Why doesn't a processor use all its power when encoding something?

[Dirty F]

Why does it only use 20% for example (instead of the full 100%) when decoding, encoding, encrypting something?
What does it depend on?

[SmutHammer]

I have wondered the same thing...

[asscracker]

go with PP

[Paul&John]

whats PP?

[Dirty F]

go with PP

Pentium Processor??

[k0nr4d]

you can't use multithreading with every video codec

[Dirty F]

you can't use multithreading with every video codec

Well, i'm not talking about a specific codec or operation. Is there a general reason why it uses a certain amount of cpu power when doing whatever?

[mattyboy]

Premier CS6 with an approved graphics card by Adobe will use all proccessing power on certain codecs (h264 included).
With an Ivy Bridge proccessor and SSD drives, encodes now fly.

CS6 has been Adobes best release i think since cs3.

[Dirty F]

Ok, i'm not sure how to explain this any better.
I'm talking about processor use in general. Sorry about the topic title. Ignore it.
Why does a processor use certain amounts of cpu power whenever doing something that could use more.

[notjoe]

Multiple reasons.
1) The process is waiting for other resources to free up and therefore cannot go full speed.
2) The codec you're encoding in to doesn't support multiple processors (cores on a processor). For example, you have a CPU with 4 cores. The codec your encoding does not support SMP. You'll only encode using a single core (or 25% of the overall CPU power).

[Dirty F]

Multiple reasons.
1) The process is waiting for other resources to free up and therefore cannot go full speed.
2) The codec you're encoding in to doesn't support multiple processors (cores on a processor). For example, you have a CPU with 4 cores. The codec your encoding does not support SMP. You'll only encode using a single core (or 25% of the overall CPU power).

1: it's using nothing else.
2: PLEASE forget about the codec. This isn't about a codec. Just processor use in general.

[notjoe]

1: it's using nothing else.
2: PLEASE forget about the codec. This isn't about a codec. Just processor use in general.

Then the app isn't built for SMP and will use only a single core of the processor. Also, it might just not need to use all the cpu power.

[Dirty F]

Then the app isn't built for SMP and will use only a single core of the processor. Also, it might just not need to use all the cpu power.

So everything that needs cpu power in whatever way needs to be built so it can be run on more than 1 core? Am i saying that right?

[sandman!]

yesssssssssssssssssss

So everything that needs cpu power in whatever way needs to be built so it can be run on more than 1 core? Am i saying that right?

[Dirty F]

yesssssssssssssssssss

Thanks. Makes sense.

[Grapesoda]

Ok, i'm not sure how to explain this any better.
I'm talking about processor use in general. Sorry about the topic title. Ignore it.
Why does a processor use certain amounts of cpu power whenever doing something that could use more.

look at the priority of the process... open the task manager, look at the processes and reset the priority on the encoding... BUT not much else will run if you do

[Grapesoda]

So everything that needs cpu power in whatever way needs to be built so it can be run on more than 1 core? Am i saying that right?

yes that is the way it works I think. maybe not http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-...-like-osx.html

[seeandsee]

look at the priority of the process... open the task manager, look at the processes and reset the priority on the encoding... BUT not much else will run if you do

No encoding on his end

[Konda]

In the past when I was still on Windows I remember when I was encoding I couldn't use my computer for anything else, like opening the browser would take a minute when it was encoding. And I remember the same on Unix when I had some tube script, when I pressed encoding it used all the CPU and the whole site became unreachable. So there seem to be apps that do use the full CPU.

[MetaMan]

Try PayPal or CCBill.

[Major (Tom)]

yea i hate that too.
ds