Setting process priority so it runs when screen is locked

[P Adhia]

Hello Experts,

I run some CPU intensive processes (video encoding using X264) in a
command shell. Since I don't want it to affect my normal foreground
applications, I set it to IDLE/BELOW_NORMAL priority using Process
Explorer. However, when I lock my screen (manually or automatically
after some idle time), the encoding virtually stops. When I unlock my
screen, I can see from recent history that CPU was idle instead of
being utilized to run the encoding process. What can I do to ensure
that my background encoding process continues to run even when I am
away from the computer (the screen is locked), but at the same time
not affect any foreground applications if I happen to be using the
computer?

Thanks

P Adhia

 

[Gurpreet Singh]

It is not a good idea to reduce the priority to below normal or idle. It
would tell the CPU to execute the application with this priority only when
there is no other process running at a higher priortiy than idle or below
normal, hence your application will never get a chance to execute since there
will be atleast one process running at a priority higher than below normal.


Check
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc958314.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938611.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussinovich/archive/2008/09/24/3126858.aspx

 

[Richard Urban]

Get a more powerful CPU and more RAM (8 gig). Use Vista 64 bit operating
system.

 

[P Adhia]

Get a more powerful CPU and more RAM (8 gig). Use Vista 64 bit operating
system.

Probably I wasn't clear in my previous email. I have adequate CPU and
memory. It's just that the encoding comes to crawl WHEN I "Lock
Computer". It seems Windows gives minimum CPU time when screen is
either locked or screen-saver is active, even though no other high
priority processes are running.

Thanks

 

[SC Tom]

Probably I wasn't clear in my previous email. I have adequate CPU and
memory. It's just that the encoding comes to crawl WHEN I "Lock
Computer". It seems Windows gives minimum CPU time when screen is
either locked or screen-saver is active, even though no other high
priority processes are running.

Thanks

Have you checked your power options in Control Panel?

 

[P Adhia]

Have you checked your power options in Control Panel?

Right on target! I set my power profile to "Maximum Performance" and
encoding chugs along nicely.

Thanks

 

[SC Tom]

Right on target! I set my power profile to "Maximum Performance" and
encoding chugs along nicely.

Thanks

Your welcome.