ZM seems to take a ton of CPU utilization

[zm-noob]

This is a fresh Debian12 install. With just two Lorex IP cameras running, this VM (4 cpu, 16GB RAM) is already using nearly 3x the resources that the same SIX cameras do on a BlueIris VM (same specs 4cpu, 16GB RAM)

Im using ffmpeg/mocord and saving jpeg frames only, and using camera passthrough.

I have just GOT to be doing something wrong here - I cant see how windows will outperform linux here. Maybe there are some kind of guest tools for debian that I can get? Or something else?

[Andyrh]

Saving the jpgs takes a fair amount of CPU. Set the option to disabled and see if that helps.
I only save jpgs if I am working on zones for that monitor.

[zm-noob]

I disabled that, theres no change.
I also pulled up the camera with ffplay to see what the stream characteristics were as far as pixel width/height, and set those in ZM accordingly. Not sure bout the color depth so i left those at default of 32.

[dougmccrary]

color depth so i left those at default of 32.

that's the right setting.
Can you compare the size on disk of comparable BI and ZM files?