CPUUsage Increase x2 ?

[ShawnInPaso]

Maybe it's just me?

Currently running v5.4.9.18 v64. This and the past version or two have doubled my "idle" CPU usage. I have 8 cameras and the PC typically idles at 15-20% CPU, but the last couple of revs have it at 40 percent or more at idle and ramps up to 70-100% when one or more cameras are triggered?
I'm using a stand along PC, i7 processor and 16g ram, windows 10. Did all the usual things, rebooted, checked for any changes to the camera settings from the former version, etc.

Before I revert back to a former version thought I'd post to see what gives.

 

[wittaj]

I7 processor doesn't mean much, which intel generation are you, 4xxxx, 6xxxx, etc.?

Many of us have experienced issues with hardware acceleration and newer updates, so I suspect some of the cameras are not using hardware acceleration and then it defaults to the CPU.

Regardless, I bet you are not using the substreams and that would make a big difference.

Do EVERY optimization in the wiki and you will see a major drop in the CPU. Substreams are a must, especially once you get over 4MP cameras.

A member here runs 50 cameras on a 4th generation CPU at 30%, and you only have 8 cameras running at that or more.

And by EVERY, I mean EVERY. Too many people come here complaining of high CPU usage and claim they have done every optimization in the wiki and once they post screenshots, we see they are not using the substreams and that is probably one of the biggest CPU savers. Do not skip one because you think it isn't important or won't make that big of a deal. Even dropping frame rate a few FPS can make a big difference. No reason to run more than 15FPS, and many us have cams running at 10 to 12 FPS.

If you do not understand what something does in BI, then ask. Too many people also change a setting not realizing what it does and actually makes their performance worse.

Please post a screenshot of your BI camera status page that shows FPS, MP/s, etc.

Optimizing Blue Iris's CPU Usage

Blue Iris uses a lot of CPU time. In most Blue Iris installations, your CPU is the limiting factor which determines how many cameras you can have. As such, it is extremely important to optimize your configuration to ensure you can get the most out of your system while consuming the least...

ipcamtalk.com

 

[ShawnInPaso]

For the record, I'm not complaining, just looking for help by way of raising the issue to see if others are experiencing the same change with recent versions of BI.

I'm a long time user of BI and well aware of optimization methods. But again, my point is simply that at a given baseline for my settings, the CPU usage has increased by x2 for the past couple of versions. It would be prudent to think changes to existing settings shouldn't be necessary to accommodate a revision to BI, unless it is explicitly stated in a version change.

"Please post a screenshot of your BI camera status page that shows FPS, MP/s, etc."
Do you mean for each camera? I've attached what is common for the 8 cams, some are at 15fps.

 

[TVille]

The processor you are running will be important. I am running an i7-6700, 8 GB, a dozen cameras, 4-5 on DeepStack, 2 on OpenALPR, and run around 20%. With just BI, it is under 10%. Yes, I'm on the latest BI version, .18. The status page is the page you get from the lightening bolt/graph icon in the upper left. It has a tab that says "Cameras" and shows about everything you posted for one camera for all of them at once.

 

[wittaj]

What I was looking for was the one screen snapshot from BI that shows each camera and their MP, FPS, KEY, whether hardware acceleration is on, etc. You image though shows that you are not using substreams. That would drastically reduce your CPU usage.

But like I said, several of us have noticed that hardware acceleration seems to "break" in some newer revisions.

I would suggest restarting BI and see if you get hardware errors at startup, that would be the first place to see if that is what you are experiencing.

If it isn't that, then I would suggest you do what many of us do, do not be on bleeding edge of updates and rollback to a stable version for your system.

Many of us hold tight when we find a stable version and only update when BI adds something that would be of benefit to us.

Many of us are on 5.4.6.3 as that was the last stable version prior to custom models being available for DeepStack.

 

[ShawnInPaso]

The processor you are running will be important. I am running an i7-6700, 8 GB, a dozen cameras, 4-5 on DeepStack, 2 on OpenALPR, and run around 20%. With just BI, it is under 10%. Yes, I'm on the latest BI version, .18. The status page is the page you get from the lightening bolt/graph icon in the upper left. It has a tab that says "Cameras" and shows about everything you posted for one camera for all of them at once.

Thanks for the help and the pointer to that icon, much appreciated.

 

[ShawnInPaso]

What I was looking for was the one screen snapshot from BI that shows each camera and their MP, FPS, KEY, whether hardware acceleration is on, etc. You image though shows that you are not using substreams. That would drastically reduce your CPU usage.

But like I said, several of us have noticed that hardware acceleration seems to "break" in some newer revisions.

I would suggest restarting BI and see if you get hardware errors at startup, that would be the first place to see if that is what you are experiencing.

If it isn't that, then I would suggest you do what many of us do, do not be on bleeding edge of updates and rollback to a stable version for your system.

Many of us hold tight when we find a stable version and only update when BI adds something that would be of benefit to us.

Many of us are on 5.4.6.3 as that was the last stable version prior to custom models being available for DeepStack.

Thanks wittaj, I sincerely appreciate your help. When I get a chance later today I'll go back and check/correct the settings mentioned and/or rev back to 5.4.6.3 and report back.

 

[Flintstone61]

I think that happened to me too. And i think the fix was going thru and seeing which cameras had been knocked off Hardware acceleration, and/or going to global settings and making the default "intel"

 

[ShawnInPaso]

Well you guys were sure right. I went thru each camera and corrected the settings. Also noticed that using my NVIDIA card gains a little more performance over the Intel selection for hardware acceleration.
In any event, I'm super grateful for your time and expertise and helping me out. My only regret is not checking first more thoroughly before posting (live and learn).

Now cruising along where I was before. Sigh.

 

[sebastiantombs]

Now, if you take advantage of sub streams you'll see your CPU utilization drop by a factor of five to 15.

 

[wittaj]

Glad to help! That is what the forum is for!

And yes, substreams will drop you even more.

 

[ShawnInPaso]

Thanks again guys; and I have since applied the substreams !

 

[Pentagano]

Not sure if it's been mentioned - Just to check do you have hyperthreading enabled? Sometimes it's not on in the BIOS.

 

[CrazyAsYou]

Also noticed that using my NVIDIA card gains a little more performance over the Intel selection for hardware acceleration.

One think to note is that although using your Nvidia card for HA over Intel might make your CPU stats look better it will come at the cost of consuming more power, the Nvidia card will never drop to its lower clock speeds and power savings as it will always be under load, this results in higher PC temps and power usage whereas the Intel integrated CPU is more efficient.

 

[ShawnInPaso]

One think to note is that although using your Nvidia card for HA over Intel might make your CPU stats look better it will come at the cost of consuming more power, the Nvidia card will never drop to its lower clock speeds and power savings as it will always be under load, this results in higher PC temps and power usage whereas the Intel integrated CPU is more efficient.

Thanks for the advice. Certainly something I was not aware of. Much appreciated.