how to limit MR to 3 cores?

IronHawk

I've been looking through the max help files and online but still haven't found where the switch is to limit MR rendering to using only a certain number of CPU's. I like the speed of using all 4 but it's hard to get anything else done.

edwardE

If you're using Windows, you can do Ctrl+Alt+Delete, go to task mananger processes, find the rendering process, right-click it and go to "Set affinity" - uncheck the CPUs you don't want it to use.

If you're doing that to free up resources so you can still use your computer, I'd recommend instead of doing that to Set priority to Below Normal or Low - that way whatever you're doing will take precedence, and any other CPU power will go to your rendering without simply cutting 25% of your total power off.

IronHawk

hah.. didn't even think of doing it that way. makes sense. Was looking for a solution in max.

Jonathan

Also consider this program. I use it for older games and programs that go crazy with multi-core CPUs.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/WinLauncherXP_d870.html

You launch a program from this little tool, and have the options already set for which cores to use.

EarthQuake

I generally just tend to set the app to "Low priority" when baking ao maps or whatever, so i can continue to work without the system dieing.