Calibre and CPU

nlundberg · 02-12-2013, 04:21 PM

When doing "jobs" Calibre stress my computer to insane levels, a not too old macbook pro. The fan go crazy, but this does not happen when I use other, really demanding, software.

I can not see why downloading an RSS and creating a e-pub can be that CPU-demanding.

I would prefer to leave Calibre running in the background but as it is now that is too disturbing.

Is this a known bug?

Adoby · 02-12-2013, 05:10 PM

It is not a bug.

Creating and manipulating ebooks involves file compression. That is very, very CPU intensive. Also calibre takes a conservative approach to updating the library and the books, and work on copies in the temp directory. This means a lot of file copying and transfer between different folders and drives. Also takes power and may cause a need for extra cooling. But it also means that the library and books very rarely become corrupt.

Some software may throttle the use of the CPU, to avoid hogging all the resources. Calibre has some settings in the preferences that allows you to lower the number of cores used for some tasks. That may help in some cases, but may make some jobs take longer to complete.

Install more memory if possible and make sure you have plenty of free space left on the hard drive. You might even consider upgrading to a faster hard drive.

Other than that, try cleaning the fans, and make sure they are not obstructed!

I have a 8 core computer with 16 gB RAM and SSD disk and temp folder in RAM, and calibre makes good use of it all!

Lycka till!

theducks · 02-12-2013, 05:44 PM

The only thing that slams it harder is a BOINC project. Conversion is a intensive CPU an IO process

DoctorOhh · 02-12-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlundberg

When doing "jobs" Calibre stress my computer to insane levels, a not too old macbook pro. The fan go crazy, but this does not happen when I use other, really demanding, software.

That's because the "other" demanding software isn't as demanding or not as efficient at utilizing the resources available to it. The only software I have run into that is similar in cpu use is Handbrake for converting videos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlundberg

I can not see why downloading an RSS and creating a e-pub can be that CPU-demanding.

Downloading is not that demanding but converting the downloaded rss to epub will utilize all the cpu available to accomplish the job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlundberg

I would prefer to leave Calibre running in the background but as it is now that is too disturbing.

Calibre only stresses the cpu during the conversion process, the rest of the time it is quiet. My concern during these big cpu load times is calibre preventing me from doing other things at the same time. To prevent this I went to Preferences - Behavior and changed Job priority from Normal to Low.

Additionally you can limit the number of conversion/news download jobs happening at once and limit cpu cores used by going to Preferences - Miscellaneous. Limiting the jobs / cpu cores can keep the cpu cooler, but it will take longer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nlundberg

Is this a known bug?

Not a bug.... a feature.

nlundberg · 02-13-2013, 04:18 AM

Thanks for the replies. Then I know. But from an outside perspective it is reasonable to think that a text feed to a small file containing mostly text would not be that super-demanding.

A thought: What if news were downloaded as .txt files? Would that be less straining? Maybe there could be an option for that? The news feature is such a great one, and I download a lot of them.

Anyway, I did find that limiting the cpu jobs setting, and it seems to work, but yes it takes longer. But that it still better. Now I will try combining with the priority feature too.

Thanks!

theducks · 02-13-2013, 08:04 AM

It is not 'Straining' your system.
At least, the workout should never cause problems. It should take 100% load 24/7 if it was any decent system. (When powered from the Mains

)

That said: YOU do need to keep the lint on the grills, fins and fan, reasonably clear

cybmole · 02-14-2013, 09:06 AM

think of it this way:
every time you convert a book you are also getting a free fan-test & cobweb blow-out + it helps keep the house warm

nlundberg · 02-15-2013, 06:45 AM

When I close my eyes I find my self surrounded by a mighty sea breeze, and I can almost smell the rotten seaweed (but is that just the garbage from the kitchen?).

Maybe this could be made in to a real feature! Whenever the metadata mentions sea, wind, cars the fan gets maxed out. When war is mentioned the hard drive gets chopped up. When electronics are mentioned the circuit board gets fried. Or no?

