Using P5 on a 1 gig processor w/ 1/2 gig o' RAM. Using the Firefly renderer at high res is spiking my machine (proc-100% Memory-1150195k). P5 is still running (has been for about 2 hours). Should I cancel or wait? Is this to be expected in P5 Firefly with this machine? Visque

I think that this is normal and O.K. I notice when I check my task manager even when using Lightwave my processor usage jumps to 100% and stays there for days when rendering an animation. Just keeps on chuggin... If it is harmful I haven't suffered any consequences....yet.

Don't freak.....I have a gig of ram and a 2.8 Ghz processor and it runs 100% on mine too. Someone once mentioned that may be a problem with Windows XP rather than P5. Shortly after I got my new machine, WinXP was running some minor Compaq utility at 100% of processor at the expense of everything else. Scarab<-listening to that processor whine....

the way poser is writen it takes 100% of free processor time so it shows 100% useage, thow it dose release what is needed for other software to run as well thow not recamended due to the over head needs of P5 higher functions like hair and cloth. laters Vel

I would tend to be disappointed if during a render 100% wasn't being used. To take Scarab's example if you were running a 2.8GHz machine @ 50% you'd be doing just as well to run 100% on a 1.4. There'd be no point in upgrading. I've upgraded my machine a couple of times in the last year and amazed at how linear the improvements are. I have a scene saved as a testbed and the relationship between processor and rendertime is exact. (Have been using the same O.S.-Win2K througout all upgrades.) To further address visque's concerns I would say that if processor usage remains at 100% when it is NOT rendering I would be asking questions... (setting up a scene and such) If your system is doing no work, not moving anything etc. you should see that reflected.

You guys smell something?

Yeah, it is a little disconcerting when you hit "render" and your 'puter revs up with a sound like those plasma beams on "Ghostbusters"... Scarab<-keeping a fire extinguisher nearby and wearing eye protection.....

15+ hours on a single frame - 1 character - no dynamics - no atmoshere. The system is not locked. Round and round it goes... Houston, we have a problem!