]