DVD-RB or HC Enc resource intensive

[linx05]

Hi guys. I am using DVD-RB 1.03 with the HC Enc 0.16. Running on a 2.80GHz, 512mb of RAM, XPsp1.

Now the problem. During the last couple of backups (this is including the previous version of HC Enc, 0.15) my computer goes haywire after a while in the Encoding mode. Either DVD-RB or HC Enc is using up all the resources. I have to restart my computer with a forced restart. There is no other way.

I also am using a couple of filters:

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\UnDot.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\plugins\FluxSmooth25.dll")
UnDot()
FluxSmooth(10,15)

I know it takes a little longer with the filters so I am guessing it would use more resources?

Have any of you encounted this problem? I know HC Enc is in beta stage but today I noticed it was using 128mb (first time I checked it actually). Is that normal?

I appreciate any replies

[UncasMS]

any encoder or transcoder (like shrink) will take up nearly all possible cpu power

this is not different with rb + hc

both worked fine with hundreds of encodings for me

should your system freeze or go haywire then there certainly is something wrong with your system

[linx05]

That's what I was thinking (something wrong with my system). It worked fine before. Just started to happen in the last few days. I never did anything major. I even defragged my computer just in case.

Thanks. I will try to work something out.

[UncasMS]

give us some more information concerning your pc

did you change anything on the software side?
is the hardware itself new or any new part?

[ElBoricua433]

I tried the Deen Filter, man that was a mistake, FluxSmooth is better than that filter

[linx05]

I don't know what else to say about the computer. I got it last year. All parts new.

I have not changed any of the hardware part, and apart from uninstalling or installing programs, nothing on the software part either. I haven't installed anything big, just small programs which wouldn't affect anything (they don't even run on start up.

I am going to resume a encode I started yesterday. I did a defrag and a scandisk last night. So hopefully they fixed something up.

I will just leave DVD-RB minimised, close all unnessary programs and let it do its work. Will report back on any changes.

Thanks

[BR7]

I had that happen once I just uninstalled DVD RB and reinstalled it and it took care of it.Not sure if your problem is the same so if you wish you could give it a try

[linx05]

Thanks BR7. I tried that yesterday. But it happened again. That's when I thought it would be good to start a new thread. What are your computers specs?

EDIT: Same as mine more or less. You've got a little more ram though. You didn't need to PM it to me, you could posted it in here . It has happened 2 more times. Will clearing some room on my computer.

[linx05]

Is there anything else I can do? Was anything changed in the 1.03 version which could have resulted in more memory being used?

I am really stuck here. Don't know what to do. I've done all I can think of I think.

[UncasMS]

have you checked your system so far?

none of our machines freeze using rb + hc so there must be something wrong in your case

make sure temperatures are fine (use everest to check)
clean your heatsink fan if in doubt
check if the voltage of your psu is still constant/sufficient
did you apply any kind of agressive ram timing?
check your ram (memtest)
check your harddrive (activate SMART, use a testtool from your manufacturer)

[Scamp]

Could it be virus trouble?

linx05, I'd say check your RAM using memtest, and check for spyware / viruses. Plus everything UncasMS suggested.

Also you could set DVD-RB's priority to idle, it would also launch HC with idle priority, so you should find the comp more responsive to other operations.

Maybe uninstalling and reinstalling AviSynth would help too. Just make sure your plugins are backed up

[apfraats]

@linx05

1) Try to restore a backup from the point were all was functioning ok (Sure you have one )

2) In case 1) doens't apply to you, I would consider a new installation of youre system, sure there is something wrong.

3) In case of 2), be sure to have 1) being applied to you in the furure.

If you wanna know how many times I installed everything from scratch, you would understand that nowdays I always make a backup of my system (Norton Ghost 2003 on diskette, IDEAL !!!) BEFORE installing even the
smallest programm. Just 1 programm can completely messes youre system up.

