Optimized rendering: 8 core, 16GB RAM, Nucleo Pro
by Andy Taplin
on
Nov 29, 2007 at 1:34:28 pm
Hi All
I can't seem to get my MacPro to use most of its processor power (according to the activity monitor) when rendering from AFX CS3 8.
All 8 cores are being used but on simple renders only about 20-30% of the capacity.
The AFX multiprocessor renders are also slightly faster than Nucleo Pro which surprises me. And there appears to be no difference between normal and maximum in the performance level options for Nucleo. I've tried fooling around with the percentage of RAM allocation - no real difference at 60,100 or 120%. Am I missing something?
If it's a tricky render more processor power is used but I'd like the option of maxing out the Mac even on simple renders.
Re: Optimized rendering: 8 core, 16GB RAM, Nucleo Pro by Itamar Kool on Nov 29, 2007 at 2:36:42 pm
I have about the same experience as you do. Also starnge thing is that when I do a RAM preview in Nucleo Pro 2, the green bar stops right before the end and I have to hit shift-space bar again to really see the RAM preview
Kool En De Anderen
MAC Pro 8 core/Kona LHe/Apple FCS 2/Adobe PPCS3/Huge fibrechannel
www.koolendeanderen.nl
Re: Optimized rendering: 8 core, 16GB RAM, Nucleo Pro by Jason Milligan on Nov 29, 2007 at 6:52:12 pm
Perhaps I'm wrong, but I doubt anyone can configure their machine to always max out its resources for every render. Some renders aren't going to need as many resources to compute their data. Processors and RAM aren't the only variable when rendering either. Your hard-drives can only spin and write data so quickly (keep in mind your system is also probably using hard-drive space as a scratch disk also). There will be a threshold where one (be it RAM, processors, hard-drive, graphics card, etc.) cannot keep up with another.
That being said, I imagine someone may have some tips on maximizing your settings to get the most out of your resources. I'm still trying to figure out the best configuration for my computers also.
Re: Optimized rendering: 8 core, 16GB RAM, Nucleo Pro by Joey Burnham on Nov 29, 2007 at 8:45:01 pm
Hi There,
I have basically the same system as you. I could be wrong about this, but as far as I know each core uses 1 gig when multiprocessing. So you need to adjust your percentage of use to a number that gets you less that 1 g. Mine is set to %30.
BUT, I have found that for simple renders it is much better to keep multiprocessing off. It takes longer just for it to fire up all the cores than the initial render would have taken in the first place.
Good luck,
Joey
Re: Optimized rendering: 8 core, 16GB RAM, Nucleo Pro by Andy Taplin on Nov 30, 2007 at 9:09:33 am
Thanks All
I guess I though I had reached computer power nirvana with an 8 core and all that RAM! - still I can run 4 or 5 apps at once now which is a big productivity boost.
