Don't worry about it. I often use the computer for a multitude of other tasks while rendering. I browse, word process, run DVDA & Sound Forge, capture new video, edit other projects in Vegas, and even do multiple other renders all at the same time. Set Vegas' process priority to below normal. It will gracefully step out of the way to let other programs run at near full speed, but will still grab every available cycle to keep rendering at a good pace.

The only issue i've ever had is rendering two separate AVCHD-sourced projects at the same time. But, i've only got 1GB of memory. Increasing that would probably make even this task doable.

Works on my PC, but I don't do it on my laptop.

John

If you have a dual-core or better processor, you will be fine. I can break my old single core desktop by surfing while rendering.

I am superstitious about using the computer while burning a DVD. Murphy's law seems to apply there.

As in, things go wrong when you are superstitious? Yeah, i'll buy that one. ;)

How about if another process is also writing data to the same physical disc, presumably this would mean another job for the poor heads. I can't believe how fast those things work.

I work on my PC as well, but not my laptop. Not heavy stuff, buf browsing typing in word etc.

/Ulf

Peter, that sort of thing happens millions of times every day already. Don't worry about it; the drives, controllers, and OS know how to handle it.

I frequently use my PC for other things while rendering. In fact, I like to network render on the local host, so that I'm free to continue working in the same instance of Vegas.

For sure. Rendering is simply a computer function. Now burning is another issue. I'm very reluctant to do other things while burning although I've done it a couple of times in a pinch with no adverse effects. I remember the "gold old days" about 10 years ago where burning a $20 blank DVD-R was an inexact science at best let alone trying to multi-task. Lots of "coasters".

Mike

This is no longer 1976. I'm not a big Microsoft fan, but I will agree that they, and computers in general, have improved immensely in the last three or four decades. :)

I use my PC while rendering without hesitation. If needed, I start mulitple render jobs to make sure the quad core machine is 100% busy. I have multiple optical disks and have burned a Blu-ray and a DVD at the same time, both of which passed "verify". Sometimes, the renders reduces the quality of my experience, so I try to go experience something else. Having been in the computer business for 34 years, I have long since stopped feeling sympathetic toward machines that I paid for. They are machines. There was a time decades ago, when they were so expensive that managers wanted the CPUs to run near 100% all the time to justify the investment over the life of the product. But, I digress. I am happy the way things are, today.

"Sometimes, the renders reduces the quality of my experience, so I try to go experience something else."

Is it liquid?

"Is it liquid?

Less so, these days, but it has happened.

If other tasks include generating graphics and audio or rendering 2 veggies at the same time. Yes all the time

If the other tasks include scrubbing through AVCHD in Vegas and everything freezes. Yes all the time

Yep, most of the time. The only exception is usually during a disc burning.

Generally i shunt all disc burning jobs over to the twin/backup desktop PC over in the corner. Other than that i tend to keep the main PC multitasking most of the time.

No.
JJK