Multi-Tasking while Reencoding with CCE?

[defense]

I have never multi-tasked while reencoding..although I've read and have been told that it's not as disk intensive as authoring so you can do it. I just have been skeptikal. I usually don't multi-task when using any tools for DVD's.....but I was curious how many of you do multi-task.

I know some people have different computers for reencoding and burning...and internet or games....but the ones who use one computer for everything..i'm just curious when you use CCE, do you change the encoding priority to "low" or medium?

Or do you just multi-task with encoding set to high. I would like to multi-task while reencoding but I wouldn't want to jeopardize the encoding process in any way. Does anyone know of ANY instances where multi-tasking has caused some issues with the encoding process with CCE?

Thanks in advance for any info.

[adam]

From my experience, lowering the priority of CCE only makes it use less CPU cycles, not less memory. So simply lowering its priority shouldn't make it any less stable, it will only take longer to encode.

CCE is incredibly resource heavy and will use almost all your ram if you let it. If you give it much less than 256megs than it can become unstable and may crash the program, or your os. As long as you have plenty of memory, or don't multitask too much, everything should be fine.

I usually do my encoding during the night while I sleep. when I do encode during the day, and I need to use the PC, I lower the priority and have never had any problems so far.

[defense]

@adam, thx for the info! I have 512MB DDR RAM, ...basically I just want to surf the web sometimes..instead of always encoding before I go to sleep which is what i've been doing. You think i'm safe with my memory to encode while I surf the web...also leaving the encoding priority to HIGH?

Thanks again in advance

[flaninacupboard]

i always used to leave the priority on low when multi-tasking (i have a dedicated machine now though ) because even left on low it will use 100% CPU, but if you want another app to run, it can, with no speed loss. don't ever bother trying to multitask on anything less than a 1ghz machine with CCE though, there's just not enough guts for it.

[SLK001]

I use CCE 2.50. It really chews up the available processing power (100% most of the time), but I noticed that its memory usage wasn't all that high (<25% if my memory serves me correctly). I have 512MB of ram available to it, and would give it access to all of it, but it doesn't seem to want any more than what it has.

I sometimes start encoding and play a card game while it is running (motion menus, which are about a minute long, and there are six of them - at 3 pass VBR). There is no issue doing this, but you will notice a slowdown of these other applications while you are encoding.

[Doggiedaddy]

Hi defense,
I have the luxury of multiple machines so I never use any machine while in the encoding process. I believe you can but it would be like working on an old P2 or something because of available CPU and memory for other activates. It would probably just p*** you off because it was so slow. As I type, one machine is running the big three [DIF4U, DCCE4U, ReAuthorist] and the task monitor shows 100%CPU, 651MB RAM. Also PC Alert with Cooler XP running shows CPU Temp is 55c and System is @41c.
This is on a middle of the road machine an AMD 2000+XP OverClocked slightly [if I remember correctly 1.79ghz] on a MSI MoBo and a 512 2700ddr RAM.

I would say it is working its a** off. You be the judge?
jm2c
Dd

[defense]

@flaninancupboard, SLK, and DoggieDaddy, thanks for your responses, .....it seems like the consensus is to just keep my computer for encoding before I go to sleep. That's what I have been doing and I guess that's what i'm gonna have to continue to do. I have a P4, 2.4GHZ system OC'd at 2.95 GHZ, ...but I guess it still isn't worth it.


Thanks for all your input...

[Khujo]

I do a lot of encoding but i always lower the priority and continue to do what i want on my computer, i haven't noticed any problems with my resulting dvds. I pretty much attribute it to the NT Kernels handling of multitasking. I have occasionaly even played a game while an encode is going on in the background, i'm sure encode slows to a crawl but my machine still played the game ok and the resulting file was fine, i don't make it a habit of playing games but i do usually keep media files, tv shows or something running on my tv-out while i surf the web on my secondary monitor and chat or prepare stuff to encode on my main monitor. I do have a fairly fast computer (2.533 P4 @ 2634 1GB PC2700) and always do encoding to another drive besides my system drive (i have 6 harddrives) so that probably has a lot to do with it also.

[TBoneit]

All Multi-tasking while encoding does is lengthen the time for the encode to finish. It should/will have no effect on the output file quality. Only on how long it takes. I always am running several processes at once. I do however avoid burning a disk while encoding since encoding always runs the CPU at 100%

If running Win 2000 or Win XP then Ctrl-Alt-Del will bring up the task manager and choosing the performance tab will show you cpu usage.

I Browse the net, DL E-mail, Read the Usenet and author a DVD at the same time I'm encoding. In fact right now I have six things open and running.

Cheers

[WeedVender]

I have the luxury of having 4 machines, 3 of which are SMP.
I really dont have any problem encoding and doing other things like downloading and playing music or burning....

But in the single processing machine... u encode and things start to slow to a crawl....