New Mac Pro seem slow in CPU-intensive task.

Steven1621 · Feb 23, 2008, 11:01 AM

I have a new Mac Pro (standard 2.8 configuration with 3 X 250GB in software RAID0) at my cable station at college. I was expecting this thing to be a real screamer, but I find myself a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's still quite fast. But for CPU-intensive task in Final Cut Studio, I find it to be slower than it should be. For example, compressing a 6 GB DV file for an iPhone is taking 32 minutes. CPU usage is only around 30% per core. I've never been able to drive CPU usage above this level in any task (Handbrake, Final Cut rendering, etc.) I know that not all software is able to fully use all of the cores, but this doesn't make sense to me. Is this normal performance? Or could something wrong with the Mac Pro?

MrT8064 · Feb 23, 2008, 11:09 AM

as far as HandBrake encoding goes, apparently stripping the copyright takes a lot of time... and i read here a few days ago that some dvd producers have different copyrights, e.g. Disney takes longer to rip than some others

milkybrainuk · Feb 23, 2008, 11:36 AM

How much memory do you have in your machine??

Mackilroy · Feb 23, 2008, 12:06 PM

That's puzzling, HB on my 2006 Mac Pro uses 320 percent of my processing power.

bilbo--baggins · Feb 23, 2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mackilroy

That's puzzling, HB on my 2006 Mac Pro uses 320 percent of my processing power.

I've noticed Handbrake to use over 600% processor power sometimes. Encoding a lot of stuff without de-interlacing runs at over 100 fps.

Mackilroy · Feb 23, 2008, 03:19 PM

Yeah, I saw a post by another guy saying on his 8-core machine he was getting 600 percent usage. I only have four cores, however.

GotPro · Feb 23, 2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steven1621

I have a new Mac Pro (standard 2.8 configuration with 3 X 250GB in software RAID0) at my cable station at college. I was expecting this thing to be a real screamer, but I find myself a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's still quite fast. But for CPU-intensive task in Final Cut Studio, I find it to be slower than it should be. For example, compressing a 6 GB DV file for an iPhone is taking 32 minutes. CPU usage is only around 30% per core. I've never been able to drive CPU usage above this level in any task (Handbrake, Final Cut rendering, etc.) I know that not all software is able to fully use all of the cores, but this doesn't make sense to me. Is this normal performance? Or could something wrong with the Mac Pro?

Is this something that could be sped up by utilizing the UNIX "nice" or "renice" command via Terminal???

See below:

Unix Tool for Increasing CPU LOAD

ale500 · Feb 23, 2008, 01:58 PM

if the task is using only 30% of one processor or all, is probably IO-bound, look for how much is in wait.
If you have enough memory, you could make a virtual RAM disk, that way you will probably be not IO-bound anymore :-).
Try POVRay, it does not need much disk, and will use 100 % of any CPU you have, that will show you the power within.

But, if you do not like your MP, I'm willing to accept it as a gift :-)

Have fun

Feb 23, 2008, 11:01 AM	#1
Steven1621 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Connecticut (Ankara, Turkey for the next year)	New Mac Pro seem slow in CPU-intensive task. I have a new Mac Pro (standard 2.8 configuration with 3 X 250GB in software RAID0) at my cable station at college. I was expecting this thing to be a real screamer, but I find myself a bit disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it's still quite fast. But for CPU-intensive task in Final Cut Studio, I find it to be slower than it should be. For example, compressing a 6 GB DV file for an iPhone is taking 32 minutes. CPU usage is only around 30% per core. I've never been able to drive CPU usage above this level in any task (Handbrake, Final Cut rendering, etc.) I know that not all software is able to fully use all of the cores, but this doesn't make sense to me. Is this normal performance? Or could something wrong with the Mac Pro? __________________ -15" MacBook Pro, 2.4 GHz, 200 GB HD, 4 GB RAM -Dell 20" 2005FPW -16 GB iPod Touch -Nikon D40 w/ Nikkor 18-200mm VR

Feb 23, 2008, 11:09 AM	#2
MrT8064 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Exeter, UK	as far as HandBrake encoding goes, apparently stripping the copyright takes a lot of time... and i read here a few days ago that some dvd producers have different copyrights, e.g. Disney takes longer to rip than some others __________________ Alu iMac - Alu MacBook - PowerMac G3 - iPod Nano My Site

Feb 23, 2008, 12:06 PM	#4
Mackilroy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA	That's puzzling, HB on my 2006 Mac Pro uses 320 percent of my processing power. __________________ Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable.

Feb 23, 2008, 03:19 PM	#6
Mackilroy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA	Yeah, I saw a post by another guy saying on his 8-core machine he was getting 600 percent usage. I only have four cores, however. __________________ Can a mortal ask questions which God finds unanswerable? Quite easily, I should think. All nonsense questions are unanswerable.

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Feb 23, 2008, 11:36 AM	#3
milkybrainuk macrumors newbie Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK	How much memory do you have in your machine??

Feb 23, 2008, 01:58 PM	#8
ale500 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2007	if the task is using only 30% of one processor or all, is probably IO-bound, look for how much is in wait. If you have enough memory, you could make a virtual RAM disk, that way you will probably be not IO-bound anymore :-). Try POVRay, it does not need much disk, and will use 100 % of any CPU you have, that will show you the power within. But, if you do not like your MP, I'm willing to accept it as a gift :-) Have fun