I've re-attached the logs. I've tested this zip file locally and it works so should be cool.. it's the same logs, but I must have stuffed up the thing during upload or something...
that work better?
that work better?
Winfast DTV 2000 DS (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter timiphonedev
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- September 1, 2008
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Hi rocklander
Yes, I can look at those logs. Can you confirm that these details are correct:
video codec = ffdshow
CPU = AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 245 Processor, ~2.9GHz
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 210
If so, I'd say your system is just underpowered. I certainly see *lots* of dropped frames when you try to view the HD channels. The regular FFDShow video codec doesn't support hardware acceleration, so how hard is your CPU working when you're viewing TV (be sure to note for SD and HD channels)? Have you tried a codec that supports hardware acceleration - the Microsoft and FFDShow DXVA codecs that you already have installed would be good ones to try. Having said that, I've heard that the GeForce 210 isn't powerful enough to handle good deinterlacing of 1080i at the same time as decoding h.264. If this system is going to work with your current hardware then you're possibly going to have to try and balance it on a knife edge...
mm
[Edit: I note that the patch mentioned by limeyj *may* improve your tuner initialisation as the WinFast DTV 2000 DS and "IT9135" both have a combined tuner-capture filters, however that would not have any effect on the issues you're seeing.]
Yes, I can look at those logs. Can you confirm that these details are correct:
video codec = ffdshow
CPU = AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 245 Processor, ~2.9GHz
GPU = NVIDIA GeForce 210
If so, I'd say your system is just underpowered. I certainly see *lots* of dropped frames when you try to view the HD channels. The regular FFDShow video codec doesn't support hardware acceleration, so how hard is your CPU working when you're viewing TV (be sure to note for SD and HD channels)? Have you tried a codec that supports hardware acceleration - the Microsoft and FFDShow DXVA codecs that you already have installed would be good ones to try. Having said that, I've heard that the GeForce 210 isn't powerful enough to handle good deinterlacing of 1080i at the same time as decoding h.264. If this system is going to work with your current hardware then you're possibly going to have to try and balance it on a knife edge...
mm
[Edit: I note that the patch mentioned by limeyj *may* improve your tuner initialisation as the WinFast DTV 2000 DS and "IT9135" both have a combined tuner-capture filters, however that would not have any effect on the issues you're seeing.]
righto.. this answer seems totally appropriate to me and I reckon we're possibly getting to the crux of my problem.
I'm not at home now, but the athlon X2 is what I remember having so I'd say the answer is 'yes' that's my hardware..
so my options are to upgrade that CPU (and prolly motherboard then) or GPU card.. obviously the vid card is the less painful option, but bearing in mind if I keep the current mobo/cpu, what card would you recommend?
[edit] also.. this thing can play 1080p files, just not HD TV... should there be a difference wrt hardware between a locally stored HD file and an HD signal that it's getting from the card?
I'm not at home now, but the athlon X2 is what I remember having so I'd say the answer is 'yes' that's my hardware..
so my options are to upgrade that CPU (and prolly motherboard then) or GPU card.. obviously the vid card is the less painful option, but bearing in mind if I keep the current mobo/cpu, what card would you recommend?
[edit] also.. this thing can play 1080p files, just not HD TV... should there be a difference wrt hardware between a locally stored HD file and an HD signal that it's getting from the card?
- September 1, 2008
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I find it difficult to answer questions like this. Invariably we want to use the cheapest and quietest GPUs, however those same GPUs are the ones that don't always have enough grunt - it is a bit of a minefield. I can't comment for NVidia as I've only owned an old 6600GT. On the ATI side I'd say don't go below a 4670 in the 4*** series. In the 5*** series don't go below the 5450, and if you want to use it with a 30" PC monitor then don't go below a 5570 (link).
Hope that helps...
The difference is the deinterlacing. 1080p doesn't require it whereas HD TV is 1080i and does require it. The extra processing is enough to tip your GPU/CPU over the edge. It may be possible to configure your current system in such a way that the GPU does hardware accelerated video decode and the CPU does deinterlacing... sharing the load. The other thing you could do which is probably not at all desirable is to reduce the output resolution to your monitor/TV. That would possibly reduce the workload on your GPU enough to allow it to play the HD channels smoothly.
mm
okay.. thanks for that.. I'll try and get some alone time with the unit this weekend and see what info I can get out of it.. I really appreciate your appraisal of the logs too..
well it looks like you're totally right WRT processor.
