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Processor overheating on Macbbok Pro with Photo Raw 2018 and 2018.5

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61 comments

  • David Redfearn

    I have also sent this to On1 technical support.

    I am still experiencing the high GPU load and high Fan utilization issue.  I’m running the latest release 2018.5 (12.5.3.5757).  I purchased the iStat Menus application to monitor system activity.  The iStat CPU/GPU monitor shows very high utilization of the GPU when On1 is running - even when I am only browsing an image or comparing two images.  This high load doesn’t vary even if I do nothing - simply view the image or images.   

    The iStat CPU/GPU monitor also shows the Frames Per Second for the display.  When On1 is running (browsing - no cataloging activity) FPS immediately goes to 59-60 FPS and stays at that level even with no activity in the program - just browsing the image.  No other Image editing program I have tested exhibits this behavior - typically, FPS will increase when new images are opened, but the FPS then quickly falls to values less than 15 FPS.  Only when editing an image does the FPS value increase.

    I don’t understand why 60 FPS is needed in the On1 application - these are not movies, after all!  I understand that when actively editing an image, a high FPS will make that process more response.  But a very high refresh rate is not needed for browsing.  I believe pushing FPS so high is what causes the GPU load and the fan activity.

    If I get an explanation from On1 support I will update this.

    David

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  • samuel telch

    I hope On1 will fix Photo raw 2018.5 before the new 2019 release.. I paid for a software that doesn't work on my MacBook...
    I just want to share with you a little trick that helped me using PR without cooking my laptop.
    You have to right click on the application icon and open the info menu (command-i).. there you have to select the option "open in low resolution" ... (You can deselect this option whenever you want)
    Obviously everything looks blurry, but the image is still workable ( is it difficult to see very small details).
    Hope this can help you enjoying this software while they fix all the bugs..

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  • Adam Rubinstein

    David, your experience confirms my earlier statement regarding the dynamic image rendering which was introduced in PR 2018.5.  This was a corporate/programming decision which may have seemed at the time to provide better brush responsiveness but it comes at a cost.  It would be curious to hear On1’s take.

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  • Erhard Markscheffel

    Then the solution is simple. For example: high refresh rate when using the brush. Low refresh rate when browsing, viewing images, etc. Only a few lines of program code.

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  • David Redfearn

    Yep, it sounds like a simple fix to me too - but I am not a programmer and who knows how they designed this behavior.  I haven't heard back from support yet and I look forward to their explanation.  Seems odd that they didn't recognize this issue during their beta testing.

    David

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  • David Redfearn

    Here is the response I got from support - they still don't seem to understand the key GPU issue (CPU utilization is not a problem for me)  but I was happy to hear that they are working to throttle the GPU utilization.  60FPS is just ridiculous.  I hope the update arrives soon.

    David

    Stevie (on1) 

    Sep 5, 14:45 PDT 

    Hello,

    Thank you for using ON1! I apologize for the frustration. We have made a change in this update in how often the program scans/refreshes the program window on your screen. In the 2018.5 update, the program is acting more like a video game by continuously updating the on screen preview. It is completely normal for the program to utilize between 10-30% (depending on your machine) of your CPU even while sitting idle. Furthermore, it is also normal to see a spike in CPU usage (you may notice the fan running) when you open an image into Develop/Effects or viewing an image in Detail view in Browse. Your CPU usage will spike to over 100% and then drop back down to the normal range (this of course varies depending on your machine’s hardware).

    Please understand, the program is doing a lot of background calculation and relying on both your CPU and GPU to generate the on screen preview depending on what you are doing to this image. Also, it is normal for the fan to turn on while you are processing an image. All computers will enable the fan when needed and have safeguards in place if the temperature of your machine reaches high levels. Noticing the fan on your computer while you are processing your images in our program does not mean that there is a problem or that the fan (or heat) is causing damage to your machine’s hardware. 

    Normal CPU/GPU operating temperature values will vary slightly depending on your machine’s hardware. For example, machines that have a dedicated GPU will run cooler than machines with integrated graphics due to the fact that these machine’s GPU are on a separate chip from the CPU. If your machine is equipped with integrated graphics, the CPU and GPU are on the same chip, therefore will run slightly hotter when assigned complex tasks like photo and video editing.

    We are working to better throttle the GPU with a future release, but do not have an immediate update for when this will be available.

