Problem with picture freezing up for short periods, low VMR9 (1 Viewer)

[Bjarredsbon]

Hey,

I have installed MP three times on different machines by now, and tackled most problems coming my way.. But this time I am stuck, and would appreciate some help.

Everything is installed properly and the system works fine. But the video (and sometimes the audio) is freezing up for a few tenths of a second. Occasionally I also see artifacts in the video, which always seems to look the same.
When I enable "shift 1" to see debug info, the vertical bar freezes along with the picture, and the "False VMR9" number drops.
I have studied the logs, but could not find any indication of errors/problems.

Would a bad signal show up this way? During setup, the signal level appears to be around 70% and signal quality at 100% (or very very close). Can I see these numbers "live" when watching a channel?

I have changed pci slots without any change. It appears the gfx card and the twinhan share the same interrupt no matter how I change the bios. Is this expected?

The problem dimishes if I have the same channel on for a long time.

Appreciate any help.

/Peter

TV-Server Version: N/A
MediaPortal Version: 0.2.2.0
MediaPortal Skin: Blue
Windows Version: XP
CPU Type: AMD
HDD:
Memory: 512MB
Motherboard: Asus A7V266-E
Motherboard Chipset: Via
Motherboard Bios: Latest
Video Card: Asus 8200
Video Card Driver: Asus
Sound Card: Creative Audigy
Sound Card AC3: Creative Audigy?
Sound Card Driver: Creative Audigy
1. TV Card: Twinhan Mantis 3030 with CA
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: MantisDriver 1.0.3.0
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: Default from MP: MPV?
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Default form MP: MPA?
Satelite/CableTV Provider: Boxer
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply:
Remote: None
TV:
TV - HTPC Connection:

 

[Taipan]

But the video (and sometimes the audio) is freezing up for a few tenths of a second.

I assume that you are referring to viewing TV ?

Occasionally I also see artifacts in the video, which always seems to look the same. Would a bad signal show up this way?

Yes - not so much low signal level, but interference to the signal from an external source.

During setup, the signal level appears to be around 70% and signal quality at 100% (or very very close). Can I see these numbers "live" when watching a channel?

Not with MediaPortal. You may be able to monitor it using the application that came with your TV card? But, if it is caused by momentary interference, then you are unlikely to see it in any of the signal strength or signal quality figures.

 

[Bjarredsbon]

I assume that you are referring to viewing TV ?

Yes, absolutely. Sorry I didn't say that explicitly

Occasionally I also see artifacts in the video, which always seems to look the same. Would a bad signal show up this way?

Yes - not so much low signal level, but interference to the signal from an external source.

When I add the debug info (hitting "shift + 1") I see something interesting. At the same time as the picture freezes and the artifacts show up, the vertical line also freezes. As a result, the "false VMR9" number drops (usually down to 5-10)
I do not know how the code has been written, but does this seem right?

During further investigations, the problem worsens with enlarged screen and when enabling recording. So some sort of conclusion is that this somehow is a performance related issue, more than a sporadic external interference.

Any suggestions?

/Peter

 

[Taipan]

During further investigations, the problem worsens with enlarged screen and when enabling recording. So some sort of conclusion is that this somehow is a performance related issue, more than a sporadic external interference.

Do you see the same issue when watching a DVD, or a video, or a TV recording?

If it occurs also with non-TV video sources, then it would suggest some other (hardware or software) cause?

What version of XP are you using - is it fully up to date with all the Windows updates and patches, and all the patches listed in "Tips and Tricks"?

Is your hard disk de-fragmented? Is it a SATA drive - I recall that there was an issue with SATA drives on VIA chipset motherboards?

Could you attach your MediaPortal.log file here that was created when you experineced this isssue? Also, indicate the times in the MediaPortal.log file when the hiccups occurred - that might give us a clue?

 

[Bjarredsbon]

Do you see the same issue when watching a DVD, or a video, or a TV recording?

If it occurs also with non-TV video sources, then it would suggest some other (hardware or software) cause?

What version of XP are you using - is it fully up to date with all the Windows updates and patches, and all the patches listed in "Tips and Tricks"?

Is your hard disk de-fragmented? Is it a SATA drive - I recall that there was an issue with SATA drives on VIA chipset motherboards?

Could you attach your MediaPortal.log file here that was created when you experineced this isssue? Also, indicate the times in the MediaPortal.log file when the hiccups occurred - that might give us a clue?

Thanks for all ideas and hints. It is almost certainly hardware related.. Even though the AMD cpu temperature was only 46 degrees (should run up to 60 without problems) the computer froze when I changed the thermal setting from "throttle" to "disable" in the Bios. Hence it is almost certainly cpu related in some way..

Instead I moved my twinhan into an older P3 800 MHz system, and now it runs almost flawlessly. The AMD system will soon be given away to my parents who wonät notice any of this anyway

Thanks for all ideas.

 

[Paranoid Delusion]

If this is xp, use the driver available from AMD, rather than the one provided by M$, do not know why there is a difference, but it handles the chip better, and do not enable any cool n quiet in the bios as this is also detrimental to a htpc as well.