Pro Tools using only one processor

[matiasca]

Hello!

I'm trying Pro Tools Ultimate right now, latest version, and I'd upgraded my CPUs to XEON X5680 from X5650s not sure yet to keep them. But I'm wondering why I can only see all the load distributed on just one processor, all cores, but just one processor (screenshot attached) Light local project in this case but I'm trying to figure out if it worth keeping the X5680s or go back to a better energy efficient and potentially low noisy X5650s.

Thanks everyone!

[musicman691]

Can't decipher that graphic. What does the cpu usage meter in PT show?

[matiasca]

Originally Posted by musicman691

Can't decipher that graphic. What does the cpu usage meter in PT show?

There is no PT system meter in the graphics, I didn’t include it because it seems like it doesn’t represents the real system usage. So this screenshot is from Activity monitor under macOS utilities. The left column is the first cores and the horizontal one shows all available cores from the two processors in the machine.

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by matiasca

There is no PT system meter in the graphics, I didn’t include it because it seems like it doesn’t represents the real system usage. So this screenshot is from Activity monitor under macOS utilities. The left column is the first cores and the horizontal one shows all available cores from the two processors in the machine.

Okay but what's all that other stuff in the screenshot? I'm talking those meters, etc.

[Tweakhead]

they're from macOS's built-in Activity Monitor
Applications > Utilities

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Tweakhead

they're from macOS's built-in Activity Monitor
Applications > Utilities

I don't see them in OSX 10.13.6's Activity Monitor.

[matiasca]

The real thing to focus on is are you getting CPU related errors? What exact problem are you trying to solve? I'm not following why looking CPU usage metrics on "light" sessions is interesting... might be if you were seeing weird behavior/CPU errors on those sessions.[/QUOTE]

Hi! For what I know the the activity monitor distribute the cores and the processors 1 to 1 which is 1 core from processor A; then 1 core from processor B. I don’t think I’m complaining about pro tools, I have from time to time, and sometimes a bit often some CPU overloads which with no more than 40 tracks with a few pitch a few reverbs, eq a few meters and that kind of readings from Activity monitor should never be happening.

My main questions are, are those CPU overloads telling me something else is wrong? My northbridge temps are around 78 celsius, no more no less, I’d read that they are normal for a mac with a configuration like mine, but someone says that 65/70 is a good temp, and with x5680 I’m getting more power draw, a bit more heat, a bit more noise from fans (around 1380rpm) and 600mhz more from each processor, but maybe with x5650 I should get the same average performance and less power draw and heat.

[matiasca]

Originally Posted by musicman691

I don't see them in OSX 10.13.6's Activity Monitor.

I’m in Mojave, maybe you can search them on top menu view options, you can double click the cpu graph on CPU usage tab from activity monitor to bring up the table from the left. The other is CPU History from top menu.

[lancemcv]

Your processors are both being used hence 12 cores not 24, your virtual cores the other 12 are the ones that are not lit. If you push your system with a lot of plugins and tracks you should see the virtual cores start to kick in unless multi threading is disabled. I also installed 5680s from 5650s and it’s totally worth it

[matiasca]

Originally Posted by lancemcv

Your processors are both being used hence 12 cores not 24, your virtual cores the other 12 are the ones that are not lit. If you push your system with a lot of plugins and tracks you should see the virtual cores start to kick in unless multi threading is disabled. I also installed 5680s from 5650s and it’s totally worth it

Hi! Thanks! That’s the answer I was looking for, exactly. Many thanks.

I don’t know if it’s offtopic but would you tell me your northbridge chipset temp, as you have more or less the same config as I have (I have a 580/8gb and 96gb ram) I don’t think that will do a lot of difference. Maybe the random cpu overloads are from my high northbridge temps (78 celsius).

Thank you!