    Thank you for contacting ON1 Support. Let us know if you need further assistance.
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  • Ernest Gupana

    Based on what I'm reading here, there is a lot of discussion regarding CPU or GPU and what not. However, in my experience with ON1 and based on the discussions here, I have the impression that Mac users are experiencing the same problem with ON1, 2018.5 version, and that is it is SLOW. Browsing, developing and especially exporting are slow no matter what kind of Mac one is using. It is so slow to the point that it's unusable. I am using an old MacBook Pro, 2012, with 8Gig of Ram and I don't have any problems with competing products like Lightroom and Capture One 11. These programs are blazingly fast on my old MBP. And I did not have a problem either on the old version of ON1, 2018.1. So I went back to the old version for now. 

    I think the problem is in the programming and not on the Mac. ON1 has to solve this quickly or there will be a lot of disgruntled Mac users.

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  • Timothy Benge-Abbott

    Same here. Fans running like it's working overtime even when just browsing. I can't see what extra work ON1 is doing in this situation that other photo editing applications seem to be able to do on far less processing power. All that extra processing activity is just wasting battery energy for no apparent benefit.

    Hoping that the much promised upgrade sorts this out properly.

    MBP15 :: 2.3 GHz Intel Core i7 :: 16GB Ram :: NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M 2048MB

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  • Mark Druziak

    Same issues here.  What bugs me the most is that this problem makes it impossible to use the program while on battery power.  

    But to add insult to injury, PR doesn’t really run correctly on my Windows laptop because of a screen scaling issue. Ironically the Windows machine does not have the heat or fan running issues.

    I can’t wait to see what problems they introduce in the next version!

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  • Jean HUMBERT

    Hello, as "version 18.1 was running perfect without any issues!", how can we get it again, if we did not keep the disk image (dmg) of this version? Thanks!

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  • David Redfearn

    So, they announced the 2019 version and want $80 to upgrade.  It's not going to happen for me.  The new features are not useful for me and they haven't fixed the GPU/Fan issue either.  I bought the On1 Plus product last spring and I am now regretting it.  This just makes the Adobe Lightroom "rental" approach more appealing.

    David

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  • Erhard Markscheffel

    Totally agree. After 2 years I will not longer pay for a faulty software!

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  • Mark Druziak

    Definitely the end of the On1 line for me also. I feel taken advantage of.  They are introducing a new paid version when there are still major issues with their current version. 

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  • Roman Czajkowski

    Same here on a mid-2014 retina MacBook pro. Other thing I've noticed activity monitor shows anywhere from around 700-1500 idle wake ups per second even when I'm doing nothing (number of times a thread causes the system to wake up from idle to begin executing the thread). Whats going on? No other software I have does anything like this - LR, Exposure X4, C1 trial. For sure won't be upgrading until they sort this. Pity because otherwise is nice software.

    Roman

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  • Matthias Hofmeister

    +1. It's time to skip ON1, don't like editing in front of a hairdryer. Same with Alienskin Exposure X4 unfortunately, a software I can highly recommend - but it has similar problems with rendering images. So I have to stay with Capture One, that is absolutely amazing, but I don't like their way of browsing through my files (blurry thumbnails). So let's wait for the one-fits-all-best-of-all-times-no-problems-and-for-free photo editing app ;)

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  • David Redfearn

    Yes, this is really disappointing.  Support had told me they would address this issue with an update, but it doesn't look like that is the case.  Instead, they release a new version - which I would have to pay for to test.  So no, I won't update.  Apparently this issues only effects a small number of users, but that seems very odd since driving the GPU to 100% seems to be by design.  I have Capture One Pro and just updated it to the full version (there is a Sony only version I was using).  I think Capture One Pro is a superior image editor - the RAW conversion is best in the industry (better than Adobe too) - but I don't like the interface.  It's a lot like Lightroom in that you need to build a database before editing (there is a "Session" option, but that requires importing the images).  So I have gone back to that system.  What sold me on On1 was that it could work with my existing file structure - that is a nice feature.  

    Too bad.  Nothing is perfect.  I have also been beta testing an update to RawPower which is very nice if you are using a Mac and/or want to edit on an iOS device.  It has all the basic controls and is fast and efficient.  I may end up using RawPower more than anything.

    David

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  • Rick Sammartino Community moderator

    I have never seen my GPU run at 100%. For me, On1 and Firefox are the most demanding and even with both of them running at the same time the GPU rarely hits 50%. On1 still has some lags and slowness at times, but it doesn't look like it's the GPU that's causing it.

