Compressor doesn't use 100% CPU performance

[gangst]

Hi,

Well I've been testing my new quad G5 and recently discovered that Compressor only uses about 50-60% of the total CPU performance. In enery saver I have it set to highest CPU performance, is there any way to get programs like Compressor, Final Cut, DVD Studio, ffMpegX to use 100% of the CPU's?

Thanks

 

[Laslo Panaflex]

If it used 100% of CPU performance, there would be no room for OS and Finder and other critical apps that are needed for compressor to run, one of which is FCP itself. Getting 60% from 4 2.5 processors is really nice indeed for a desktop, probably destroys my dual 2.0.

 

[solvs]

Yeah, that's about right. You should never have an app take up 99% or more. If you set it to Highest, that would give you the best performance you can get. Compressor and those other apps are going to be slow when encoding no matter what you use, but you can check the CPU processes to make sure nothing else running is taking up valuable resources other than Finder and related stuff.

Oh, and get more RAM. Unless you have 8GB, you can never have enough RAM.

 

[Lacero]

Compressor 2 is buggy and slow. Apple hasn't fixed the VBR MPEG2 encoder for nearly 9 months, and the bug with Batch Monitor that keeps the Apple display awake.

Still, for frame control options, Compressor kicks ass.

Here's to the Crazy Ones ​

 

[St. Jimmy]

Hi,

Well I've been testing my new quad G5 and recently discovered that Compressor only uses about 50-60% of the total CPU performance. In enery saver I have it set to highest CPU performance, is there any way to get programs like Compressor, Final Cut, DVD Studio, ffMpegX to use 100% of the CPU's?

Thanks

Isn't that a good thing? I mean, you can use the processor for other stuff while you use the Compressor. I would like that part. Winzip usually freezes my computer, (I need to get a new computer)

 

[gangst]

Yeah, I see where your all coming from 100% was a bit extreme I was hoping nearer 70-80%. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[belvdr]

I would use vmstat (in Terminal) to see where your system is constrained. You might find that either you need more memory or your disk is your bottleneck.

 

[JesterJJZ]

Apple hasn't fixed the VBR MPEG2 encoder for nearly 9 months,

Is this why my 60i encodes look like blocky poo on a stick?

 

[lordj4000]

I would use vmstat (in Terminal) to see where your system is constrained. You might find that either you need more memory or your disk is your bottleneck.

actually, that would be vm_stat. Just to avoid confusion