Should this be enough to playback HighDef MPEG-2? (1 Viewer)

[ziphnor]

MediaPortal Version: SVN
Windows Version: Windows XP SP2
CPU Type: Athlon 64 3000+
HDD: Samsung Spinpont 250GB
Memory: 1.5GB DDR400
Motherboard: Asus A8N-E
Motherboard Chipset: Nforce 4
Motherboard Bios:
Video Card: ATi X550
Video Card Driver: Cat 6.9
Sound Card: Onboard
Sound Card AC3:
Sound Card Driver:
1. TV Card: Twinhan Cab CI (2031)
1. TV Card Type: DVB-C
1. TV Card Driver: 1.2.3.8
2. TV Card: Twinhan Cab CI (2031)
2. TV Card Type: DVB-C
2. TV Card Driver: 1.2.3.8
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: InterVideo
MPEG2 Audio Codec: InterVideo
Satelite/CableTV Provider: TDC
HTPC Case: Noname
Cooling: Thermal Take Sonic Tower
Power Supply: Noname 350+ modded with 92mm Silenx Fan
Remote: MCE 2005
TV - HTPC Connection: DVI->HDMI

With my current setup(as above), i get some terrible stuttering when trying to watch the one high definition channel that i do recieve. Previously, when i had a my old 28" CRT hooked up in 720x576 it didnt stutter, so its obviously my graphics card/CPU that is suffering at my current 1280x720 resolution.

When watching these HD streams my CPU usage is 80-100% so thats probably whats causing the stuttering. What im confused about is that there exists an Ati onboard GPU based on the X300(slower than the X550) which is supposed to do HD playback.

When i playback in WMP i have the same problem, so it has nothing to do with MP, but i am wondering if somehow some possible hw acceleration is being missed out on because of my setup?

I was under the impression that the Intervideo codec was the appropiate one to use with ATi cards, but i have tried PureVideo as well, and that didnt help.

Note that im not talking about MPEG-4/H.264 HD playback, just MPEG-2

If someone else has a similar 'weak' setup able to playback without problems i would love to hear about it. Im probably going to upgrade soon, but i would prefer waiting a bit longer, it seems silly to upgrade because of one HD channel.

 

[Taipan]

Hi ziphnor,

My setup is not as powerful as yours (2700+ CPU and ATI 9550) and I can watch both 1080i and 720p without any "stuttering". I have found that the Cyberlink PowerDVD 6 video decoder gives the best (smoothest) performance with my ATI card. At both 720p and 1080i, CPU is around 30% in full-screen mode.

I would expect your CPU% to be a little lower than mine?

So yes, your setup should be enough to playback HighDef MPEG-2 ....

 

[ziphnor]

I can play back 1080p WMV with ~60% CPU usage, so i guess it must the deinterlacing thats the problem.

I tried installing PowerDVD 7. When i enable ATI Avivo in the PowerDVD config i can play a 1080i recording with 20-40% CPU usage, however using the Cyberlink codec in MP doesnt help it still stutters, and there is no codec setup page for the powerdvd codec.

Maybe i should try PowerDVD 6?

 

[Taipan]

Maybe i should try PowerDVD 6?

Yes, it would be worth a try. From memory, there is nothing that needs to be to configured in the video decoder, as you want the video card to do all the de-interlacing and pixel mapping - just select "use hardware accelleration" and the de-interlacing will be automatic. By the way, I am running my display at 1280 x 720, so the results should be similar for you?

I assume that you are not using any post-processing with ffdshow?

 

[ziphnor]

I am not using any post processing.

I tried PowerDVD 6 instead.

Using 'Cyberlink Video SP Decoder' with hw accel in MP i get 30-40% CPU usage, but here is the thing, its still very jerky. (that is the correct cyberlink codec , right? There is another called Cyberlink MPEG Muxer). If i disable hw accel i get up to 85% cpu usage buts its smooth/working as it should.

I tested again with Intervideo codec and hw accel on, it gives me ~100% CPU usage and terrible stutter as before. The Cyberlink codec is better, but its only smooth without hw accel.

I havent tried playing back HD in PowerDVD 6 itself, because unlike v.7 it doesnt support DVR-MS playback(and the Compress option in MP doesnt seem to like HD files).

Diagnostic/solution ideas are welcome

If i disable hw accel i get 70-85% CPU usage but then it plays smooth.

 

[Taipan]

Using 'Cyberlink Video SP Decoder' with hw accel in MP i get 30-40% CPU usage, but here is the thing, its still very jerky. (that is the correct cyberlink codec , right? There is another called Cyberlink MPEG Muxer).

Yes, 'Cyberlink Video SP Decoder' is the correct one.

If i disable hw accel i get up to 85% cpu usage buts its smooth/working as it should.

It sounds like your video card (ATi X550) or the driver is at fault here - if the jerky picture is caused by enabling hardware acceleration?

Maybe worth trying an earlier video driver (I notice that you have the latest installed) or checking with the manufacturer of the video card for any "known issues" ?

Can you borrow another (different brand, or different model) ATI card to see if it is hardware related?

 

[Paul S]

I'm using an ATI 9700 Pro with the latest driver. In Media Portal, one of the choices was
Cyberlink (ATI). I chose this one and then opened the Catalyst Control Center. Here you can make more adjustments, especially for deinterlacing. I can't tell you my exact settings, because I'm not at home right now.

I had stutter and high cpu usage until I got the settings correct. Try them all.

Paul

 

[Paul S]

I just remembered, I'm using "BOB" deinterlacing.

Paul

 

[ziphnor]

I will try BOB and see what happens.

If that doesnt work either i will try another video card and see what happens.

 

[ziphnor]

I changed it do BOB deinterlacing and now i can watch highdefinition DVB-C TV without stutter! Hurra for that!

It would be nice to always use the 'best' option, but maybe its determined by a driver option what the automatic one is for different resolutions?

Anyway, using the Cyberlink video codec gives me another problem, when i use it for My Videos and start playback nothing (seems to) happen, but the sounds starts playing. The UI is unresponsive, but if i go to window mode and back, or just hit alot of keys, the image will come back correctly. Did you ever have this problem?