I kicked off task mangler, and ran tv2, then swapped to tv3. processor went from 100% to ~40%.
the nvidia card I have actually doesn't seem to have much in the way of tweakability so I will have to either replace that or the CPU. I'm investigating which way I'll go.
I kicked off task mangler, and ran tv2, then swapped to tv3. processor went from 100% to ~40%.
the nvidia card I have actually doesn't seem to have much in the way of tweakability so I will have to either replace that or the CPU. I'm investigating which way I'll go.
it does.. but struggling to find a reasonably priced card that fits the bill.
how about the asus EAH6450 ?
I'm running it into a 46"samsung LCD tv
- September 1, 2008
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New Zealand
Good evening rocklander
Your TV resolution is 1920x1080. It is easier for a video card to handle that than it is to handle a 2560x1600 27 or 30" PC monitor. In other words, a 5450 would be fine, as would a 6450 according to -->this<-- info. Apparently the 5570 is approximately equivalent to a 6450...
mm
[Edit: having said that, it looks like that particular Asus model is underclocked from 750 to 625 MHz. That is probably done to enable them to make it silent, however performance would probably take a reasonable hit as a result.]
Your TV resolution is 1920x1080. It is easier for a video card to handle that than it is to handle a 2560x1600 27 or 30" PC monitor. In other words, a 5450 would be fine, as would a 6450 according to -->this<-- info. Apparently the 5570 is approximately equivalent to a 6450...
mm
[Edit: having said that, it looks like that particular Asus model is underclocked from 750 to 625 MHz. That is probably done to enable them to make it silent, however performance would probably take a reasonable hit as a result.]
Just thought I would throw my 2 cents in here having asked whether the 2000DS would work. Thanks to all, you gave me the courage to go out and by one. Removed one of my single tuner cards (twinhann) and put the 2000DS in. Drivers that came with card worked great, except it also updated the other Leadtek 1000T single tuner card i had installed and broke it. Installed old drivers for it and all now working perfect. Can watch 2 HD channels and record a 3rd HD channel.
my setup -
I have a Dedicated TV Server - Windows 2003 Server (I know - not officially supported) and my clients are XP SP3 and WIN 7. CPU is a P4 3Ghz, 1 GB Ram - NOTE no client installed on this system.
My WIn 7 box has a Raedon HD5450 (~$68 AUS) - works perfect. CPU AMD 4800+ with 2 GB Ram. - When I first upgraded to WIn 7, needed to add the GPU as everything was choppy using the onboard chipset and/or out of sync, which I got to work when it was XP. Must admit though the picture is a lot better now, as I can use the MS codec instead of PDVD 8 codec installed on XP. Just remember Australia still uses MPEG2 for HD stuff, I think NZ uses MPEG 4 ????
my setup -
I have a Dedicated TV Server - Windows 2003 Server (I know - not officially supported) and my clients are XP SP3 and WIN 7. CPU is a P4 3Ghz, 1 GB Ram - NOTE no client installed on this system.
My WIn 7 box has a Raedon HD5450 (~$68 AUS) - works perfect. CPU AMD 4800+ with 2 GB Ram. - When I first upgraded to WIn 7, needed to add the GPU as everything was choppy using the onboard chipset and/or out of sync, which I got to work when it was XP. Must admit though the picture is a lot better now, as I can use the MS codec instead of PDVD 8 codec installed on XP. Just remember Australia still uses MPEG2 for HD stuff, I think NZ uses MPEG 4 ????
Good evening rocklander
Your TV resolution is 1920x1080. It is easier for a video card to handle that than it is to handle a 2560x1600 27 or 30" PC monitor. In other words, a 5450 would be fine, as would a 6450 according to -->this<-- info. Apparently the 5570 is approximately equivalent to a 6450...
mm
[Edit: having said that, it looks like that particular Asus model is underclocked from 750 to 625 MHz. That is probably done to enable them to make it silent, however performance would probably take a reasonable hit as a result.]
thanks again... gonna pull the trigger, just a bit worried that there may be variances in models with the same architecture/spec
this thread has tales of woe, but it looks like the sapphire ones are okay. would you concur?