ConvertXtoDVD 3 Beta...anyone tried this yet?

[oldfart13]

Tried this out on a lark as I had nothing else to do today. Ai Yi Yi! I can see why this is still in Beta! Lotsa problems with having the CPU priority jump so high it overheats your computer and causes a crash (priority is set to "normal" in settings). I put a big fan on the mobo (my case is open) and that solved that problem but I'm having lotsa problems with things like the merge function. 2 videos. Total time: vid 1: 56 min; vid 2: 57 minutes. Total time in task window: 113 minutes BUT the program seems to only see the 1st title of 56 minutes no matter what I try to do. Conversion time is still 32 minutes, which was the conversion time for the first segment. The merge was made using the info on VSO's own website. I'm hoping this is only an oversight/error but I'm thinking I'll have to go back to my earlier version to get any work done. Do people REALLY care that the program doesn't work right vs. extraneous things like the skins on the program? I never could figure that out....let's make it look pretty but non functional as software! Hmmm....

[oldfart13]

Hmmm....more complaints/suggestions in their own forum:

Can't do 2 pass encoding

Menues are nice but things like taking a still out of a file and using that seem to be beyond the ability of the programmers to do. I like this feature of menu creation in TDA as it's quite simple...navigate to frame you want, select start and stop as being the same frame. Save as backround. What could be simpler?

Still have a bit of time before the Beta completes it's task. I'll let you know what happens....

[oldfart13]

60.2% of encode done before the computer locked up and had to be reboot. Guess this software is not ready for prime time as of yet....

[Krispy Kritter]

Regardless of what software you are using, you should look into a real solution for your overheating issue.

[oldfart13]

Checked with my other computer and it's the same thing (almost the same specs - see other thread)...set to "normal" priority and it will run the CPU up to a sustained 100% which causes a thermal shutdown. Set to a lower priority and it will work fine. That comp has 4 (yes, 4!) fans and an open case, so there should be no cooling problems at all. The one I'm typing this on has an open case and 2 fans. Every other piece of software runs fine, including the 2.xx version of ConvertX. That would seem to be a software problem, no? Oh well, it's still in Beta...

[Krispy Kritter]

You should be able to run your cpu at 100%, non-stop, and not result in a heat related shutdown. You also shouldn't need to run an open case. There are exceptions of course, some cases are just poorly designed and can easily cause overheating issues when stuffed full of too much hardware. The room temp can also affect the computer.

My point being, that although the software obviously has issues (as you noted) and needs to be fixed, your computer(s) also have a problem.

[aedipuss]

oldfart you really need to do something to cool the cpus more. all modern computers can run at 100% for days without overheating with a decent heatsink/fan. even the stock intel and amd hsf units will allow it.

first try removing the fan from the heatsink and removing all the packed in dust from the fins. if that isn't enough you should remove the heatsink and the old thermal paste/grease/foam from it and the cpu. then use some decent artic silver or equivalent. if more cooling is still needed get a better hsf from a place like newegg.com that is designed for your cpu.

[jpc82]

Checked with my other computer and it's the same thing (almost the same specs - see other thread)...set to "normal" priority and it will run the CPU up to a sustained 100% which causes a thermal shutdown. Set to a lower priority and it will work fine. That comp has 4 (yes, 4!) fans and an open case, so there should be no cooling problems at all. The one I'm typing this on has an open case and 2 fans. Every other piece of software runs fine, including the 2.xx version of ConvertX. That would seem to be a software problem, no? Oh well, it's still in Beta...

I have to agree something is wrong with your setup. I have run comptuers at 100% load for days without a single issue. Also running a computer with teh case open can actually make heat issues worse. A properly designed case with intake fans at the front (typically bottom) of the case and exhaust fans at the back (typically top) of the case will actually have better airflow then a open case since with an open case you can get dead air that isn't circulated.

[oldfart13]

Did we miss something in the translation? The overheating problem only happens with THIS piece of software. I was running an online game last night for more than 4 hours without a problem. The comp with the 4 fans in it is in a room with the heat turned off (and with temps last night at
-26C, let's just say it was COLD in there). Both comps have had overhauls within the past 6 months including full cleanings with vacuum cleaners, heatsinks reseated, thermal paste replacement, power supplies upgraded, etc. Now there should be no problems...except for the CPU useage IF the priority of this software is set too high (normal or above). Set to a lower value, it works great. Of course, if I could afford a newer duo core job that would work the treat as well, but for the moment, this isn't going to happen and these comps work just fine.

[redwudz]

Most encoders, if functioning properly, will run your CPU at close to 100%. This is a good thing if you want a fast encode. It has no effect on quality. If you want to run your CPU slower, fine.

If you try a Divx encode, it will almost always be at 100%. It does this with my quad core CPU on all four cores. Yes, it generates heat, and my CPU cooler takes care of that. No overheating problem. If you are having overheating, that's a cooling problem, not a encoder problem.

[aedipuss]

gotta agree with red. cpus are supposed to run at 100% without any problem. i've never built one or used one that didn't.

if i had to start working on your's i'd begin with the thermal junction between the cpu and hsf. too much grease, too little grease, dirt/dust trapped, warped heatsink or low quality compound could cause the problem.

[TBoneit]

Exactly When I encode on 2 different computers now and a 3rd one in the past I run/ran the CPU at 100% for hours at a time. Up to 10+ hours on the older 3Ghz P4 in fact.

Any computer should be able to run at 100% for days at a time.

The only thing setting CPU priority should be used for is to let a CPU hungry process like encoding not kill other things from being usable.

And some CPUs just plain run hot. Older Athlons and some of the Pentium Ds