Topic: CPU Usage (Read 15634 times)

Marty3d · « **on:** May 10, 2006, 12:01:39 pm »

MC suddenly seems to use alot of cpu on my computer (AMD 64 3000+).

In task manager:
At first glance, "Media center.exe" uses about 8-20 %, which I believe is normal. BUT the mysterious item "SYSTEM" goes from 30-99% as long as MC is running. This, of course, makes everything choppy from time to time.

I haven't noticed this behaviour in previous builds, but it could naturally be something else as well.

JimH · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2006, 12:14:41 pm »

Are you downloading podcasts?

Third party plug-ins?

Marty3d · « **Reply #2 on:** May 10, 2006, 01:41:53 pm »

Thanks Jim!

My desktop is occupied right now, but I'm not downloading podcasts that I know of (only do that on my laptop). Only plugin I run is the dreaded Audioscrobbler, I'll try to disable it as soon as the computer is available.

I also noticed that I exit MC, it often (not always though) lies around among the other tasks in Task Manager. So it seems that it doesn't want to close down properly.

Since this is a relatively new phenomena, what changes to MC could have triggered it?

Matt · « **Reply #3 on:** May 10, 2006, 01:43:29 pm »

Does it matter if you're playing?

Check visualizations and DSP if so.

Also, as a test, try stopping any server plugins.

Marty3d · « **Reply #4 on:** May 10, 2006, 01:52:39 pm »

Quote from: Matt on May 10, 2006, 01:43:29 pm

1. Does it matter if you're playing?

2. Check visualizations and DSP if so.

3. Also, as a test, try stopping any server plugins.

Hi Matt!
I'll try the above things, but a quick reply:
1. No, only Media Center.exe task reduces cpu load with 2-3%, System remains high
2. I have no viz active except showing album art, have G-force installed, should I completely uninstall it or is it enough to not use it?
3. The only server I'm running is Library server, and I am not connected to it.

Marty3d · « **Reply #5 on:** May 10, 2006, 01:53:17 pm »

Forgot, I don't use DSP!

JimH · « **Reply #6 on:** May 10, 2006, 02:01:25 pm »

Quote from: Marty3d on May 10, 2006, 01:41:53 pm

I also noticed that I exit MC, it often (not always though) lies around among the other tasks in Task Manager.

That's what you'd see if Media Server was running. Check your servers in MC under Services and Plug-ins.

Marty3d · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2006, 05:33:42 pm »

Quote from: JimH on May 10, 2006, 02:01:25 pm

That's what you'd see if Media Server was running. Check your servers in MC under Services and Plug-ins.

Well that's the thing. I don't use Media Server. In my services and plugins, I have Audioscrobbler plugin and Library Server (started to use LS a couple of months ago). But LS shutdown when you close MC right?

Anyway, one thing that could support your theory about Media server, is that in my Start Menu, I have this Media Server icon, see image:

which seems to load itself. I remove it and after a while it reappears. Checking with msconfig, I find nothing MC related that autostarts. I asked about this a couple of weeks ago with no answers, then I forgot.

...time passes...

I tried turning of the plugins, LS and AS, and presto! It seems to be the AS plugin...surprised? Not me.

Thank you thank you thank you!
But please, could you be of any assistance regarding the mystery Media Server icon?

Thank you again!
/Martin

Pink Waters · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:00:38 am »

You can use PlayingNow plugin to submit tracks instead of audioscrobbler, PN supports AS now.

Marty3d · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:24:40 am »

Update:

I've shut down the AS plugin and restarted MC, but now, after about an hour of playing, the same thing happens again. Noticed it because the music stopped playing due to cpu load...

Help! What should I do?

Marty3d · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:27:56 am »

I mentioned before that Media Center.exe didn't go away from the task list in Task manager, but now I saw that it was because the cpu load was so high...after a couple of minutes it disappeared and cpu load went to 0%.

BillT · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2006, 06:56:30 am »

This problem appeared for me last night. It seems to be related to the number of files listed.

For instance, if I display one album with a few tracks and play from there, media centre uses the usual 4% or so of CPU cycles. However if I try to play from my recently imported list, which currently has 2550 files in it, CPU usage goes up to 100% and doesn't drop until you close the program!

This reminds me of the Music Lobby choking problem from a little time ago.

Bill

JimH · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:08:50 am »

I wonder if it isn't an overeager virus checker.

Marty3d · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2006, 07:12:15 am »

Jim: Could be...but why now?

Using NOD32.

JimH · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2006, 08:14:38 am »

Some virus checkers spend a lot of time checking every file on every access. There have been several posts here about how to turn this off.

udeups · « **Reply #15 on:** May 11, 2006, 09:11:11 am »

Here's a long shot. But, I was having similar problems for a couple months, with Media Center taking 100% of CPU. One day, I randomly swapped one of my external hard drives to a different USB hub. All of a sudden, MC was consuming normal amounts of CPU again.

May not be relevant, but give it a shot. (I have no idea why it worked).

Pink Waters · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2006, 09:18:50 am »

do you notice MC starts slow?
I mean when you try opening MC does it takes too much time to load ?

Marty3d · « **Reply #17 on:** May 11, 2006, 09:53:28 am »

Quote

Here's a long shot. But, I was having similar problems for a couple months, with Media Center taking 100% of CPU. One day, I randomly swapped one of my external hard drives to a different USB hub. All of a sudden, MC was consuming normal amounts of CPU again.

Actually, while searching for 100% load on System item, I stumbled across some posts reporting that USB devices or IRQ conflicts could make this happen. Although, I didn't see any of them having the problem while using MC.

