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Virex 7.5.x: Slower iTunes audio import, more
Yesterday we noted a severe degradation in iTunes audio import speeds, apparently caused by the presence of an active Virex 7.5.x installation. We've since received confirmation of this issue.
MacFixIt reader Jules Galagarza writes:
"I experienced the same iTunes import slowdown as noted by one of your readers. When I tried to import an audio CD I too had notice the import speed was down to 2.0x-4.0x from my normal 6.0-8.0x. I didn't know what was causing the slowdown. Then a couple of weeks later I imported another audio CD in iTunes and speeds were normal again. I thought nothing of it until I read your post about the possibility of Virex 7.5 being the culprit of the iTunes import slowdown. Well the one thing I did do within those couple of weeks was remove Virex 7.5."
Meanwhile, we continue to receive scattered reports of increased processor usage with Virex 7.5.x, causing a broad variety of issues.
Steven Ruzin writes:
"I installed Virex 7.5.1 from my .Mac account and instantly noticed very high CPU usage. Activity Monitor showed 5 Virex-related processes, with the top taking 15-20% of the CPU cycles. Changing Virex preferences did not change the CPU usage. Since I have an old TiBook, the cooling fan came on because of Virex processes, even when nothing else was running. Removing V 7.5.1 and (re)installing Virex 7.2.1 solved the CPU cycle problem, and seems to have not diminished virus protection."
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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One should be able to configure Virex to do only manual, scheduled scanning, and, at least for a desktop, to do that scanning in the middle of the night. With Virex 7.2 I scheduled scans with cron. Virex 7.5 has its own scheduling facility but I have not experimented with it. Time to read the manual.
I didn't play with Virex 7.5 enough to know exactly what runs when, but after installing it, I went and disabled all active scanning options, only to find it still was launching processes at boot (or login, I can't tell). I just figured it wasn't worth the effort to figure it all out, so I just uninstalled it completely (assuming the Virex uninstall script removes it completly).
their operation. Virex does seem to grab 15% (or less depending on CPU/s)
but only when there is spare capacity. In any case, Mac CPU's are idle for most
of their operating life, waiting for input.
The Macs we use are a varied bunch, PB G3/400, G4/400 and G5/2x2GHz.
The Powerbook's main role in life is as an MPEG decoder for TV streamed over
a wireless network, a highly taxing task for it yet Virex does not cause any
noticeable loss in speed. The G5 is still able to RIP to iTunes at its steady 20
to 40x speed and the G4 is a major production machine for XPress running in
Classic.
I wonder if the many reports of Virex slowdown are localised, due to other
factors?
i've been having recent performance issues on my tibook (667Mhz. 1gb RAM).
i've just stepped down from Virex 7.5 to 7.2 (.mac subscription) and i'm
noting huge improvement.
/nc
- by nrjr January 8, 2005 2:22 PM PST
- I have noticed a considerable slowdown in all applications as well with Virex
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
(5 Comments)7.5.x. In addition, I've noticed that the new Virex is taking considrably longer
to do its checking that the previous version. I have the older one on my
iBook, running 10.3.6 and the newer version on my G5 Tower, running
10.3.7. I am considering removing the newer version and trying something
else.
Nick