Xara Xtreme Pro 5 Laggy

Hi

I've been using Xara through its many versions since the 90's - I've always been very impressed with the speed....but..

Since I've moved to Windows 7 64bit (Ultimate) I've found that the normal speed/responsiveness isn't the same. There is a stop/start - laggy effect when dragging stuff, scrolling, resizing, etc. I'm pretty sure I've also seen this (but less obvious) on a Windows Vista 32bit PC.

I have an i7 820 processor but I used to have a Core2Duo and the problem was visible on both (though possibly less on the Core2Duo). With XP I don't recall any such problem.

It does affect the use of the software as accurate positioning of items becomes harder.

I've just tested Xara Web Designer (I also own that) and it doesn't have the problem.

Please help!

CHEERS

Selbi

Yes this one's a real pain and there've been many threads about it since multicore support was released in version 4. It seems to be caused by the way multicore-supporting versions of Xtreme deal with multiple cores--in particular for virtual cores in hyperthread-able CPUs. The only workaround I've come across is to change a registry switch to tell Xtreme to only use as many cores as there are real cores available on your CPU. Unfortunately this doesn't make Xtreme use all real cores and uses less than the full amount as a consequence. This is unavoidable but it fixed the "stuttering" as it's unofficially known. I wouldn't recommend messing in the system registry if you don't know what you're doing, as you can destroy your PC, but the key is located at:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Xara\XtremePro\5.1\Opti ons\Rendering and set "MaximumThreads" to the appropriate value. I have a quad-core CPU with hyperthreading enabled giving me 8 effective cores (4 real, 4 virtual). I changed the default value (which I think was 32) to 4, which represents the number of real cores I have. Xara now only seems to use about 6 of the cores and it's not clear whether all real cores are used and which aren't. I also can't max out the CPU power on any one core now either as Xtreme is capped. It's still blazingly fast though and still faster than a single core version (e.g. Web Designer--which doesn't suffer from this), and there's no stuttering. So this is a good fix in the short term.

I'm hoping the next version of Xtreme will have this fixed properly. It's a bit annoying not being able to use all your CPU power.

Hey Xhris

Great - it worked. No more stuttering! (I set it to 4) So much better now.

They really need to fix that as multicores are very much becoming standard.

CHEERS

Selbi

Hi, I am running xtreme on windows 64 bit and i am having the same problem and i changed the registry switch which worked fine.

Just one question. Will this affect the performance of my machine or any other running programs or will it just affect the xara xtreme program?

You mention that all cpu power can't be used after. Do you just mean as far as when using xara?

Hi Dazzyweb,

Welcome to Talkgraphics.

The registry change only affects Xtreme and how it works with the processor.

This is a great thread for dealing with the slowdown. I, too, am beginning to have the 'laggy' response. I have a new computer, Windows 7, dual core processor (T4400), 4G ram. Should I try setting the registry from the default to a '2'? As a note, my project is a map, and it's getting slower as I add more detail. Does the addition of layers slow the program down?

Thank you.

One more data point, right now the file size is 800 KB, and I'm using Xtreme 5.1, not the Pro version.

Can this also be used in XX5 non pro, or only XX5Pro? I don't see a MaximimThreads value for XX5 in the registry. Can the value be added, and will it have any effect?

Jim

The 'standard' version of Xtreme doesn't offer multi-core rendering, so the registry entry shouldn't exist and won't make any difference.

Luke

I asked the question below over the weekend:

"This is a great thread for dealing with the slowdown. I, too, am beginning to have the 'laggy' response. I have a new computer, Windows 7, dual core processor (T4400), 4G ram. Should I try setting the registry from the default to a '2'? As a note, my project is a map, and it's getting slower as I add more detail. Does the addition of layers slow the program down?"

I am using Xtreme, not Xtreme Pro. I did get an answer today that, for standard Xtreme, the threading and registry change are not relevant.

SO, any other suggestions for why the program is slowing down? When I work, I only have Xara open, so no other programs are competing for memory, and I'm not connected to the internet. More specifically, the slowdowns tend to be worse when I'm moving objects, and when I want to lock and unlock, or hide or 'un-hide' layers. I have to wait 15? seconds for the program to respond.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

May I also make a suggestion, keep your "Live Effects" plugins also down in numbers as they also slow down your machine.

