Playing evr graph stutters only with mediaportal opened. (1 Viewer)

[Pride202]

MediaPortal Version: 1.1.1.0
MediaPortal Skin: Black Glass
Windows Version: Windows 7
CPU Type: AMD 4850e
HDD:
Memory: 4GB
Motherboard: MA-GA78GM-S2H 780g/HD3200
Video Card: ATI HD3200
Video Card Driver: ATI 8.782.0.0
Sound Card:
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card:
1. TV Card Type:
1. TV Card Driver:
2. TV Card:
2. TV Card Type:
2. TV Card Driver:
3. TV Card:
3. TV Card Type:
3. TV Card Driver:
4. TV Card:
4. TV Card Type:
4. TV Card Driver:
MPEG2 Video Codec:
MPEG2 Audio Codec:
h.264 Video Codec: Microsoft DTV
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote:
TV:
TV - HTPC Connection:

Because of stutterings during h.264 playback with the evr-renderer enabled, i was curious if this is only the case within mediaportal. Therefore i built the same directshow graph as mediaportal does with the help of graphstudio and played the same file. The result was no stuttering at all. Before you ask, DXVA is enabled and CPU utilisation is below 20% in both cases (playing within mediaportal and playing with graphstudio).

Then i realised that playing the self-built graph also stutters when mediaportal is running in the background. Therefore Mediaportal must somehow negatively influence directshow graphs. Remember, CPU utilisaiton is quite low, therefore I don't think it's a performance issue. I also tried other decoders as cyberlink or divx, but they are also stuttering.

Summarized:
- Within mediaportal playing videos stutters using the evr. Vmr9 renders vides without stutterings.
- In GraphStudio, building the same graphs as mediaportal does, the video doesn't stutter with evr/vmr9.
- As soon mediaportal is running in the background (of course without playing a video), playing the graphs within graphstudio also stutters.

My questions: Why does mediaportal influence the playback of directshow graphs that much, no matter if the graph is built by mediaportal or graphstudio? Somebody else observes this, too?

 

[tourettes]

My questions: Why does mediaportal influence the playback of directshow graphs that much, no matter if the graph is built by mediaportal or graphstudio? Somebody else observes this, too?

MediaPortal uses GPU to render GUI. Most likely 3200 just doesn't have enough GPU power to decode video, renderer it with AERO and to render MP GUI.

 

[Pride202]

But during fullscreen playback of a video the MP GUI needn't to be rendered!?

 

[tourettes]

But during fullscreen playback of a video the MP GUI needn't to be rendered!?

There is still lot of extra processing required by the nature that GUI must be able to be rendered (OSD, menus...). I'm not 100% sure if the GPU limit is the reason, but most likely it is. You could reduce the resolution to reduce the GPU load a bit for testing.

Hopefully some other 3200 users can tell if that GPU is enough for a smooth playback with 1080p resolution and material.

 

[davidf]

The 3200 is just about capable of 1080p - you have to lower all the settings in CCC to get it to work though. I added a dedicated card after fighting with playback for a long time, as any change on the machine could cause my x264 to no longer play smoothly. Some versions of the driver are much better than others and I'm sure there are a few threads discussing it.