Vray render on less than 100% CPU

[GrahamMac]

When invoking a render with Vray via Maxscript is there any way to prevent the Vray render from using 100% of the CPU so that a simultaneous PhoenixFD simulation in the same instance of 3D studio Max can continue to run with its usual 10-20% CPU consumption? (I'm rendering frames as they are simulated and want to make use of idle CPU power during the sim)

Note:
* Vray Low thread priority doesn’t appear to help.
* I tried running the Vray render in a separate instance of Max and that does appear to let both process run simultaneously quite well, however I think it should be more efficient to do it all within the same instance of Max.

Thanks

[vlado]

You can specify the number of rendering threads explicitly with the following command:

renderers.current.system_numThreads=[i]N[/i];

where N is the number of threads. Note that this gets saved into the scene! Restore it to 0 to determine the number of threads automatically.

Best regards,
Vlado

[GrahamMac]

Hi Vlado,

Thank you for the code. It certainly limits Vray to a specific number of cores however PhoenixFD still stops simulating during the render.

[vlado]

Hm, right, I see what you mean. I don't think there is a way to get the simulation and the render to run at the same time though - it will likely crash 3ds Max.

Best regards,
Vlado

[Dariusz Makowski (Dadal)]

Start 2x max maybe?

[GrahamMac]

Thank you both

Two instances of Max it has to be then!!