[mythtv-users] mythfronend stuttering

Reuben Perelman reub2000 at earthlink.net
Tue Jan 17 18:52:05 UTC 2006


On Tue, Jan 17, 2006 at  8:47 AM, Raphael Pooser wrote:

> Chad wrote:
> 
> >>>Well, there's some info missing here that might help ;)
> >>>
> >>>What CPU, videocard, soundcard and how are all these setup (if
> >>>videocard is NVidia, what drivers, and are you using xvmc...).  :)
> >>>
> >>>Also, on the Gentoo note, I use the SVN-ebuilds most the time (though
> >>>occasionally I forget I have them and grab the latest SVN source and
> >>>compile by hand :D ).
> >>>
> >>>Chad
> >>>_______________________________________________
> >>>mythtv-users mailing list
> >>>mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >>>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>      
> >>>
> >>What is xvmc?
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Xvideo Motion Compensation.  In lamen terms it offloads the video to
> >the graphics processing unit (GPU) from the CPU.  It's drawback is
> >that it generally only does mpeg2 decoding.
> >
> >  
> >
> >>Is it really a good idea to use the trunk for something that's as
> >>complete as mythtv? (I can understand using the trunk for something
> >>pre-alpha.)
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Not always no.  I think a lot of people on here suggest the Trunk
> >because it's been a fair amount of time since the last stable release
> >(which is a better guideline as to whether or not to use SVN/CVS or
> >the official release).  However, it's not absolutely necessary, it's
> >just that there are some really good code updates/upgrades/additions
> >in the SVN release that may make your system play nicer than the
> >latest release (currently 0.18.x).
> >
> >  
> >
> >>Here are the specs of the computers:
> >>
> >>The computer running mythbackend:
> >>Asus K8N-E (nForce4 Ultra)
> >>AMD Athlon 64 3700+ s939
> >>1GB PC3200 (2x512MB)
> >>nVidia GeForce 6600
> >>Using onboard sound
> >>Using onboard ethernet (forcedeth)
> >>Gentoo i686 w/ linux-2.6.15-ck1
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Sounds nice, also sounds like a TON of overkill in areas that don't
> >need it if this is JUST a backend. :)
> >
> >  
> >
> >>My Computer:
> >>Asus K8V-X (Via K8T800)
> >>AMD Athlon 64 3000+ s754
> >>1GB PC3200
> >>nVidia GeForce 6800GT 256MB
> >>M-Audio Revolution 7.1
> >>Using onboard ethernet (marvel 88NE8001)
> >>Gentoo i686 w/ linux 2.6.14-ck6
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Certainly sounds like a decent enough system, as long you look into
> >and use XvMC, you should be able to playback mpeg2 content without
> >'stutter'.
> >
> >  
> >
> >>Switch: Dlink DGS-1005D (both connected with Cat5e, speed is around
> >>250-280Mb/s)
> >>_______________________________________________
> >>    
> >>
> >
> >Good Luck!
> >
> >Chad
> >_______________________________________________
> >mythtv-users mailing list
> >mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> >http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
> >
> >  
> >
> Reuben,
> Just to second most of what Chad said, except the part about updating 
> your mythtv version.  There are some nice updates to the code, but most 
> likely the stuttering has nothing to do with what version of myth you're 
> using, and everything to do with your graphics card drivers.  Check your 
> processor usage (typing "top" at the command line or however you want to 
> do it) and most likely you'll see that you're near 100% usage on your 
> processor while playing back video.  It'd be easiest to ssh into the 
> machine to check it while video is running, because if you do it on the 
> machine itself the usage will go down everytime you switch out fo the 
> video. Anyway, the processor utilization depends on resolution in the 
> case that you're not using xv or xvmc, and probably you're trying to 
> watch 640x480 or higher resolution files.  Just make sure your graphics 
> card drivers are installed correctly (make sure the module's loading and 
> that X doesn't give you a message like "incorrect kernel module, no 3d 
> acceleration is available."  Then make sure the option to enable xvmc is 
> enabled in xorg.conf. or xf86config-4.
> I had the same problem with an ATI card and xv, and had the exact same 
> type of stuttering as you.  Once I got xv working there was a night and 
> day difference.
> I would say try and get xvmc working first, then worry about upgrading myth.
> Raphael
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
I'm just watching 480i tv. As for checking the cpu usage, I can do it on my second monitor. (I'm not at home right now, so I can't check it.)

Also,  isn't there some problem with the video acceleration on the GeForce 6800GT AGP?


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