low 3dsmax process performance

[KiboOst]

Hi,

We have migrated to 3dsmax 2010 sp1 with Vray sp4, all last ones, and while rendering 3dsmax.exe process doesn't take 100% by a wide margin, sometimes it begin at 100% and then slowdown at 15%, or start rendering directly around 10%, etc. Sometimes, it stay at 100% ...
Even on same machine, we render at 15%, restart max, it's ok, sometimes we need to restart/rerender several time, etc.
We also have 3dsmax process that very often stay launched, so we quit max, but sometimes later in process, there is several 3dsmax.exe (not working but taking ram). Dunno if related. Performance check have been done with only one max instance launched.

Windows xp pro x32, on mono quadcore or dual-xeon quads.
We had previously 3dsmax9 and never had this problem.

What can we do ? It kills rendertimes on our entire renderfarm, really a pita.

Regards,
Kib

[cgrant3d]

We also have 3dsmax process that very often stay launched, so we quit max, but sometimes later in process, there is several 3dsmax.exe (not working but taking ram).

You're probably using the ColorCorrect plugin right? The stuck 3dsmax.exe processes are something that a lot of us have had to deal with. So far the developer hasn't been able to get it fixed. Here's a link to the developer's forum if you want to add your feedback. http://www.cuneytozdas.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=645

I'm at the point where I'd like to just start replacing CC with Max's standard Color Correction tex in all our projects. There's actually a script on the forum that was written to do a find/replace specifically for this purpose. http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums/vbu...t=colorcorrect

[KiboOst]

ah nice one !!! Ok, we will remove it, sucks as we use CC for yearssss and have it on nearly all our mtls ...

Anyidea for low process performance ? Could be related ?

[KiboOst]

ok, more about this slow process thing :

We load a scene, render, -> 15% (on a quad)
load scene, render, cancel at 'stat/geometry', restart render -> 15%
load scene, render, cancel at 'loading maps', restart render -> 15%
load scene, render, cancel at 'lightcache...', restart render -> 100% !!

[KiboOst]

wow, direct answer in max aera :
http://area.autodesk.com/forum/autod...s-performance/

Vlado, any comment ? is it a known bug corrected in next release, or can we do anything to help you isolate it ?

[vlado]

Does it happen if you disable texture maps in the scene?

Best regards,
Vlado

[WoodsBagotLondon]

Cpu load!!!

AT LAST I HAVE FOUND A POST THAT UNDERSTANDS MY PAIN!!!!

MY MAIN WORKSTATION REFUSES TO USE 100% OF ITS CPU WHEN RENDERING WITH VRAY. IT WILL USE 100% WHEN USING VRAY RT HOWEVER
I HAVE READ THE POST REGARDING REMOVING COLORCORRECT PLUGIN, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY STOP ALL THE DUPLICATE 3DSMAX SESSIONS, BUT AM DUBIOUS WHETHER THIS WILL FIX THE CPU LOAD ISSUE.

MY SERVERS WHICH ARE EXACTLY THE SAME DELL T7400 DUAL QUAD WORKSTATIONS RELIABLY USE 100% OF THE CPU LOAD. THEY ARE IDENTICAL IN HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE - MAX2010 x64BIT/VRAY 1.5 SP3A ETC.

AM ALSO SUFFERING FROM AN A DRSPAWNER PROBLEM CAUSED BY MY SPACEPILOT'S DRIVERS I AM LED TO BELIEVE. - HOPEFULLY SHOULD FIX THINGS - THANKS TO CG_JEDI...

http://http://www.chaosgroup.com/for...hlight=spawner

VLADO PLEASE CAN YOU HELP ON THE CPU ISSUE THOUGH!!!!

MANY THANKS

TARRAN
WOODSBAGOT

[Morbid Angel]

I would suggest not to use all capital letters, its kind of offensive.
In regards to your issue, you may want to try disabling bitmap paging and see if it helps.
Also play around with dynamic memory.
I generally find max 2010 slower to render then previous max versions though.

[WoodsBagotLondon]

low 3dsmax process performance

Hi Dmitry,

Thankyou for your advice - apologies about the caps, I was using a broken keyboard that was stuck in caps mode! I assure you no offence was intended - hopefully anyone reading my post would deduce its sincerity.

I believe the issue is nothing to do with dynamic memory as there are no dynamic objects in the scene [no proxies or fur etc].

I have reinstalled 3dsmax and vray and the effect is still the same. Also having removed my spacepilot drivers the machine uses 100% cpu when it is in DRspawner mode. So I can deduce that there is nothing wrong with the hardware or 3dsmax affinity etc.

The issue of bitmap paging is of interest, I will test using Neil Blevins SoulScripts [gives the ability to turn off the paging in max2010]

Many Thanks

Tarran

[WoodsBagotLondon]

low 3dsmax process performance

I have just found something interesting on another thread by Vlado:

"due to changes in the bitmap handling code for 3ds Max 2010, especially on multicore machines. This affects all renderers for 3ds Max (but not V-Ray RT ). So in that case you'll just have to wait for a fix from Autodesk."

This would seam to be an explanation of my problem. However it is only true for one machine! My 4 other machines [which are identical in hardware except have the original 4gb of ram] work perfectly using max2010 and vray 1.5sp3a. no issues with slow rendering or textures whatsover.

My main workstation does display traits of the "bitmap handling curse" however; it has 16gb of ram.

"turning off the Bitmap pager in max 2010 may speed up renders on 64bit OS's that have lots of RAM." Neil Blevins....

Could too much ram be the problem?????

[WoodsBagotLondon]

low 3dsmax process performance

ok bitmap paging does not help! sorry for getting anypones hopes up...

have found this thread too now, will start posting there.

sorry for wasting anyones time.

http://www.chaosgroup.com/forums/vbu...10+performance

[WoodsBagotLondon]

low 3dsmax process performance

OK ive got it to work finally. After installing the latest hotfix from Autodesk, and playing with Neil Blevins Bitmap Pager Manager the machine now uses 100% cpu reliably!

I was not shuting down max between tweaking the bitmap manager settings - silly me.

Hope it fixes anyone else's issues too.

Thanks

Tarran