Terrible UI performance

[jegHegy]

Hello all!

First of all, I would like to thank the developers for all the time they've invested into the creation of this wonderful piece of software. However, I'm basically unable to use it because of UI performance issues. Running the scroll speed benchmark in the Settings menu of the UI, I get around 10 frames per second, and idling on the Home Screen, CPU usage is at 50%.

On this same notebook, I can run Ubuntu Linux with Beryl (OpenGL Window Manager) flawlessly and smoothly, even with the 3D Cube stuff enabled. 720p HD content playback through MediaPortal is also smooth, even when playing a H.264 encoded video, but as soon as any UI element appears on screen, it slows down to a crawl. I understand the requirements for this software include a proper dedicated video card, but seeing as it has no problems with a full-fledged 3D desktop, HD content, emulating full 3D Playstation games through Direct3D (also in the TV's native resolution of 1360x768), I don't understand the performance issues with MediaPortal.

I've tried all sorts of configuration settings that can even remotely affect UI performance with no results. All tests were performed with only the absolutely essential Windows processes running, and only the needed MediaPortal plug-ins loaded (no TV plug-in or TV card at all).

edit: Forgot about log files.
error.log:
Command:MediaPortal.TV.Recording.StopRadioCommand failed reason:No tuner cards installed time:0 msec
which is wierd since I don't have a TV card AND have the TV plug-in disabled.
MediaPortal.log shows nothing out of the ordinary, except for
[Info.][MPMain]: GraphicContext: not using separate thread for GUI rendering
which I find peculiar since I'd imagine it would help a lot on a dual core processor.

MediaPortal Version: SVN build dated 05-02-2007
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo 16:9
Windows Version: Windows XP Professional SP2 + all hotfixes
CPU Type: Intel Core Duo T2500 2.0GHz
HDD: Fujitsu 80GB
Memory: 1GB DDR2
Motherboard: Clevo M541N (notebook)
Motherboard Chipset: Mobile Intel 945GM
Motherboard Bios: Factory default
Video Card: Intel GMA-950
Video Card Driver: 14.27.2
Sound Card: Realtek ALC880
Sound Card Driver: 1.65
TV: Samsung LE-32R32B
TV - HTPC Connection: D-Sub

DirectX version: 9.0c

EDIT:
Attached debug log for developers. MP running fullscreen at 1280x768 on my notebook's screen. Walkabout in the settings menu, then play an HD video which played smooth as silk until I made the "Switch Aspect Ratio" window pop up which made the video really slow in the background, user input was laggy and slow. Going back to the menu, the movie thumbnail was also playing with a lot of framedropping.

[faleloncio]

Only one question jegHegy, you don't talk about your Direct X version ... is it 9.0c?

[mbuzina]

Just checked, it is 9.0c Shader 2.0

[regeszter]

Elsődleges megjelenítőnek van a TV beállítva? A DX gyorsítás nem működik a másodlagos monitoron.

Nekem egy jóval gyengébb laptopon is tökéletesem megy a MP. (centrino 1.6M, 512 DDR, ge6200)

[jegHegy]

regeszter, I think we should keep discussion in english in case someone else has my problem. To answer your question, yes, the TV is my primary monitor. In fact, MP is just as choppy on the notebook's display as on the TV. Note however that the graphics adapter in your notebook is much, much more powerful than the Intel in mine.

And mbuzina is correct, I have DX 9.0c installed.

[regeszter]

ok. Does the MP run in fullscreen mode?

Try to disable the annimations.

[jegHegy]

Just tried in windowed mode and it's a LOT faster in a 800x600 window, ~50 FPS as opposed to the 10 FPS in fullscreen according to the Scroll speed "benchmark." However, browsing Music and opening a popup menu like "Switch View". it slows down to a crawl again and user input becomes laggy.

Turning animations off had no effect on performance.

[regeszter]

what about vmr 9 exclusive mode?

[jegHegy]

edit: Correction: Disabling exclusive mode gave me 10 FPS on the Scroll Speed benchmark both in fullscreen and in a 800x600 window.

[CHli]

What is your screen resolution ?

How much RAM did you allocate to your intel 950 GMA in the BIOS ?