Why does playing back iTunes Videos cause nearly 100% CPU usage on my PC?

Question

I am using a AMD X2 4600 with 1GB ram and the mobos built on sound. I have a dual monitor setup powered by my ATI X1600 that I use to watch recorded TV through MediaCenter on one screen and play WoW on the other all the time. No problems. I just recently tried to do the same thing but playing the podcast Diggnation through itunes and my resource monitor shows that it pushes my CPU to 100% usage, and it makes Wow really laggy.

My question really is: Why can I watch full screen basically mpeg2 video through MediaCenter and not lag but I can't watch 240X320 podcast through iTunes without WoW sucking?

Answer 1

Itunes uses the MPEG-4, AVC, video codec which is far more complex than MPEG2. It also uses the AAC audio codec, which is about as complex as Dolby Digital, but more complex than MPEG-2 audio. So, overall, itunes video does require more CPU power.

Answer 2

Your looking in the incorrect position for a answer. the project is together with your hardware, no longer your software. in case your extreme about video artwork then you definitely opt to improve your computing device. i don't understand what you've atm yet i ought to pass for a Quad middle, some thing like the intel Q6600 is amazingly good fee at the second one and could bite by any projects you throw at it, providing some thing of your gadget can keep up with it for sure. Quote from evaluation on the Amazon link decrease than: "in case you're debating even if to get a quad middle CPU or a twin middle, the upward thrust in multi-threaded software in the course of the former few months might want to make the alternative for you. in case you're into video encoding, maximum video formats are threaded those days - DivX as an get jointly will use all 4 cores and hence end the interest in a lot less time than a twin middle. a ideas Cry 2 even as it really is released will also use more effective than 2 threads, with one middle committed to physics, yet another for AI and some thing for the game engine".