    I don't know if it's mentioned in this thread, but there will be one more update to 2018 possibly in December. It may (fingers crossed) have the fixes that you need.

    By the way, you don't have to pay to test 2019. After release you can get the free trial and run it beside 2018. If it doesn't help, just don't use it. At least you have an option. If 2019 doesn't do the trick, you can do the same with 2020 next year and if it does work for you, you can still get the upgrade price.

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  • David Redfearn

    It is odd how this affects users differently.  I have iStat menus running and it shows the GPU going to 100% on my (late 2016) MacBook Pro and to 75% on my iMac27 Retina systems.  On both systems after a few seconds, the fans spin up.  I can still work, but it is annoying.  Support says this is by design - the frame rate goes up to 60fps and that is supposed to make edits more responsive.  It happens when you browse also, and that is crazy.

    If there is another update for 2018 I will check to see if this behavior is improved.  But I have no interest in any of the new features in the 2019 release, so I still think paying for an update is not in my future.  

    David

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  • Peter Longenecker

    Hello On1,

    I got 2018.5 a month ago.  I'm having the same problem:  Mac Book Pro Retina, High Sierra 10.13.6.  

    I'm afraid the software is going to do serious damage to the computer.   Can't afford to continue with this.

    If not resolved, I'm going to bite the (financial) bullet and go back to Lightroom.  

    Peter

     

     

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  • Chris Mink

    Hello ON1 - please take this problem seriously and somehow provide a fix. It is a great photo program, but it is not anymore usable as long the system fan goes crazy while using it.

    2018.5 and the new 2019 beta version causing this problem on my macbook.

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  • David Redfearn

    Support said they were looking at this issue and one other poster to this thread said another update to 2018 was due by the end of the year, so maybe it will be resolved.  I'll just wait and see.  I have no interest in the new features they have announced for the 2019 version.

    What puzzles me is that while a number of people have reported this problem, others don't seem to have it (or are not bothered by it).  That seems odd to me.

    I think I am going to convert to Capture One Pro - I don't particularly like the interface, but it seems to be the best raw converter and has all the adjustment features.  I have Sony cameras now, and have used the Capture One version for Sony but have upgraded to the complete version - I have a lot of older images shot with Canon cameras.  For these older images I am particularly interested in effective noise reduction.  Capture One and DxO Photo Lab seem to have the best noise controls and I own both.  

    David

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  • Niranjan Acharya

    Even I am facing the same issue on macbook pro Retina 13in (Early 2015) Mojave 8GB ram. Battery runs out in minutes and overheating, fans sound like drones!!

     

    I bought On1 yesterday and realized about this thread later, I was using Skylum Luminar 2018 :(

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  • David Redfearn

    Ask for a refund, maybe they will give you one.  (But, this is why it is prudent to always try the "free" test copies of the software and decide whether it meets your needs,)

    That's no guarantee, though - I tested and liked the Perfectly Clear Image software (great noise reduction features), and bought it.  Since then, updates seem to have slowed.  It still doesn't support the Sony A7RM3 camera - even though the latest release added new camera support.

    You sign on to these products and assume bugs will be corrected and the software supported.  That doesn't always turn out to be true.  And, they can change the license too - that is why I left Lightroom after many years - I don't like "renting" my software.

    David

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  • Erhard Markscheffel

    I have just installed todays first final release of ON1 Photo RAW 2019 13.0.0.6139 on my 13" MacbookPro 2017.

     

    The high base load under 2018.5, caused by the ON1 Photo RAW and WindowsServer processes no longer occurs under Version 2019 on my MacbookPro.

    Well done!

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  • David Redfearn

    I installed the demo (30 day) version on my MBP and as Erhard indicates, the continuous high usage of the graphics card no longer exists.  The card load ramps up only when actually editing an image, which is what the behavior should have been in the first place.

    One poster in this thread indicated that there might be another update to 2018.5 but at this point I doubt it. You have to pony up $80 to get a version of the software that works (2019). If you are interested in the new features in the 2019 software that is probably the best option; for me, since I am not interested in the new features (e.g., I left Lightroom a couple of years ago) I have to decide whether I want to spend more money on this software.  At this point, I think not.  Capture One 11 seems to have superior raw conversion and has all the features I need (and I own a copy).  

    Overall, this has been a very disappointing experience.  Clearly others are very happy with the software so they can make their own decision.  

    David

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  • Erhard Markscheffel

    I totally agree with you. Less processor load is not an argument for a new payable upgrade.

