I recently switched Mediaportal's TV Server and My Plex Media Server over to their own separate machine. This Machine is a lot less powerful than the machine I originally had these programs on and I have found one major problem, transcoding video takes up alot of cpu. When at idle the cpu sits between 0-5% and the ram at around 50% used. However transcoding video bumps the cpu up to 100% being used. This is a problem as it might interfere with the quality of a tv recording if the computer is scheduled to recorded tv at the same time when I am transcoding movies to watch later. This is why I ask for an option to be added to restrict how much CPU is able to be used by the transcoder. I don't particularly mind that it will take longer to transcode by limiting the cpu usage, my first priority is that the machine isn't being overtaxed and can handle the only two tasks it is set up to do, manage my media server and record tv.
Test File:
xxxholic ep2
1280x720
Highest Transcode Setting
Note: I also synced music to my phone during a different sync. audio seems to be less taxing than video, taking up only 25%-50% of my cpu. As for ram for both audio and video it only takes up about another 10% of ram.
The transcoder already does throttle and only takes the CPU it needs. The CPU you mention is below the minimum spec recommended for transcoding which is likely why it never gets to throttle (i.e. it's to slow to get "ahead" of the real-time stream to be able to have a break)
PS: the CPU you mention having is dual core, but your windows task man screen shots show 4 cores.... something not right there..
The transcoder already does throttle and only takes the CPU it needs. The CPU you mention is below the minimum spec recommended for transcoding which is likely why it never gets to throttle (i.e. it's to slow to get "ahead" of the real-time stream to be able to have a break)
PS: the CPU you mention having is dual core, but your windows task man screen shots show 4 cores.... something not right there..
Thank you for this information, I didn't know it was below minimum or that Plex already throttled the CPU. The computer I migrated Plex to was a hand-me down (hence the older cpu) and I was so eager to get Plex and Mediaportal off my main machine, that I didn't bother looking up system information and how compatible it is with plex's transcoders. I will limit my transcoding to the daytime hours when I am less likely to be recording in that case.
The transcoder already does throttle and only takes the CPU it needs. The CPU you mention is below the minimum spec recommended for transcoding which is likely why it never gets to throttle (i.e. it's to slow to get "ahead" of the real-time stream to be able to have a break)
PS: the CPU you mention having is dual core, but your windows task man screen shots show 4 cores.... something not right there..
The CPU is likely hyperthreaded. Thus, four cores will show.
Perhaps the transcoder used to only use the CPU resources to transcode video as needed, but at least the last three months' of releases have not been limiting CPU use. I have noticed my CPU utilization shoot to 100% on six cores whenever I stream to the Plex apps on iOS or Android. This results in overheating my CPU, even with a large heat sink and fan combination installed.
Is there any way to return Plex to limiting CPU utilization to just what is needed, or to be able to set processor affinity for the transcoder? Manually setting the processor affinity to even three or four cores does not cause problems, but hitting 100% CPU on five or six cores is over the top (and unnecessary).
Plex is designed to use 100% for 1 minute or so to build up a buffer. You can change this setting if you don't think you need that much to buffer. Its the last setting under transcoder (show advanced needed).
I have noticed my CPU utilization shoot to 100% on six cores whenever I stream to the Plex apps on iOS or Android. This results in overheating my CPU, even with a large heat sink and fan combination installed.
Sorry, but you are trying to fight a symptom, not the cause.
When a cpu cooler is properly mounted, you could max out your cpu for hours, without it overheating.
I think, the person who mounted the cooler did something wrong.
What can you do wrong, when mounting a cooler?
- Use a wrong cooler that is not suited for your particular cpu socket or type of cpu
- mounted the cooler wrongly (rotated 180° perhaps or just skewed)
- did not remove the thin film of plastic foil that protected the thermal pad on the cooler for transport
- did not apply heat transfer paste, (if there was no thermal pad on the cooler)
- did lift the cooler up and set it back down, with out cleaning thermal paste and applying new paste (a mistake easily made)
I've found that some files, mkv, mostly, will overload my cpu to the point of lock up.
I'm running an Asus mini pc for my server, it doesn't have much going for it. Most of the time the cpu runs at very low load, 1 to 2 % but as soon as I start trying to run one of the mkv files with the problem, my (Roku) takes several seconds to start playing the file, then fails frequently to play it, stopping to "load". The cpu shows that it is running at or near 100%, for these files.
I tested the same files playing on a Nexus 7 droid, same issue. Other mkv's and mp4s play flawlessly. I have loaded the same files directly to the Nexus 7 and they have no issues playing. This proves to me that the Plex server has something wrong with transcoding, but only with certain files. Blaming your pc and it's cpu is not completely correct. I wouldn't start tearing down my pc to put on new heat sink compound just yet.........
I now have started loading the files that are effected directly to my Droid and use Chromecast to stream. The Roku media steamer app will handle the suspect files with no issue, and no cpu overloading. It is however unable to handle .avi files.
The transcoder already does throttle and only takes the CPU it needs. The CPU you mention is below the minimum spec recommended for transcoding which is likely why it never gets to throttle (i.e. it's to slow to get "ahead" of the real-time stream to be able to have a break)
PS: the CPU you mention having is dual core, but your windows task man screen shots show 4 cores.... something not right there..
Edit: Sorry, I posted this in the wrong thread. I didn't have a way to delete this post. So, please ignore.
Something changed in the last server update Version 0.9.12.3
Now, the transcoder is using too much CPU.. .reaching 97% and above. My PC configuration didn't change. Only thing that changed was updating from the last Plex Server version. Not sure if there's a better place to report this new issue.
Intel Atom processors are designed primarily for web browsing and very basic tasks. I'm surprised it even works transcoding video. I'd highly recommend upgrading to almost anything else, you'll get a much better experience.
A better way to do this would be to assign a specific number of cores to the transcoding process so there is still at least a core or two available for other tasks.