Well, anyway, I guess I have to live with the straining and stress and demanding demands that Calibre puts on my system. (JUST KIDDING)

Calibre is a really nice piece of software!

02-12-2013, 04:21 PM	#1
nlundberg Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 43090 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sweden Device: Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight, Calibre, Macbook pro, OSX 10.6.8	Calibre and CPU When doing "jobs" Calibre stress my computer to insane levels, a not too old macbook pro. The fan go crazy, but this does not happen when I use other, really demanding, software. I can not see why downloading an RSS and creating a e-pub can be that CPU-demanding. I would prefer to leave Calibre running in the background but as it is now that is too disturbing. Is this a known bug?

02-12-2013, 05:10 PM	#2
Adoby Handy Elephant Posts: 1,736 Karma: 26785668 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern Sweden, far out in the quiet woods Device: Thinkpad E595, Ubuntu Mate, Huawei Mediapad 5, Bouye Likebook Plus	It is not a bug. Creating and manipulating ebooks involves file compression. That is very, very CPU intensive. Also calibre takes a conservative approach to updating the library and the books, and work on copies in the temp directory. This means a lot of file copying and transfer between different folders and drives. Also takes power and may cause a need for extra cooling. But it also means that the library and books very rarely become corrupt. Some software may throttle the use of the CPU, to avoid hogging all the resources. Calibre has some settings in the preferences that allows you to lower the number of cores used for some tasks. That may help in some cases, but may make some jobs take longer to complete. Install more memory if possible and make sure you have plenty of free space left on the hard drive. You might even consider upgrading to a faster hard drive. Other than that, try cleaning the fans, and make sure they are not obstructed! I have a 8 core computer with 16 gB RAM and SSD disk and temp folder in RAM, and calibre makes good use of it all! Lycka till! Last edited by Adoby; 02-12-2013 at 05:38 PM.

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02-12-2013, 05:44 PM	#3
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,832 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The only thing that slams it harder is a BOINC project. Conversion is a intensive CPU an IO process

02-13-2013, 04:18 AM	#5
nlundberg Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 43090 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sweden Device: Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight, Calibre, Macbook pro, OSX 10.6.8	Thanks for the replies. Then I know. But from an outside perspective it is reasonable to think that a text feed to a small file containing mostly text would not be that super-demanding. A thought: What if news were downloaded as .txt files? Would that be less straining? Maybe there could be an option for that? The news feature is such a great one, and I download a lot of them. Anyway, I did find that limiting the cpu jobs setting, and it seems to work, but yes it takes longer. But that it still better. Now I will try combining with the priority feature too. Thanks!

02-13-2013, 08:04 AM	#6
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 29,832 Karma: 54830978 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	It is not 'Straining' your system. At least, the workout should never cause problems. It should take 100% load 24/7 if it was any decent system. (When powered from the Mains ) That said: YOU do need to keep the lint on the grills, fins and fan, reasonably clear

02-14-2013, 09:06 AM	#7
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	think of it this way: every time you convert a book you are also getting a free fan-test & cobweb blow-out + it helps keep the house warm

02-15-2013, 06:45 AM	#8
nlundberg Connoisseur Posts: 56 Karma: 43090 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Sweden Device: Cybook Odyssey HD Frontlight, Calibre, Macbook pro, OSX 10.6.8	When I close my eyes I find my self surrounded by a mighty sea breeze, and I can almost smell the rotten seaweed (but is that just the garbage from the kitchen?). Maybe this could be made in to a real feature! Whenever the metadata mentions sea, wind, cars the fan gets maxed out. When war is mentioned the hard drive gets chopped up. When electronics are mentioned the circuit board gets fried. Or no? Well, anyway, I guess I have to live with the straining and stress and demanding demands that Calibre puts on my system. (JUST KIDDING) Calibre is a really nice piece of software!

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