Video encoding all of a sudden is very slow. No CPU fan

Hello.

Here is my problem. I make videos for YouTube, and in the past have had no problems encoding videos. Usually, the fan kicks in almost immediately and doesn't stop until the encoding process is done (I encode long, HD videos). The speed is also manageable, especially when I use Windows Movie Maker.

However, I tried to make a video today, and the CPU fan won't kick on. Also, the speed of encoding is incredibly slow.

Task Manager says I'm using 70-80% CPU, but the fan doesn't kick in and the process is at a crawl. What could be the problem?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

1) Check setting, are they the same? It could be something has been changed either by intention or by accident.

2) Check for any updates -- that's usually when I have performance issues with Windows.

3) Check for some changes in video. Is the codec, format, resolution exactly the same?

4) Reset/restart program/computer. Again, an update issue. Shutting down gives your system a change to correct itself.

 

Which power profile you using also? High performance, check your temperatures and clock speeds.

 

My 7970m failed the "Primary Surface Test" in Alien Autopsy. Could that be what's causing this? I haven't had any issues with the 7970m recently, been gaming just fine...

 

I wouldn't worry about that, just check its fine for 3dmark or a gaming benchmark (batman arkam city) to check its alright.

 

Temps are around 60, max 63. Fan isn't really kicking on at all and the encoding process seems much slower than normal.

 

Which power profile you using? sounds like its not clocking up. Try high performance or forcing maximum processor state to 100 in the advanced power settings menu.

 

I'm using a High Performance power setting.

Weird thing. Today, the speed is normal, but the fan is still not kicking in. The temps are really low, though, even while encoding (50-55 only). Weird, but I'll take it, I guess.

Oh, and Open Hardware Monitor is only showing 2 cores of my CPU. Is that normal? I have the 3610qm processor. Is there some where on my computer to check to make sure all the cores are activated?

 

HWinfo64 you should try, check all the clocks, sounds weird. Thats barely idle temps for my 3630qm.

 

HWinfo64 shows Core 0 and Core 1. Core 0 is steady at 2300 mhz while Core 1 fluctuates between 1150 and 2300. Is this normal?

 

Thats what my sensors look like, weird you seem to be missing 2 cores!

 

I got the 2 cores back. I had to go to MSCONFIG and turn off the processors button (which I had set to 4, but only 2 were loading, I guess). The numbers on HWINFO now are jumping all around though. Very weird. Are your clocks stable? Mine fluctuate at a very fast rate, from 1100 to 2300 to 3300, etc. They're all over the place. And the voltage isn't stable, at all.

And now the fan kicks in as well.

 

Yes frequency and voltage should adjust with load to save power.

 

Then I guess everything is functioning properly now. I'll post again if anything weird happens. I managed to encode 2 videos and during the second one the fan kicked in. So, thanks to everyone for the help. Appreciate it!

 

Woot, hopefully it all goes well from now on.

 

How did you shut off two cores? thats very weird indeed haha!

 

Well, I was doing something for a game, and the tutorial suggested to go into MSConfig - Boot - advanced settings - and make sure Windows is booting with the max amount of processors. I did that, changed the setting to 4 cores, and saved. Not sure why, but since then, I guess the computer was booting with only 2 of those cores. Once I went back into MSConfig and turned that setting off completely and restarted, the 4 cores were recognized again. Weird.

I'll think twice in the future before altering stuff like that!