# Transcoder scheduling priority **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [October 14, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623 "2014-10-14T02:41:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BSOD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@BSOD](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BSOD)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:41am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/1 "2014-10-14T02:41:18Z")
Searching the forum, there are a lot of threads related to throttling the transcoder CPU usage over the years:  - [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/110340-ability-to-assign-more-cpu-to-transcoding/](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/110340-ability-to-assign-more-cpu-to-transcoding/) - [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/42504-feature-request-transcoding-cpu-intensive/](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/42504-feature-request-transcoding-cpu-intensive/) - [https://forums.plex.tv/topic/109790-set-default-cpu-priority-for-transcoder/](https://forums.plex.tv/topic/109790-set-default-cpu-priority-for-transcoder/) However none of them seem to be a feature request to be able to assign the transcoder process [scheduling priority](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms685100(v=vs.85).aspx) .   Yes, I'm aware of the "Transcoder quality" setting, which is currently set to Automatic.  I don't want to lower the quality of the output though.  I want to be able to change the PlexNewTranscoder.exe priority from Normal to **Below Normal** or **Idle** , so interactive applications are given priority.  ![post-117192-0-98193000-1413254191.png|690x405](upload://otZ42eY91fu1h5Aiy34eYNS5Qmi.png)   Otherwise while transcoding and using the PC with another CPU intensive application, there is a noticeable sluggishness.  Manually forcing the transcoder priority to idle resolves this symptom.  ![post-117192-0-68850300-1413253724.png|373x500](upload://acg3CI4OPEUazTrJjn7H13MoAIv.png)     System Specs: Win7 Ultimate x64 Intel Core i5-3570 Asus P8Z77-V w/32GB Intel 730 SSD ---
**Author:** ![slipstreams](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/slipstreams/32/645_2.png) [@slipstreams](https://forums.plex.tv/u/slipstreams)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 4:51am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/2 "2014-10-14T04:51:41Z")
Regardless of how sensible this might be, permanently setting the priority for processes can be easily done with a third party application. For example this one: [http://www.prnwatch.com/prio/](http://www.prnwatch.com/prio/) ---
**Author:** ![anon18523487](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@anon18523487](https://forums.plex.tv/u/anon18523487)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/3 "2014-10-14T05:49:06Z")
Setting process priority is up to the OS.  Nothing Plex can do about that.  As you showed in your screen shot, you can set the priority manually in Windows.  The problem is Windows doesn't remember that setting when you reboot, again another Windows problem.  The program slipstream mentioned will change the setting for you each reboot. ---
**Author:** ![BSOD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@BSOD](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BSOD)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/4 "2014-10-14T14:03:35Z")
> Setting process priority is up to the OS.  Not entirely true. Applications can request other priority levels other than the default of Normal.   Example, handbrake: ![post-117192-0-48893100-1413295386.png|568x401](upload://rhhS2DfJtZBshVudowHEC61pcBG.png) ---
**Author:** ![slipstreams](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/slipstreams/32/645_2.png) [@slipstreams](https://forums.plex.tv/u/slipstreams)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/5 "2014-10-14T19:43:35Z")
In Windows you can set the priority for a process on start. F. ex. this will start Firefox in low priority. ``` start "Firefox" /low "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" ``` But I'm still very curios about the benefits of changing priority levels.... ---
**Author:** ![BSOD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@BSOD](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BSOD)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/6 "2014-10-14T20:10:33Z")
> In Windows you can set the priority for a process on start. F. ex. this will start Firefox in low priority. > > ``` > start "Firefox" /low "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" > ``` Yes, manually forcing Plex Server to start with a lower priority is a bandaid for the correct solution -- having the application request itself.    > But I'm still very curios about the benefits of changing priority levels.... Please read the scheduling priority Microsoft link in the first post for the gory details.   Basically if the plex transcoder was set to a Low priority, I can still use the desktop with another CPU intensive application (for example Lightroom or Photoshop) and not _feel_ an impact from the transcoder.  Currently this is not the case as all share the same priority level.  ---
**Author:** ![slipstreams](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/slipstreams/32/645_2.png) [@slipstreams](https://forums.plex.tv/u/slipstreams)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/7 "2014-10-14T21:04:55Z")
> Please read the scheduling priority Microsoft link in the first post for the gory details.   Basically if the plex transcoder was set to a Low priority, I can still use the desktop with another CPU intensive application (for example Lightroom or Photoshop) and not _feel_ an impact from the transcoder.  Currently this is not the case as all share the same priority level.  What is the meaning of setting a server and it's child processes to run in low priority? This is IMHO rather unusual but if you want to do so you can still start PMS in low priority. In a regulare usage situation you should not have the transcoder running at 100% all the time anyway unless you are syncing your content over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![BSOD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@BSOD](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BSOD)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:21pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/8 "2014-10-14T21:21:27Z")
I dont want to have to manually set the priority level of Plex every time I reboot. A known CPU intensive application should handle this for me (just like Handbrake does).  You're right, the transcoder shouldnt be running 100% of the time and it's not.  Take the scenario from last night which caused this request to be made.  I'm getting a bunch of movies synced to my phone for an upcoming airplane trip.  While the transcoding is occurring, I'm also trying to process a lot of RAW photos from vacation in Lightroom/Photoshop.   Their performance is noticeably impacted until I forced Plex priority from Normal to Low.   ---
**Author:** ![slipstreams](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/slipstreams/32/645_2.png) [@slipstreams](https://forums.plex.tv/u/slipstreams)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2014, 9:58pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/transcoder-scheduling-priority/79623/9 "2014-10-14T21:58:25Z")
If you need a solution ad hoc for "Photoshop events" write a simple batch that quits and restarts PMS in low priority (and also one to revert the condition). Something like this should work: ``` taskkill /IM "Plex Media Server.exe" start “PMS” /low “C:\Program Files (x86)\Plex\Plex Media Server\Plex Media Server.exe” ```