Heavy tearing and frame skipping with TV (1 Viewer)

[fenicio]

Area: Media Portal Program
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.4 (2006-08-11)
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
Windows Version: Windows XP (SP2)
.NET CLR Version: 2.0.50727
DirectX Version: 4.09.00.0904 (9.0c)
Audio Codec: MPA Decoder Filter
Video Codec: MPV Decoder Filter
CPU Type: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
Memory: 959 MB
Motherboard: MS-7207PV (MSI)
TV Card Model: Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert
TV Card Type: Software
TV Card Driver: 4.0.107.3204
Video Card Model: Nvidia Geforce 6150 (256 MB)
Video Card Driver: 91.31
Video Card Resolution: 1280x1024
Video Render Type: VMR9
Audio Card Model: Realtek High Definition Audio
Audio Card Driver: 5.10.0.5253
Synopsis::

Hello,

I'm using MediaPortal and so far everything is working flawlessly but the TV tuner.

I have 2 tuners installed: Leadtek Winfast XP Expert and Hauppauge WinTV 878.

Both of them suffer extreme tearing and frame skipping, what is very strange, because the computer should be powerful enough, and other TV players, like ShowShifter or the software included with the cards works OK.

Any idea what this may be?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Marcusb]

The most important thing to check is the "Use Exclusive DirectX" check box in MP config/General. Try changing the state of this and see what happens.

 

[fenicio]

Hello Marcusb,

I've tried with exclusive and non exclusive directx (enabling vSync in nVidia options) with no noticeable results.

The tearing and frame skipping is very important, and it is very strange because both tuners use different drivers (as far as I know), and the rest of the MediaPortal runs fine in terms of performance.

Does anybody know if this is something normal in MediaPortal, or do I have something strange with my computer? I've read people posts having problems with tearing in video playback, but I have read nothing on tearing or frame skipping only in TV tuner (not even recording)

Thanks,

 

[Taipan]

Does anybody know if this is something normal in MediaPortal, ,

No, it is not normal....

or do I have something strange with my computer?

Yes, sounds like something odd with your setup.

Does this only occur with live TV?

Does it occur with recorded TV? With both tuners?

Does it occur with DVD or video viewing?

 

[fenicio]

Hello Taipan,

DVD and Video playback work fine, but when TV is activated (no matter what tuner) MediaPortal becames really slow.

Recording TV is impossible due to this behaviour. I have tried but only 1 static frame is recorded (i assume it is because of lack of performance).

¿?

 

[CHli]

Are these card Hardware encoding card ?

 

[fenicio]

No,

both are software encoding.

But problem happens not only encoding but also when watching TV.

And other programs, like ShowShifter or tuner own programs work OK, either watching or recording TV.

 

[Taipan]

Are these card Hardware encoding card ?

No, it looks like they are both software encoding cards....

@fenicio - if you check your CPU usage while running live TV, you will probably find it hitting 100%, hence the dropped frames and tearing.

You might improve it by using a video decoder (select it in MP Setup / Television) that uses hardware acceleration (DxVA) like the CyberLink, Intervideo or Nvidia decoders (if you have any of them installed)? That will take some load off your CPU...

 

[Taipan]

But problem happens not only encoding but also when watching TV.

Watching TV involves encoding too. The analog signal is digitised, encoded to MPEG2 and then decoded by the video decoder/video display card.

 

[fenicio]

fenicio - if you check your CPU usage while running live TV, you will probably find it hitting 100%, hence the dropped frames and tearing.

You might improve it by using a video decoder (select it in MP Setup / Television) that uses hardware acceleration (DxVA) like the CyberLink, Intervideo or Nvidia decoders (if you have any of them installed)? That will take some load off your CPU...

You're right Taipan,

CPU usage is 100%.

I have tried nvidia decoder with no success. I don't have CyberLink or Intervidio decoder.

I have also tried Nero Video Decoder, and so far gives better results than others, even though it is still not valid (lot of tearing).