[mythtv-users] Netflix under MythTV - Update

[Andrew Cover]

On Apr 12, 2010, at 6:28 PM, Andrew Cover <eakster251 at gmail.com> wrote:

> On Apr 12, 2010, at 3:32 PM, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>> 
>> 
>> 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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> I wonder if VirtualBox is the issue, have you considered using vmware player? It's free at www.vmware.com/products/player/ . I've been using it to run my windows software when wine won't do and have had success even with 3d rendered games. I'm setting up my one month free Netflix account now and we'll see how it goes.
> 
> Andrew

Okay just so you know I'm currently watching streaming video of The Taking of Pelham 123 with silverlight on IE running on xp running on vmware player running under ubuntu 9.04. The virtual machine does have it's CPU hitting 100% the majority of the time but the video is extremely watchable so far (not jerky), and the host CPU is averaging somewhere between 65 and 70 percent usage.

I hope this will be useful info for you.
Andrew 
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