QuickTime Movie CPU Usage Tests
These tests were performed to get some sense of which codecs performed best on which machines. Please note that the CPU usage cannot be taken as an absolute measurement, as it is relative to the other tasks on the system. Nevertheless, the only application running while doing the test was the application that was playing the movie. Under MacOS X, measurements were made using Activity Monitor. Under Windows XP, measurements were made using the Task Manager - Processes tab.
The movies are all compressed as 320x240 pixels.
Codecs who require setting a keyframe rate were set to every 30 frames.
Bandwith limitations were set to automatic.
When applicable, the number of colors were set to Millions (as opposed to Millions+)
CPU Usage Running Isadora
These tests were performed with Isadora's preferences set as follows:
Frame Rate: 30 fps
Sleep Time: 33 mS
|
Codec
|
1.5 Ghz
PPC+Altivec
1.5GB RAM
Powerbook
|
2.0 Ghz
CoreDuo
1GB RAM
MacBook Pro
|
1.8 Ghz
Pentium M
1GB RAM
(Sony Vaio)
|
File Size
Mb
|
| Animation |
13.5
|
8.0
|
9.0
|
5.1
|
| Cinepak |
14.0
|
11.0
|
12.0
|
2.0
|
| H264 |
28.5
|
18.6
|
27.0
|
1.0
|
| JPEG2000 |
80.2
|
75.2
|
n/a
|
3.7
|
| Motion JPEG A |
18.5
|
12.5
|
20.0
|
2.7
|
| Motion JPEG B |
18.2
|
12.5
|
20.0
|
2.7
|
| MPEG-4 |
24.0
|
17.5
|
24.0
|
3.2
|
| Photo JPEG |
18.5
|
12.0
|
18.0
|
2.0
|
| Apple Pixlet |
24.0
|
31.2
|
n/a
|
2.7
|
| PNG |
30.5
|
30.0
|
47.0
|
6.1
|
| Sorenson 3 |
25.5
|
16.5
|
20.0
|
1.2
|
| Video |
13.5
|
7.20
|
10.0
|
1.7
|
CPU Usage Running QuckTime Player
The movies were looped during playback.
|
Codec
|
1.5 Ghz
PPC+Altivec
1.5GB RAM
Powerbook
|
2.0 Ghz
CoreDuo
1GB RAM
MacBook Pro
|
1.8 Ghz
Pentium M
1GB RAM
(Sony Vaio)
|
File Size
Mb
|
| Animation |
20.0
|
15.0
|
4.0
|
5.1
|
| Cinepak |
25.2
|
14.0
|
2.0
|
2.0
|
| H264 |
33.5
|
23.5
|
10.0
|
1.0
|
| JPEG2000 |
27.3
|
75.2
|
n/a
|
3.7
|
| Motion JPEG A |
25.1
|
17.3
|
14.0
|
2.7
|
| Motion JPEG B |
25.0
|
17.2
|
13.0
|
2.7
|
| MPEG-4 |
32.0
|
21.5
|
9.5
|
3.2
|
| Photo JPEG |
24.3
|
16.0
|
11.0
|
2.0
|
| Apple Pixlet |
26.0
|
51.5
|
n/a
|
2.7
|
| PNG |
39.0
|
33.0
|
36.0
|
6.1
|
| Sorenson 3 |
28.0
|
17.5
|
8.0
|
1.2
|
| Video |
21.0
|
12.2
|
5.0
|
1.7
|
|