Quote from: Pink Waters on May 11, 2006, 09:18:50 am

do you notice MC starts slow?
I mean when you try opening MC does it takes too much time to load ?

Don't know...what's normal?

Pink Waters · « **Reply #18 on:** May 11, 2006, 10:27:13 am »

depends on the system,... for me it takes about 2 to 5 seconds to load, although i have a good fast PC

Marty3d · « **Reply #19 on:** May 11, 2006, 01:31:45 pm »

Quote from: Pink Waters on May 11, 2006, 10:27:13 am

depends on the system,... for me it takes about 2 to 5 seconds to load, although i have a good fast PC

I timed the startup time and it was about 5 seconds...nothing special there.

Pink Waters · « **Reply #20 on:** May 11, 2006, 03:54:23 pm »

well I think 5 seconds is a bit too much,..and for me too,..
iTunes here for example loads in less than 2 seconds.

JimH · « **Reply #21 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:11:39 pm »

It all depends on your definition of loading. For example, does itunes load the db into memory or just display the interface? And, for another example, does itunes run part of the program in the background even when it isn't "loaded"?

Marty3d · « **Reply #22 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:19:31 pm »

Well well...Itunes Schmitunes. I'm happy as long as I can use my beloved MC...which I really can't now

JimH · « **Reply #23 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:23:20 pm »

Quote from: Marty3d on May 11, 2006, 04:19:31 pm

Well well...Itunes Schmitunes. I'm happy as long as I can use my beloved MC...which I really can't now

Did you try the virus checker?

There are some other weird problems and solutions here:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=24031.msg225252#msg225252

At least one of them was solved by turning off the constant checking of files:
http://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?board=3;topic=32818.6#msg225241

Marty3d · « **Reply #24 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:40:13 pm »

Aha! Jim, you might be on to something!

I checked AMON (the "constant" checker in NOD32) and it checks log.txt about 5-7 times / second. Although the cpu level currently behaves so I can't see any difference, it could be the reason. I'll exclude that file or the whole MC data folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Martin\Application Data\J River, turn off logging in MC and see whats happening.

marko · « **Reply #25 on:** May 11, 2006, 04:50:07 pm »

Marty, a while back, I had major slow down/lock ups with MC and it turned out to be the debug logging.

I'd turned it on and forgotten about it.
I'd asked it to monitor the SDK plus a couple of others.

I run the playingnow plugin which needs to be constantly chatting with MC behind the scenes, and debug logging was recording all of the chat. The logfile had grown to be over 100 mb, which believe me, is one heck of a lot of txt!!

deleting the files and turning off the logging did take care of things for me, and, if it's of any relevance, I also run NOD32.

-marko

Marty3d · « **Reply #26 on:** May 11, 2006, 05:20:08 pm »

Quote from: marko on May 11, 2006, 04:50:07 pm

Marty, a while back, I had major slow down/lock ups with MC and it turned out to be the debug logging.

I'd turned it on and forgotten about it.
I'd asked it to monitor the SDK plus a couple of others.

I run the playingnow plugin which needs to be constantly chatting with MC behind the scenes, and debug logging was recording all of the chat. The logfile had grown to be over 100 mb, which believe me, is one heck of a lot of txt!!

deleting the files and turning off the logging did take care of things for me, and, if it's of any relevance, I also run NOD32.

-marko

This must be it! I've been running MC with above things corrected, and no more choking!!!

Thank you all for helping me out!

So I believe we can now add "Turn off logging when you're not using it, and for god's sake, don't set your AV software to monitor that folder" to the FAQ

Thank you soo much!

Now I only have the mysterious "perhaps running Media Server" issue left... But I think that's for another topic!

krupted · « **Reply #27 on:** May 12, 2006, 08:57:51 pm »

Same problem here. CPU load goes up to 40% for no reason, and it doesnt slow down when the music stops, i must exit media center.

for me, the problem came up with this newest update, as it just updated itself today and all of a sudden i cannot play nfsMW with music in the background, its too slow and choppy.

i run antivir, and its not that either= i disabled it to see. its my Media Center.exe service that is consuming a constand 35-40% load when it used to be 10% or less.

Are we sure its not a change in the new release thats causing this?

JimH · « **Reply #28 on:** May 12, 2006, 09:48:03 pm »

Quote from: krupted on May 12, 2006, 08:57:51 pm

i run antivir, and its not that either= i disabled it to see. its my Media Center.exe service that is consuming a constand 35-40% load when it used to be 10% or less.

We've seen problems in the past that were related to programs like anti-virus that required uninstalling them, not just disabling. In other words, telling the programs to stop didn't do what you might expect.

krupted · « **Reply #29 on:** May 12, 2006, 10:23:12 pm »

well, for one, if i had to uninstall my free-licensed antivir software just to use this program- i would get rid of media center. my pc's security is much more important then any entertainment i get off it, and thats sad because media center really is so much superior to any other audio jukebox.

Secondly, i highly doubt its antivir. no other release of media center has ever cause high processor usage. it must be either a bug or some setting that has changed in the new release.

i want to add that if i hit 'stop', the cpu usage does go to idle. i must have hit pause before, because if i do stop the music all together, it will ilde the processor. so it seems to be in the actual mp3 streaming or whatever...

i guess ill try to uninstall antivir just to see, but even so i would really hope another option is possible.

krupted · « **Reply #30 on:** May 12, 2006, 10:46:44 pm »

just to update- uninstalling antivirus then rebooting the pc did nothing to help the high cpu load during audio play.

however, i was able to mend the problem by uninstalling media center, and reverting back to 11.128. all is good now. looks like ill just wait till the next release before i ok the auto update.

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Author Topic: CPU Usage (Read 15634 times)