    If ON1 2019 requires less processor load despite new features, then this is proof of errors in programming version 2018.5.

    This leads to the claim of bug fixing, which ON1 owes to the buyers of ON1 Photo Raw 2018. And the correction of errors must not cost anything.

    I hope ON1 is fair and still delivers a bugfixed 2018 version!

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  • Danny Schaper

    I'm using a MBP late 2013 (yes quite old) and I've just installed the ON1 Photo RAW 2020,1 because LR4 no longer works for me after going to macOS 10.15.4. First I was impressed by the features and improvements which have been made in the last years. I like the new import functions and was very, very happy. But then I realized the heat development and the high CPU consumption while doing nothing. I've just started the program the first time with no catalog. The activity monitor shows over 200% CPU load - every single core goes over 50 to 60%. There is a 50% off special offer at the moment which is really nice but under this circumstances I save my money and go for Capture One 20 (CPU load 0.0 % while doing nothing).

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  • Brian Lawson Community moderator

    Hi Danny,

    Which MBP do you have? The 13" comes with just the built-in Intel Iris 5200 GPU. The 15" models have that processor and some include an additional NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M. If you have one of the systems containing only the built-in Intel processor you can expect to see your system become heavily loaded at times.

    You should also be aware that installing 2020.1 causes all your Catalogs to be rebuilt. While that process is taking place you can expect to see heavy loads as well even when you aren't doing anything with the program as the cataloging process runs in the background. Once that process has completed your system load should return to normal. It can take a while for the catalog(s) to be rebuilt. I would leave the system running overnight to allow it to finish.

    You might also consider opening up the system and blowing it out with compressed air. There can be quite a layer of dust and hair built up inside the computer acting like a thermal blanket causing additional load on the fans when the system starts to heat up. At the very least use a toothpick to carefully drag through the cooling vents to clean out all the accumulated cruft in them and allow for better air flow through the laptop.

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  • Danny Schaper

    Hi Brian,

    Thanks for your reply. My MBP is 13“ and has Iris inside only. This was a new installation and I did not import any photos at all. So simply starting the app causes high load as long as the app is running (and it was running at least an hour). So if there is nothing the developer will change or fix this the people will not accept this and therefore not buying the app. Because this is the only app with this behavior I‘m not going to disassemble my Mac to clean it from dust ;-)

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  • Brian Lawson Community moderator

    It's your choice to clean it out or not. I'm not talking about "disassembling" your Mac. All that needs to be done is to remove the bottom cover (10? screws) and blow it out with a can of compressed air. This is simple preventive maintenance that should be performed periodically regardless of your system's performance with any one particular program. Kind of like and oil & filters change for your car. All the dust and other stuff in there acts like a thermal blanket placed over your motherboard increasing the demands for cooling especially when the system is working hard. At the very least clean out the vents as I described above. That only takes a toothpick. :)

    Comparing ON1's performance load on your system to other apps is a false comparison. Photo RAW was designed from the ground up to rely on a GPU. It does things differently from other programs. Your system has a low performance GPU that shares its memory with the rest of the system. This puts an even heavier load on your system as it is being pushed to its limits.

    There are a couple of performance settings you can try adjusting that may help. Open the program's preferences and go to the System tab. At the top are sliders for CPU (System) & Memory (VRAM) Usage. Lowering those will place less demand upon your system at the cost of reduced performance from the program. You'll have to find the spot that works for you. At the bottom is the Performance tuning area. You can also try turning off the GPU Render option and adjusting the Video Card Strength slider. Turning off GPU Render will tell the program to do all rendering in the CPU which will take longer.

    I run a 2017 15" MacBookPro with 16GB of RAM. It has a dedicated GPU with its own 2GB of VRAM. My fans speed up and slow down as I'm using the program. Because you are not using Catalogs when you first browse to a folder all the image previews must be rendered so your system load will go up even though you are not editing. Once the rendering has been done the load will decrease again. I see it during editing when I have a long period of brushing masks or using the Retouch tools. The longer I use them the more the fans spin up but once I finish they spin back down again. After I've been working for a while I'll return to the Browser both to save my work and to reduce the system load. When I return to editing the fans have slowed down again.

    Just because the fans are spinning fast does not mean bad things are happening to your system. It means the cooling system is working as designed. There is a shareware app you can get called SMCFanControl that allows you to monitor your system's temperature and fan speed in the Menubar. You can also manually set the speed of the fans. If you think the system is getting too hot you can make them run faster to provide more cooling. I've been using it for years.

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