timeshift stutter & general performance (1 Viewer)

[jlutze]

MediaPortal Version: 0.2.0.4
MediaPortal Skin: BlueTwo
Windows Version: XPPro SP2
CPU Type: AMD Sempron (64) 3000+ sk 754
HDD: Seagate 40GBPATA + 320GB SATAII
Memory: 512 PC3200 DDR
Motherboard: ASUS K8V-MX-UAYKZ
Motherboard Chipset: VIA K8M800 VT8237R
Motherboard Bios: VIA
Video Card: NVIDIA 6600GT AGP
Video Card Driver: 9.1.4.7
Sound Card: C-Media AOPen AW870-LP Deluxe 7.1 PCI
Sound Card AC3: optical
Sound Card Driver: 5.12.1.44
1. TV Card: Compro DVB-T300 PCI
1. TV Card Type: DVB-T
1. TV Card Driver: 1.3.4.5
2. TV Card: Compro DVB-T300 PCI
2. TV Card Type: DVB-T
2. TV Card Driver: 1.3.4.5
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: NVIDIA
MPEG2 Audio Codec: MPA
Satelite/CableTV Provider:
HTPC Case:
Cooling:
Power Supply: FortuneTecHEC300-TR-TF
Remote: Fusion
TV: Panasonic TX-68P100Z (68 cm 4:3)
TV - HTPC Connection: S-Video,

Hi Guys,
first post, I think I have everything right - although perhaps I should split this into a couple of sections.

I have 'just' (August) built a media centre PC and have been having a few problems. Great advice on this site and from another MP user that has gone a long way to resolving them. I think my HTPC is under spec, but before I start upgrading I would like to sort a couple of things so I do so appropriately and don't throw any more $ away...

I started with the system (below) with a ATI 9550 256MB card. Would not run HD and had significant problems (significant 'dropped frames' (unwatchable), tearing) with SD - many codecs tried. Best results were gained by watching recordings and not trying to watch live - although there were also some problems with the recordings, and always in the 'same place'.

Have applied 'dual tuner fix' suggested in the forums. Am using a wireless network but problems present +/- USB dongle.

Signal appears OK - cheap SD STB reports 80-100% signal with 90 - 100% quality - although do have ghosting on analogue. Compro software FWIW gives 90-100% signal.

Have borrowed a 6600GT (128MB) and having removed 1 tuner card so it will fit the system runs quite well with the NVIDIA codec - including HD - with some minimal tearing - exclusive directx seems to fix most of it.

Current issues:

1. On time shift, after variable amounts of time picture/audio starts to 'shudder' - not necessarily near end of time shift buffer. Processor running unchanged at 10-25%.

2. Even when no load (TV off) MP spikes processor to 80 - 100% every minute (does not happen at every session but most).

3. Some significant delays using menu structure. Can be up to 1 or more minutes at times. Have increased maximum fps to 62. Improved general menu response but not the extended absences where it seems that MP has gone to lunch (system is 'full power' all the time - no power management turned on - was leaving this until I had a stable system...).

4. Occasionally on channel change a major fail occurs - all output to monitor ceases....

Comments on the above appreciated.

Also - as I seem to plainly need a new video card (and board to still accommodate 2 tuner cards) (noting the current thread on hardware for HD):

5. Is the sempron 3000+ up to the job (say 1 SD record + 1 SD time shift view or 2 SD record + view pre recorded)? - would not want to buy another 754 board to find out I needed a more powerful CPU..

6. Has anyone success with 2 compros?

7. Anything specific to look for in an ATX MB? (will go PCIe & SATAII - prob need to look for optical out on board as most only have 2 PCI slots..).

8. How likely is it that the power supply is implicated in the above??


Many questions, many thanks,

Jason

 

[PediaMortal]

Hi Jason,

The problem may not be your graphics card, but your CPU. The graphics card is just a means to display the output information when watching movies or DVDs and is not actually doing any processing, a good graphics card will only benefit you when playing games on your media centre.

If your CPU is slow it will substantially affect your output, it might be that your CPU simply cannot keep up with the proccessing required. Try openning MediaPortal in window mode and open up task manager, play a DVD or movie from your HDD and check out your CPU usage, if it maxs out a lot, this is your bottle neck. If you have a lot of post proccessing filters (ffdshow) then this will batter your CPU into a corner until it screams for its mum.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[FlipGer]

Hi,

try turning DVB EPG grabbing off. Just to see, if this could cause these issues.

HTH,
Flip.

 

[Marcusb]

I use two compros with an AMD Athlon XP and the onboard gfx of nVidia 2 ( IE MX400).
While it will never be good enough for HD it runs very well, with no delays and can record two shows at the same time while watching one.
I don't think you need to upgrade anything but rather find out what is causing the issues. My money is also on the EPG. In Australia it doesn't work because our networks thing they can stop us all getting PVRs. For that reason, you can turn off the DVB EPG grab and not miss out on anything. I trust you are getting your EPG from WebEPG.

Have you run all the tips suggested by Frodo in the tips and tricks thread? There's a sticky post titled "These patches will fix a lot of DVB issues" or something.

 

[jlutze]

Thanks,
Will try turning the EPG grabber off & report back in a couple of days when I get a chance.

Does not seem to be the processor, as when recording without view its only at about 5%. The idea with the hardware processing compros was to take the load off it..

Not sure what the processor load was with the 9550, but with the GT6600 its about 10-20% (even on HD - with NVIDIA decoder). Not really interested in HD - but want to get SD working. Will also have another look for Frodo's tips - may have missed something

Getting EPG from http://www.bluemnts.info - via a download manager - will have a look at WebEPG - any advantages?

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/images/smilies/thx.gif

 

[jlutze]

1. Turned off DVB EPG grabbing- processor now still (usually) peaks at @30%cpu (down from 80 - 100).

2. Installed series of patches listed in Frodo's sticky.

3. Installed PCI latency tool - video card already at 64.

Timeshift stutter not quite a bad, but still occurs.

Menu response sill very slow at times - seems to be related to selections requiring disk access.

System hang up (loss of video signal, usually at channel change) still occurs, possibly more often now.

using the "!" function, usually 0 dropped frames (if I can remember the term) live TV, while there are a few during normal timeshift.

Will get my 9550 back and see if I still have the problems with that card with 1 compro. Will likely need another MB to accomodate the second compro properly....


Thanks
Jason

 

[diehard2]

Try this

https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/showthread.php?t=13028

You can test if that is the problem by shutting off DXVA in your MPEG2 encoder.