Mac - High CPU Usage

Support
1

Core Machine (Operating system/System info/Roon build number)

Core running on Synology DS918+ running DSM 6.2.2-24922 Update 4. Core version is Roon 1.7 (build 528) stable

Network Details (Including networking gear model/manufacturer and if on WiFi/Ethernet)

Wired ethernet. Can get details if necessary, but suspect it’s not required.

Audio Devices (Specify what device you’re using and its connection type - USB/HDMI/etc.)

Playing on an iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2019) running macOS 10.15.4 with 40GB RAM. Roon version is Roon 1.7 (build 528) stable

Description Of Issue

Even when idle, the Roon instance on the iMac uses 280% CPU. This is especially strange as the core is on a NAS, so the iMac Roon app should just be idling. Picture shows Activity Monitor history starting with Roon playing internet radio, then shutting down the app for a few seconds and then restarting. Restarting jumps CPU usage immediately, even though nothing is playing.

Screen Shot 2020-04-04 at 17.51.29
Screen Shot 2020-04-04 at 17.51.291460×900 159 KB

If it helps, I previously used the iMac as a Roon Core, but then installed the core on the NAS and now the iMac acts as a controller/player.

Screen Shot 2020-04-04 at 18.03.46
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3

Hi @Sean_Slattery,

Is there any change in behavior if you try to disable and re-enable your WiFi adapter on the Mac? Does the CPU then temporarily subside?

4

Same issue here. Roon client only, Core on Linux server. Client on iMac with wired ethernet enabled only. Roon client idle, CPU at 400%. When I enable WiFi, the CPU utilisation goes down to zero.

Any chance to fix this?

5

Hi Noris,

Thanks for coming back to me and apologies for the delayed response. I don’t have my WiFi adapter enabled at all normally. Interestingly I tried the opposite (prompted by Peter’s reply earlier today). Turning WiFi on and then off causes Roon CPU usage to fall right down to normal levels - it’s now idling at 0.6% CPU which is sane.

The only other thing I’ve noticed (may or may not be related), is that under Preferences->Services, Tidal is signed in, but with a spinner active. Clicking on the Tidal row, it says “Syncing library now”. I wouldn’t have expected this to go on for too long as I’m not a power Tidal user. Just FYI in case it’s related.

For now I can flip WiFi on and off if this CPU issue crops up until a better solution is found.

S.

6

I have a similar high CPU issue and the answer is YES to this question. If I turn wifi on, Room drops down to normal CPU usage (5-8%) and then I can turn wifi back off and it (seems to) stay normal.

7

Hello All,

Please see Dylan’s update on this issue here:

8

And several months later and a Roon update and it’s still not fixed. This is ridiculous!

1 Like
9

Same here, and I thought my battery was old being drained so quickly. Not at all good.
Very disappointed. Now I have to use the mobile app for most stuff.

10

New Roon user here. I just installed Roon v1.8 build 764 on a 2020 64GB/10 core iMac running 10.15.7 with a wired network connection. The app immediately got my fans going – which almost never happens on this machine.

I found this thread and tried turning WiFi on. The high CPU burn immediately stopped and stayed stopped when I turned WiFi back off. Now it’s running at < 2% while playing vs crazy hot even when idle before. Clearly a bug.

13

I’m having the same problem. With no music playing, Roon Remote is using one Core on my Mac.
Roon Core 1.8(build 884) on Nucleus
Roon Remote 1.8(build 884) on iMac 2019 + macOS 12.1

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14

I am having the same problem on my Mac mini (max spec, 2018 version). It’s a bit disappointing on my first day of using Roon. I’d expected a better user experience, not my Mac going berserk :wink: