by spacefrog·Workflow
Images © spacefrog. Used for product review; image policy.
PowerCoreTools earns its place in the ScriptSpot library by targeting a specific pain point: keeping a machine usable while renders run, with automatic priority and affinity handling.
PowerCoreTools is a script for 3ds Max that controls CPU usage during rendering. At render start it automatically sets the render process priority and affinity — the number of CPU cores the render process uses — and restores the initial settings when rendering is done. The result is a workstation that stays responsive for other tasks while a render runs, including a second 3ds Max session that can be used to continue work on different tasks.
The tool can be configured to run in a completely transparent No-UI mode, launched right after 3ds Max starts. On-screen UI elements carry tooltip pop-ups with detailed information. As a tool aimed at advanced usage, it presumes basic knowledge of CPU priorities and affinity settings.
Version 1.2 adds 3ds Max 2017+ compatibility and support for the ART renderer. MaxToArnold support is currently limited, as that renderer manages CPU resource usage by itself. PowerCoreTools was created by Josef 'spacefrog' Wienerroither and requires 3ds Max 2010 or higher.
PowerCoreTools: 3ds Max's CPU management tool is best for 3ds Max artists with a working knowledge of CPU priorities and affinity who want to keep a workstation responsive during rendering.
PowerCoreTools: 3ds Max's CPU management tool is completely free to download and use.
PowerCoreTools requires 3ds Max 2010 or higher. Version 1.2 added compatibility with 3ds Max 2017 and later, along with fixes to UI issues seen in that release. It also introduced support for 3ds Max's ART renderer. Note that MaxToArnold support is currently limited, since that renderer manages its CPU resource usage by itself. If you run one of the supported releases, the tool sets render process priority and core affinity automatically.
PowerCoreTools ships as an install package with an .mzp extension. To install it, drop the .mzp file onto your 3ds Max viewport, then choose one of the install options presented. A 3ds Max restart might be required before the tool is ready to use. The same install package also provides an uninstall option, so removing the tool later follows the same route. Detailed configuration and usage information is available through the tooltip pop-ups on the tool's UI elements.
PowerCoreTools is described as a tool for advanced usage, and it presumes basic knowledge of CPU priorities and affinity settings. Affinity refers to the number of CPU cores the render process uses, which the tool sets automatically at render start and restores afterwards. For guidance while working, the UI elements carry tooltip pop-ups with detailed information. If you are comfortable with those concepts, you can configure priority and core usage to keep your workstation responsive during rendering.
PowerCoreTools is listed as free in this catalog. It was created by Josef 'spacefrog' Wienerroither and has previously been released through the Autodesk Exchange store. For the current download and any licensing details, check the developer's page at frogsinspace.at, where the latest version 1.2 package is provided. That page is the authoritative source for the install package and release history covering versions 1.0 through 1.2.
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