Next to too many Life Effects, I have noticed that loading too many brushes really slows down Xtreme.

yes loaded brushes are all held in memory so they immediately reduce the available program allocation - similar to too many [hires] bitmaps in the bitmap gallery - as these are loaded uncompressed

So it isn't just me then. Thanks for the Registry setting. I'll give it a try

XtremePro 5.1.2 (Windows 7 / Core2Duo E8400)

[1minute Solution]
Set registry setting "MaximumThreads" = "0".
Oh, my god, lightspeed come back!

2Xarateam: No cookies for your testers this week 8-)

Yes, but now you’re stuck with single-threaded performance. You can get the most speed out of the software by ensuring the value you entered is not 0, but equal to the number of real cores your CPU has. As discussed in several earlier threads, this enables the most multi-threaded speed without the stutter until a proper fix is provided (presumably in the next version now). This is discussed in post 2 of this thread; no cookies for your reading glasses this week either ;)

I've also noticed that dragging files (and specifically JPGs in my case) from Windows Explorer into XXP5 can slow the program down to the point where it's unworkable. I also have the Google Picasa preview as the default viewer for JPGs and if that is used to view the files first it seems to affect it too.

Doesn't happen all the time so there may be some other factor I'm missing. Again only Windows 7.

My Intel Core2Duo E8400 have two core. Windows 7 OS.
"MaximumThreads" = "32" - lag
"MaximumThreads" = "8" - same lag
"MaximumThreads" = "4" - same lag
"MaximumThreads" = "2" - same lag
"MaximumThreads" = "0" - look ma, no lag!

Worked single-threaded mode prefer than other nonworked modes. 8-)

Windows 7 + multicore CPU is modern standard system configuration now. One (skipped by testers team) registry value switch "Best Graphics Editor" to "Worst Flicker Show". Yes, I multicore perfomance will be fixed in next version, but what happend with "this-version-customers"? Xara continue selling XXP5 bugged version? Really bad for customers.

Yesterday I need do some graphics work immidietly. Open my shiny new XaraXtreme and 'KABOOM' this is bloody lagged hell! OMG! OMG! Happy to my, I inventive as most russians and found solution fast. Other users can choose suicide way.

Guys, make automatic patch ASAP! Take care about us!

Setting it to "0" seems to work best for me too.

I have a quad core under windows 7. Setting it to 4 cores still gives me the laggy performance even on simple docs. I'll try 0 and see if that helps...

Well, it seems to so far. The odd delays don't seem to be there any more.

Xara Photo & Graphics Designer 6 seems to only use 1 core of my quad core processor. First noticed when Xara Xtreme 5.1 was used to open an animated gif (not made in Xtreme). Norton Internet Security 2011 monitors CPU usage and after a while of running the animation in 'Preview', a Norton message popped up saying that 100% CPU was being used. Looking in Task Manager showed the 4 cores of the CPU and sure enough, only 1 was in use and was running at 100%. The graph line on the other 3 cores had hardly a ripple on them.

I wondered if this might still be the case in the new version of Xara so I installed the trial of Xara Photo & Graphics Designer 6 and opened the same animated gif. Still only 1 core being used at near 100%. I had hoped the new version might be able to support multi-cores. Or perhaps it does and something is amiss somewhere?

Hi. Xara Photo & Graphics Designer 6 supports only a single core; Pro supports multi-core. This is by design. The V5 multi-core stuttering problems this thread relates to were fixed in V6. (http://www.xara.com/uk/products/designer/advanced/)

Thanks for the link Xhris. I can't stretch to the price of the Pro version, so I guess I won't be upgrading until multi-core support is included in a standard version. It's not often I need to make or or run animated gifs in the program anyway. Not intended as a dig because Xtreme is a fine program but DrawPlus X4 does support muti-core and even recommends multi-core processor technology.

I began to have similar issues with XX4 once I installed Win7 64bit. I was able to fix it by opening the properties on the Xtreme.exe file, going to the Compatibility tab, and selecting WinXP SP3. The problem emerged once again when I upgraded to XX5, and the same solution worked. I have since upgraded to XDP6, and the problem has not resurfaced, so apparently they've fixed something fairly recently.

-- Ben