[iTunes] iTunes Speed/Performance Feedback

[Norm LeMieux]

Kunga:

It just seems like you're not taking some system-level bottlenecks into 
account. For instance, that 52x FW reader can pass data at a MAX of 52x 
(~7.8MB/s). Also, with CAV, that 52x drive will only be ~20x on the inner 
rim (3MB/s). That seems to be your bottleneck.

Try making a disc image and rip from it. See if you get better performance.

-ntlm-


>From: Kunga <Kunga at FutureMedia.org>
>Reply-To: "iTunesList" <iTunes at lists.themacintoshguy.com>
>To: "iTunesList" <iTunes at lists.themacintoshguy.com>
>Subject: [iTunes] iTunes Speed/Performance Feedback
>Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 11:38:33 -0700
>
>Just sent this to the iTunes team. Thought you would all like to know this, 
>if you don't already.
>
>I'm using OS 10.2.6. Ripping AAC files @ 192kbps.
>
>Dual processors DO NOT help increase ripping speed. iTunes rips faster with 
>one fast processor than it does with two slower ones that add up to more 
>than the speed of the single one. I found that out the hard way.
>
>Bought a dual 867 thinking I was going to get rips more than 3 times the 8x 
>I get on my old G4 500 Cube (100 bus). Get no more than 13.5x even with the 
>same 52x reader. Both processors are working (can tell via Cee Pee You). 
>But they only total the work of one processor and the system overhead makes 
>even that not as fast as it would do with one 867 processor.
>
>So for ripping AAC or MP3 files, it's all about a fast single processor 
>with a fast reader so far. Please try to develop a version of iTunes that 
>will use the full capability of both processors continually. When I do an 
>8x rip on my G4 500 with a 52x FW reader, the processor is working at a 
>full 97%-99% load the entire rip. When I do the same rip on my dual 867, 
>both processors are flipping all over the map between 20% and 80% both 
>totaling little more than 100% at any moment and yeilding a measly maximum 
>13.5x rip speed.
>
>I feel like I got ripped off buying this dual 867 for ripping because 
>iTunes is not really a dual processor program thus far. There is something 
>wrong with the code that prevents it from using both processors up to their 
>full capacity. If you will please fix that code, I believe I will be able 
>to get almost 28x rips on this dual 867 which would be the logical multiple 
>from my single 500 to a dual 867 or 1734 GHz or 3.47 times 8 (3.47 is the 
>multiple of 500 that my 1734 adds up to).
>
>Is the fact that iTunes doesn't use both processors fully OS X's fault or 
>iTunes' fault? Either way, I wish you would make this capability a priority 
>in the next version. I have over 3,000 CDs I must rip and the process is 
>still way too slow for me to want to do it thus far. I am extremely upset 
>to discover this weakness in iTunes which I thought was a multiprocessor 
>application. While it uses both processors, it does not do so in a way that 
>totals more than the power of one of them. My dual 867 is ripping at a 
>multiple of one 867 compared to one 500 (on a slower buss too). (500 + 
>367/500) 1.73 times 8 is 14. All my dual 867 rips occur at a maximum of 
>13.5x NEVER 14x. I understand system overhead. But on a faster bus from the 
>same 52x reader? Your team should really be concerned about this. I would 
>expect a dual 1.8 GH 970 PowerMac to deliver an iTunes ripping speed of at 
>least the 52x reading speed - about 1.1 minute per one hour album or the 
>speed of the 52x reader. The bottleneck should consistently be the 
>processors until the speed of the reader is reached. Please try to deliver 
>that.
>
>Sincerely yours since SoundJam 2.5.
>
>Kunga
>
>
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