Can V4 take advantage of dual-core ?

Frenchy wrote on 2/17/2006, 1:09 PM
Just got my new PC up and running smoothly, and I've been transferring files fom old to new. It's an AMD Dual-core (Athlon™ 64 X2 4200+) on an Asus MOBO.

I'm still running V4(e) - I haven't been able to justify extra $$ for upgrade to this hobby... yet.

Question: Can V4 take full advantage of dual core processing?

I ran the (old) Vasst render test last night in about 1:10. Can't run the new one since I don't yet have V6... Although I'm happy with the results/speed, I noticed in Task Manager-->Processes that V4 was using "only" about 50% of CPU. V4 process was set to high priority.

On my machine at work (P4-3.06 GHz), CPU usage is in the 96%-98% range, and the rendertest takes about 2:25+/-

That's what leads me to the follow-up question - Is there a tweak in XP/Vegas 4 that will allow me to take full advantage of the dual core/hyperthreading capability of my hot new processor, or is this only something that V6 can take advantage of?

I tend to think I'm SOL until I upgrade, but thought I'd check here.

Thanks

Frenchy

Comments

Frenchy wrote on 2/22/2006, 8:57 AM
Bump & subject change

Anybody?

Frenchy
busterkeaton wrote on 2/22/2006, 9:09 AM
probably only to a modest degree. I believe, Vegas 4 is not very multithreaded, but it does do the audio on one thread and the video on another. It will be useful, if you decide to run multiple instances of Vegas.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 2/22/2006, 6:07 PM
For the price of the rig, an upgrade is chump change. :D

But if you DO plan to upgrade, wait until V7 is released. It will cost the same as V6 now.
fldave wrote on 2/22/2006, 6:24 PM
From the V4 manual, there is an option to disable dual-processor AVI rendering. They say this option does not affect other dual-processor operations.

So, yes V4 does handle more than one processor, to the extent that many other multi-processor programs functioned that many years ago.

I would suspect that V5/V6 are incrementally more able to handle more than one processor in their functionality.
fldave wrote on 2/22/2006, 6:52 PM
I found my original rendertest results:

P4 3.2, single core, HT enabled, no overclocking, 1GB 4200 DDR2 ram, Dynamic Ram Preview set at both 16MB and 516MB:

Good:
16MB --> 56 Seconds
516MB --> 38 seconds

Best
16MB --> 1:17
516MB --> 1:02

You might check your system and see if XP sees both CPUs:
Task Manager Performance: do you see a split vertical bar with 2 CPU graphs?
My Computer/Properties/Hardware/Device Manager, expand the "Computer" line; you should see "ACPI Multiprocessor PC".

If you don't see "ACPI Multiprocessor PC", XP was not installed correctly to see both CPUs/Cores. The only way to correct the HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) that is to reinstall XP with multiprocessor support. Can't fix HAL without reinstalling. This is in place on both my Dual CPU machine and my HT machine. It should be this way with a dual core machine.
Frenchy wrote on 2/24/2006, 3:41 PM
Thanks for the info fldave. I checked per your suggestions, and the system DOES see both cores - i.e. 2 CPU graphs separated by a vertical bar. I also see "ACPI Multiprocessor PC".

The box in V4 prefs for "disable dual-processor AVI rendering" was UNchecked.

I re-ran the render test at best and good and increased Dynamic Ram Preview, and closed the preview window. Still only saw 50% - 52% CPU utilization. Best time was (of course) good quality at about 0:58 I think...

Any other hints/suggestions from the gallery?

Thanks

Frenchy

fldave wrote on 2/24/2006, 3:59 PM
Unless you are running antivirus, that may be the best you can get with V4. I noted a 10% improvement in render times with V6 vs. V5, so I don't know what the difference is between V4 and V6.

Things to look for are unnecessary background services, antivirus, defrag drives, clean up temp folders. There are lots of posts in this forum on performance, background services to reference.