Also it would be nice to know what EXACTLY happens, for instancy start running DVD-RB and HQ and watch youre free memory , tell what's happening.

And to the points youre system freezes, indeed check for adware, malware, virusses e.d. I always have Norton antivirus running in background and use different tools to clean up my system (Spyware Doctor, Spyware Blaster, Spysweeper e.g.). A lot of crap is found after visiting the interessting but dangerous darker sites......

At last try to run DVD-RB-(PRO) in priority LOW.

You make a batch file in the DVD-RB-PRO directory that has the command:

START /LOW REBUILDER

Then DVD-RB-(PRO) and all encoders used run in LOW prioroty mode, and youre system should always be responsive.

If nothing can't find however, and you don't have a backup, just do what I've done too often, and start from scratch, installing everything again.

Use an extra fysical drive in youre system to store complete images of youre harddisk(s) to files on this harddisk. A harddisk doesn't vost that much today, and it will prevent you from doing a lot of work.

Once the system is messed up in the right way, it's almost impossible to get it running smoothly again........

I use 3 systems based on 512KB, 1GB, 1GB and AMD processors (2* 3000+, 2400+ ) and use DVD-RB in batch, but with CCE, and even let them run for over 24 hours without any problem.

HINT: Try to do a run with another encoder.

As far as I can tell, and you have no backup, I'm afraid youre looking towards a complete installation from scratch......

The mistake often made is adding extra programs without any end and finally end with a system that's messed up really bad.

Only use the programms you really need.

First buy an extra drive and while reinstalling everything just make a backup after each important installation step. I recommend using a diskkette with Norton Ghost 2003, as it can make IMAGE backups that always works and are operating outside yhe Windows environment itself.

When you have a nice clean stable up and running system, make a backup again. Keep THIS backup on DVD or so, so you can always directly restore youre system to this point.

I have used DVD-RB even with HC over 500 times now, and it never killed any of my system or behaved weird.

You'll always see 100% CPU use and lot's of memory used, that's perfectly normal. That's why I always run DVD-RB in LOW-priority mode. During a 20 hour lasting batch proces I always can use the computers for other tasks, without having an unreponsive one.

DO NOT OVERCLOCK YOURE SYSTEM !!
DO SET ALL BIOS SETTINGS TO SAVE/DEFAULT (be aware that some default settings on some mainboards already results in OVERCLOCKING !)

As an overclocked system appears to be stable, it will not running encoders (expecially not CCE!) as they do highly intensive mathematics and WILL CAUSE problems on most overclocked 'stable' systems.


Post a detailed description of the proces, with CPU usage, Memory Usage and tell step by step what exactly happens....

Maybe this helps

[UncasMS]

DO NOT OVERCLOCK YOURE SYSTEM !!

if you know your system by heart you may of course oc the pc

mine is running with 25% oc'ing (+400mhz) when using rebuilder and it works like a charm

[jeo]

UncasMs,
i read in doom9 a long time that overclocking the cpu using CCE the system freeze.
my athlon xp2000+ dead and my MB can get more than athlon xp2100+ and i can' find where to buy a new in Brasil.my remedy was Duron 1800.
as i want to encode with HCenc and not CCE,can i overclock this duron just a little?
another question is: dvd-rb do preditions for perfect final sizes using HCenc like using CCE?
thank in advance!

[UncasMS]

how much you could oc a pc depends on way more than just the cpu

-- cpu stepping can be an issue
-- cooling is very important
-- the ram is an extremely important factor when it comes to oc'ing
-- bios settings are important and will have to match the hardware('s abilities)


rebuilder is sort of responsible for the bitrate calculation and distribution but the encoder itself is what makes the difference

final targetsize is very good with hc, so dont worry

on the other hand the less powerful your system/cpu may be the more important the choice of your encoder can be

cce definitely is the fastest

moreover, the freeware edition of rebuilder will let you use OPV with cce but NOT with hc

opv can cut down your encoding time enormously (approximately half the time!)