Handbrake on low priority setting still high CPU usage

[tom z]

I'm using handbrake to encode video files that are 3+ hours at night time but even with the priority set at lowest I hear my CPU. It's so loud I'm afraid my machine will blow up

I searched and found a thread with the same question but can't find it.

Thanks!

[davexnet]

See if there is a setting to lower thread usage right down. That will help

[jagabo]

Priority is about scheduling, not overall CPU usage. It determines what percentage of the CPU a program gets when multiple programs are requesting CPU time. If Handbrake is the only program requesting CPU time it will get as much time as it can use.

I don't think the GUI version of Handbrake lets you limit amount of CPU it uses. But you can limit the number of threads the encoders uses. Doing so will reduce overall CPU usage by Handbrake (assuming you have multi-core/thread CPU) because encoding will become a bottleneck. For example, with the x264 encoder put threads=1 in the Extra Options box. If that's too low for you raise the number until you get the CPU usage you want.

[tom z]

Thanks Dave and Jag! I've been looking all over in Handbrake for the "threads" setting and still can't find it or know how or see the extra options box. Are you talking about the encoder options where there's a dropdown box of 1.0 to 6.2 to choose? I've been so satisfied using h265 at constant frame rate of 29.97 and bitrate of 3k and audio passthru on two files I've done so far.

My system is an XPS
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
16.0 GB
64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

[jagabo]

Video tab, near bottom, Extra Options:


[Attachment 73721 - Click to enlarge]

The command may vary for other encoders. I believe in x265 it's pools rather than threads: pools=1. You may need to specify frame-threads too: frame-threads=1:pools=1. Again if that's too little cpu usage increase the values until you get what you want.

[davexnet]

That's interesting. In Vidocder, based on HB, there is a setting right in the preferences to limit CPU threads.
Another thing you can do when HB is running, open up the Windows Task Manager,
Details tab, find the Handbrake.exe, right click, set affinity/ deslect some of the cores

[tom z]

Video tab, near bottom, Extra Options:


[Attachment 73721 - Click to enlarge]

The command may vary for other encoders. I believe in x265 it's pools rather than threads: pools=1. You may need to specify frame-threads too: frame-threads=1ools=1. Again if that's too little cpu usage increase the values until you get what you want.

Yes thanks! For some reason mine says advanced options instead of extra options in that area. Even updated to latest version 1.6.1 (2023012300) yesterday.

Thanks to everyone here!

[jagabo]

Sorry. My version is pretty old. I don't really use the program. I guess they've changed the label.