hdtv .ts file or live tv occasionally slow to launch with high cpu and low fps (2 Viewers)

[cgibson33]

MediaPortal Version: 1.2.2

Description
hdtv .ts file or live tv occasionally slow to launch with accompanying high cpu and low fps. Normally, the same files or live tv run fine with less than 40% CPU on an old Dell Dimension 4600 (P4 with ATI 4650).
I use PowerDVD11 codecs to allow GPU decode of HDTV mpeg2 (OTA)

Steps to Reproduce:
This can happen with default skin occasionally, but happens quite frequently with a more elaborate skin. I can consistently reproduce problem by:
Using fancier skin than default (eg Purevision HD Horizon)
Viewing movie in Moving Pictures.
Stop movie playing.
Go to TV Series or EPG:
Start an HD .ts file or launch HDTV channel.
I believe that I can also reproduce by quickly moving through menus (especially cover flow), and then launching the HDTV file or stream.

 

[cgibson33]

I added specs just in case that is causing bug report to be ignored.
Please investigate: this is driving me mad. I recently upgraded RAM with no effect & have spent hours trying to determine root cause (ensuring correct codecs are used, etc).
When HDTV file or stream takes 20 seconds to start, it is essentially unwatchable with 9-30 fps. Normally looks great and launches within 5 seconds.

MediaPortal Version: v1.2.2
MediaPortal Skin: Purevision HD Horizon (bug can occur with DefaultWide)
Windows Version: XP SP3
CPU Type: Pentium 4
HDD: 80GB IDE + 200GB IDE for recording and timeshifting and pagefile
Memory: 2GB PC3200
Motherboard: Dell Dimension 4600 800MHz FSB
Video Card: HD4650 1GB AGP 8X
Video Card Driver: latest
Sound Card: onboard
Sound Card AC3: ?
Sound Card Driver: ?
1. TV Card: Hauppauge HVR1600
1. TV Card Type: ATSC + analog
1. TV Card Driver: latest
MPEG2 Video Codec: Cyberlink PDVD11
MPEG2 Audio Codec: ffdshow
h.264 Video Codec: Cyberlink PDVD11
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case: Dell Dimension 4600
Cooling: stock
Power Supply: 400W
Remote: Hauppage HVR1600
TV: Toshiba Regza 40"
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

 

[elliottmc]

Hi,

I hate to say this, but I think it is simply that you have a slow computer.

Mark

 

[cgibson33]

With the installed codecs, I can normally watch HDTV with <40% CPU, and even MKV files with VC-1 and full Blu-Ray bitrates. This problem only happens occasionally (maybe 1X per week when using default skin). Part of the fun of using Mediaportal is "tuning" an old computer to play back 1080i and 1080p smoothly.

 

[cgibson33]

Of course, I would love to build a new HTPC.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Have you updated any drivers recently, especially gpu for which 11.4 was reported as a really good one.

 

[cgibson33]

Ray: Logs are in the first post; are those Ok?
The catalyst driver is 12.1 AGP Hotfix (released January 2012).
There is a 12.2 released this March; I could try updating to that...worth the try?

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

Owlsroost is the better person to answer, tsreader could well be part of the problem, as the only delay in logs seems to be around that area, or you could try one of the experimental tsreaders over in Area 51, as with anything that intermitant, can be a headache to track down.

Just to remove a hardware fault, if you skip back in a file or live tv does it recover.

ps regarding ATI drivers, all I know is they work one release then break something the next, so when we know there is one with video playing perfectly, thats the one we recommend, but if yours fixes a agp problem, then of course you need it, or did they break that recently

 

[cgibson33]

Just to remove a hardware fault, if you skip back in a file or live tv does it recover?: No, but sometimes stopping the video, and restarting a different video or live tv resolves the issue. Restarting mediaportal.exe always fixes the problem.
I might try some of the experimental tsreaders, since this problem only occurs with live or recorded tv (not for any other type of video file).
I cant remember if I actually need the AGP hotfix drivers or if the normal drivers work fine; they release an AGP hotfix driver for every catalyst version and that happens to be the recommended version from AMD when I select that I have an AGP interface.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Owlsroost]

In TsReader.log, there is a huge delay between the first data samples being requested by the audio decoder and by the video decoder (15 secs later).

Usually when I've seen this happening it's been the OS shuffling stuff to/from the pagefile. I notice that you have the pagefile on the same drive as the timeshifting and recording folders - try moving it to the other drive.

Tony