Quick recap of tested system...comparing CPU and KERNEL loads at 4X burn speed between CloneDVD 2.5.4.3 and Nero 6.6.0.3.
-600MHz PIII with W2K Pro and 386 MB RAM
-CPU load is at 0% before and after each test
-Peak Commit Charge (maximum total memory load) is 194 MB during the tests
-Ricohjnp W11 4X DVD+RW media
-NEC 3500A DVD writer with 2.18 FW (218btrpc1...bitsetting, riplock removed)
Load at 4X write speed in FILE MODE:
-CloneDVD...KERNEL TIMES is 15%...CPU USAGE is 40%
-Nero...........KERNEL TIMES is 1%.....CPU USAGE is 2%
Load at 4X write speed in ISO MODE:
-CloneDVD...KERNEL TIMES is 8%...CPU USAGE is 9%
-Nero...........KERNEL TIMES is 1%...CPU USAGE is 2%
The CPU load when running NERO is only 2% in both FILE and ISO burn modes. CloneDVD uses more Kernel times and CPU usage when burning a DVD, both in FILE mode and ISO mode. It appears that there are other subroutines running within CloneDVD when burning in FILE mode. This would explain why the CPU load while burning in FILE mode is higher than ISO mode.
I hope that Ollie and others can duplicate these findings with their systems.
@ Ollie,
Let me know if you need me to run more tests.
CP