Processor intensive ads...

Snowy_River · Mar 14, 2008, 11:31 AM

I used to leave MR open most of the time. But lately, I've noticed that certain ads that appear on MR main pages seem to eat a lot of processor cycles. The biggest, though I don't think it's the only, culprit seems to be the banners from Crucial. When one of these is left open, I see Safari's processor use sit at about 20%. This has lead me to change some of my patterns, as this can be enough to cause hiccups in other processor intensive tasks.

Is there any chance that some kind of guideline can be implemented with advertisers to keep them from using ad banners that chew up so many resources?

Eidorian · Mar 14, 2008, 11:34 AM

They're using Flash.

Snowy_River · Mar 14, 2008, 11:40 AM

Clearly. But that doesn't answer my actual question.

I can understand the desirability of using Flash for banners, but there are better practices than just leaving the Flash running non-stop. I've seen plenty of Flash that might spike my processor use to 100% briefly, but then drops down to almost nothing.

Doctor Q · Mar 14, 2008, 12:03 PM

We can sometimes arrange that particular ads be excluded. It usually helps to have a screenshot and to know what URL the ad links to if clicked.

Snowy_River · Mar 14, 2008, 12:36 PM

Okay. When such ads appear I'll grab pertinent information. Thanks!

Snowy_River · Mar 27, 2008, 11:04 AM

Okay, so here's one. In the attached screen shot, you can see the ad in question, and the level of processor use that's being driven. This one seems to be particularly bad, as you can see, pushing processor use up to 35%. As soon as I refreshed to change the ads, the processor use dropped down to about 6%. So this ad alone was using 19% of my computer's processor.

Snowy_River · Mar 27, 2008, 02:05 PM

So, here's another one. This one isn't quite as bad, as it will drop to nothing if you wait for a minute or so. The load shown here is actually part way through its decent. At the beginning of the run, it actually max'd out my processor.

Snowy_River · Mar 27, 2008, 02:52 PM

Okay, I may have spoken too soon. Either that or there is a different version of this ad. This one sits at using 40% of my processor, and never seems to stop.

Drumjim85 · 03:14 PM

you could become a demi-god and pay to have to ads removed ....

dsnort · 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drumjim85

you could become a demi-god and pay to have to ads removed ....

To clarify, you become a demi-god by contributing financially to MacRumors, after which you don't see any ads. A great way to support a great site, plus has "other" benefits.

Mar 14, 2008, 11:31 AM	#1
Snowy_River macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	Processor intensive ads... I used to leave MR open most of the time. But lately, I've noticed that certain ads that appear on MR main pages seem to eat a lot of processor cycles. The biggest, though I don't think it's the only, culprit seems to be the banners from Crucial. When one of these is left open, I see Safari's processor use sit at about 20%. This has lead me to change some of my patterns, as this can be enough to cause hiccups in other processor intensive tasks. Is there any chance that some kind of guideline can be implemented with advertisers to keep them from using ad banners that chew up so many resources? __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 14, 2008, 11:34 AM	#2
Eidorian macrumors G3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Indiana	They're using Flash. __________________ MRoogle it! hikari T7500 2.2 GHz / 4 GB / 320 GB / GMA X3100 / 10.5.8 chobimaru Core i5 750 2.66 GHz / 4 GB / 640 GB / 4830 / Windows 7

Mar 14, 2008, 11:40 AM	#3
Snowy_River Thread Starter macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	Clearly. But that doesn't answer my actual question. I can understand the desirability of using Flash for banners, but there are better practices than just leaving the Flash running non-stop. I've seen plenty of Flash that might spike my processor use to 100% briefly, but then drops down to almost nothing. __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 14, 2008, 12:03 PM	#4
Doctor Q macrumors god Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: at the table with countless relatives	We can sometimes arrange that particular ads be excluded. It usually helps to have a screenshot and to know what URL the ad links to if clicked. __________________ "You've just been abducted, of course you need crepes!" -- Walter Bishop

Mar 14, 2008, 12:36 PM	#5
Snowy_River Thread Starter macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	Okay. When such ads appear I'll grab pertinent information. Thanks! __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 27, 2008, 11:04 AM	#6
Snowy_River Thread Starter macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	Okay, so here's one. In the attached screen shot, you can see the ad in question, and the level of processor use that's being driven. This one seems to be particularly bad, as you can see, pushing processor use up to 35%. As soon as I refreshed to change the ads, the processor use dropped down to about 6%. So this ad alone was using 19% of my computer's processor. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 27, 2008, 02:05 PM	#7
Snowy_River Thread Starter macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	So, here's another one. This one isn't quite as bad, as it will drop to nothing if you wait for a minute or so. The load shown here is actually part way through its decent. At the beginning of the run, it actually max'd out my processor. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 27, 2008, 02:52 PM	#8
Snowy_River Thread Starter macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Corvallis, OR	Okay, I may have spoken too soon. Either that or there is a different version of this ad. This one sits at using 40% of my processor, and never seems to stop. Attached Thumbnails __________________ -Snowy Golden Naga: Indonesian Kung-Fu Geoffrey H Wathen Photography

Mar 27, 2008, 02:59 PM	#9
Drumjim85 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: DFW, TX	you could become a demi-god and pay to have to ads removed .... __________________ Creative Commons - because copyright is broken. Last edited by WildCowboy : Mar 27, 2008 at 03:14 PM. Reason: yes, contributing is good ;)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode