Plex Windows App - High CPU

[marcel_ns_hotmail_com]

Server Version#: 1.23.3.4707
Player Version#: 1.33.0.2444-a220eae4

I’m having issues playing most HD MKV files via the Windows plex app. The CPU is constantly around the 80-90% mark during playback causing the video to be choppy. I can play these same MKV files via VLC without a hitch, CPU is about 5%. In plex I’m playing these with direct play.

My computer is older, running an i3-3120M CPU, Zotac Zbox. The fact that VLC plays it no problem tells me it’s not a hardware limitation.

What else should I look at here? I’ve attached the log file from this machine.

Plex.log (197.4 KB)

[FordGuy61]

In Settings → Plex for Windows → Player (Show Advanced)

Try enabling Hardware Decoding. The HD4000 graphics in the i3 supports decoding of H.264 video.

Try adjusting Video Quality Playback (Low/Normal/High/Maximum). The higher the setting the higher the CPU, memory, etc utilization.

[Sulphy]

Got the same issue as well. Just opening the app now crunches 11% CPU. Tried enabling/disabling hardware decoding, dropped playback quality. Still crazy high cpu usage.
Starting playback on 1080p tv show, CPU jumps to 32% usage immediately. Stopping the playback, CPU drops down to 20% usage.
I am running an i9-11900K, 64GB Ram, RTX2080Ti gfx.
Dont believe i had such high usage on previous builds.

[FordGuy61]

Enabling hardware decoding definitely dropped CPU utilization during playback on my desktop.

System: i7-4790K, 750 Ti, 16GB RAM, Windows 10 Pro.
Plex for Windows 1.33.0.2444

CPU utilization less than 1% when not playing anything.

During playback, with Video Quality = Maximum

1080p Blu-ray rip, 40 Mbps
Hardware Decoding enabled: CPU 3.3%, GPU 28%
Hardware Decoding disabled: CPU 10%, GPU 28%

4K HDR Blu-ray rip, 50 Mbps (using a 1080p SDR display)
Hardware Decoding enabled: CPU 20%, GPU 73%
Hardware Decoding disabled: CPU 40%, GPU 73%

[marcel_ns_hotmail_com]

Wow and your specs are way beyond what’s required so I think there’s a bug somewhere. As I said in my post even with my 3rd gen i3 I can play these same videos in VLC no problem. Something is up with the plex client

[Sulphy]

Indeed, must be a glitch in the matrix

Playing stuff through a web browser, doesnt cause the same effect. Fingers crossed, the next version sorts it out… I didnt also specify, but i am running Windows 11 (22000.65) …

[luite]

Definitely a bug. Not normal - 80-100% CPU from just opening the app (1.33.0.2444-a220eae4 June 16, 2021).

[Jonny.vb]

I’ve also just started running into this on my laptop. Opening the app is fine, sitting on the login page is fine, logging in as a managed user is fine, but as soon as I log into my main account, with nothing playing, CPU usage skyrockets.

…saying that I just enabled auto login and the problem seems to have gone away now - so might be worth trying that out.

[TheTrunkMonkey]

I just noticed my CPU temperature up when it shouldn’t be and investigated. When playing high resolution .flac music, and in full screen display mode, my CPU usage spikes to 80-95% on all cores. I have an FX8350 CPU, 16GB ram. The only thing displayed on the screen is a still image of the album art. After exiting full screen mode, music still playing, cpu usage drops to 20%.