[mythtv-users] Netflix under MythTV - Update

Allen Edwards allen.p.edwards at gmail.com
Mon Apr 12 22:32:06 UTC 2010


On Mon, Apr 12, 2010 at 2:57 PM, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards at gmail.com>wrote:

> This is an update.  I have been trying to get Netflix to work under a
> button on MythTV.  The result is very jerky video.  I am running IE under
> Windows XP under VirtualBox under Mythbuntu 8.04 on an AMD 5400+ 2G memory.
>
> I have determined that the video is jerky due to the CPU running at 104%
> when trying to watch the video.
>
> What I have done:  Installed VirtualBox 3.1 tried alocating 1GB to the base
> and 64M to the video, enabled 2d and 3d acceleration.  No difference.  104%
> CPU usage
>
> Downloaded a file at 3.2MBPS and it used 20% CPU.  Assuming this is
> proportional, I should only be using 10% CPU for the network part of the
> streaming at the 1.5MBPS Netflix rate.
>
> Tried ABC.com streaming.  Also over 100% CPU and jerky video
>
> Downloaded and ran a HD Movie trailer that has way more quality than
> anything I have ever seen on Netflix.  It looked great, no jerks, and only
> 50% CPU usage.
> http://www.pocketmovies.net/download/shrek-4-shrek-forever-after I used
> the mp4 version.
>
> To judge what I had just done, I downloaded the trailer on a Windows
> machine that is a little faster than my Myth machine, a Core 2 Duo 3.16GHz.
>  The Shreak trailer used up to about 15% CPU and the Netflix movie used up
> to 25%.
>
> That is really strange.  The Netflix was a lower load on the straight
> windows machine but 2x the load on the Virtual machine.
>
> I don't know if Silverlight is used by ABC but if it is the most likely
> something that Silverlight wants is not implemented well in VirtualBox.
>  Everything else has been ruled out.
>
> Comments?
>
> Allen
>
> Another clew I forgot to post.  Opening a Chrome window on the virtual
windows machine kicks the host CPU up to 50% where the XP CPU is showing
only 2%. Opening Firefox or IE uses only 2-5% in the host.  Chrome does not
use a standard Window so whatever it uses, is not implemented in VirtualBox
in an efficient way.  Probably a similar thing missing that Silverlight
uses.

I am basically stuck.  Again, I ask is anyone using their Myth box to watch
Netflix with anything short of 100% CPU?

Allen
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