GBPVR.exe less intensive than PVRX2.exe over remote connections?

[jksmurf]

I carry out a lot of "maintenance, updates, testing" of my GBPVR server over UVNC from my work PC and recently made my server headless at home (PC in my sig was my main PC+GBPVR Server).

I can run GBPVR.exe in a window over UVNC to test stuff, and the UI is relatively snappy and I can see the UI updates all the time as I key up/ down the menu, even with two PVRX2exe MVP Servers started.

However with PVRX2.exe, even in Overlay or VMR9 modes and even in a small window from within my local wired network, the screen comes up and just seems to really struggle with updating the UI at all, I just can't see the UI for the lines over it and it doesn't refresh when I try to scroll the menu, even though I know it's moved. I even tried VMR9 FSE, no go.

I tested the Server directly on the TV via the PC connection and that works fine, so it's definitely something to do with remoting/PVRX2.

Is PVRX2 so much more intensive that it just doesn't cut it and will a faster server make a real difference? I don't get why, if it's just the UI. CPU is just 9%. Could it be UVNC (but then why does GPVR.exe work fine with UVNC)?

k.

[sub]

Its not really related to the CPU.

The problem is really that VNC doesnt do a good job of realising the screen as been updated when a direct3d app (like PVRX2) is drawing things on the screen. When you press a key, VNC just waits a few milliseconds, then sends a screen update through to the viewing workstation. It doesnt realise an animation is underway, so it doesnt continue to send through the screen updates as the animation progresses. Its the same as when you start playing a video file in GBPVR.exe/PVRX2.exe in VNC and you only get the one frame shown, and it doesnt update until you click the mouse or something else to make it think there has been some user input.

Remote Desktop does a much better job of handling this sort of thing, and I see the whole animation, and playing video. That said, I dont think the XP of Remote Desktop does. Vista Remote Desktop is good.

There was initially a "PVRX2.exe -noanim" command line, but its not working correctly. Try it any you'll see what I mean.

[jksmurf]

Remote Desktop does a much better job of handling this sort of thing, and I see the whole animation, and playing video. That said, I dont think the XP of Remote Desktop does. Vista Remote Desktop is good..

Thanks for all that nice explanation! I'll try RDP from my home network.

There was initially a "PVRX2.exe -noanim" command line, but its not working correctly. Try it any you'll see what I mean.

You're right. Now I'm sitting at work with my GBPVR server at home stuck on UVNC .... um .. how do I reboot that ...

k.

[sub]

Thanks for all that nice explanation! I'll try RDP from my home network.

Remember what I said about needing Vista RDP. It'll only help you if your GB-PVR server is running Vista. XPs RDP doesnt like Direct3D at all.

You're right. Now I'm sitting at work with my GBPVR server at home stuck on UVNC .... um .. how do I reboot that ...

I havnt seen a VNC where you couldnt send ctrl-alt-delete to bring up the task manager and kill a process.

[jksmurf]

Remember what I said about needing Vista RDP. It'll only help you if your GB-PVR server is running Vista. XPs RDP doesnt like Direct3D at all..

Ah. Good point, well presented. I thought it was only the client RDP, and I have one of those ... arghhhhh.

I havnt seen a VNC where you couldnt send ctrl-alt-delete to bring up the task manager and kill a process.

Even if it is started in FSE mode? Anyway UVNC dropped out and I can't reconnect ... never mind, I'll kick it when I get home. Hopefully I'll land somewhere near the reset button.

k.

[jksmurf]

Remember what I said about needing Vista RDP. It'll only help you if your GB-PVR server is running Vista. XPs RDP doesnt like Direct3D at all.

In light of this, as I have an XP Pro licence for my Server but do not intend to buy Vista for it, can I ask for a wishlist item that you continue with developing -noanim so that it RDP's or UVNC like GBPVR.exe did :-)

k.

[sub]

can I ask for a wishlist item that you continue with developing -noanim so that it RDP's

All I can give you is a 'maybe in the next release'.

or UVNC like GBPVR.exe did :-)

This isnt really a PVRX2 problem but rather that VNC is brain dead when it comes to knowing the screen has been updated. It only looks for updates a split second after user input, which isnt good enough when you've got animations that last longer than a split second...