How to Reduce CPU loading during HD Live TV and Play Back?

[TheShadow]

I am still trying to get finish a build that I started many months ago. I can record 2 HD channels and only load the CPU 15%. But when I watch a HD signal (TV or recorded) it load 80%+. I added the ASUS ENG240 video card and it was an improvement in quality from using the onboard graphics.

I was hoping that the video card would take more of the loading. It may be that I still have not configured it correctly. Should I expect this high of the CPU loading? I would appreciate any suggestions as how I could improve performance.

[whurlston]

Which decoders are you using? If they are software decoders, the CPU usage will be higher. If they are hardware (DXVA) capable, the CPU usage will be much less. Also, what type of file: MPEG or H.264? (You don't have a location listed so I don't know which one you use.)

[TheShadow]

I am been trying several decoders- I have had pretty good results with MS DTV-DVD Decoder for the MPEG2 video. I would love to know which decoders would work with hardware and how to implement them. I am in the US - QAM signals.

[whurlston]

You should definitely be getting MPEG2 acceleration with that decoder. If you play the file with Windows Media Player do you still get high CPU usage?

[TheShadow]

I just dropped a recorded TS file in to Media Player and I guess that it is about the same. There is some difference but not much, however the picture is not as clean (it's a bit more pixelly)

[ga_mueller]

You don't have DXVA. With a single core Atom, and a crappy DXVA-enabled video card (8400gs, ~ $25), I see less than 10% CPU usage when watching/playing back 1080i broadcast video in the US. I'd suggest using a helper application which shows what directshow filters are being used, like graphstudio, or whatever. Probably some filter is being used which is not DXVA-enabled...

[whurlston]

Get DXVA Checker: http://bluesky23.hp.infoseek.co.jp/en/index.html

That will allow you to test your decoders.

[TheShadow]

You don't have DXVA....... like graphstudio

- Thanks ga_mueller I had installed graphstudio awhile back but got lost in it. I loaded a recording into it and surprise, surprise it build a flow chart. When I played the recording using graphstudios diagram the CPU loading is ~15%. This was using VRM as the renderer. I found a EVR and replaced the VRM and the CPU loading increased to 80%. EVR really gives a much cleaner crisp picture as compared to VRM.
I am not sure what I have learned just yet as I am not sure how to interpret the results of graphstudio and apply them to either GB or NPVR.



Whurlston,
ALso thanks for the s/w suggestion - I installed and ran DXVA Checker - I am not smart enought to have any idea what it is telling me.

[ga_mueller]

Sorry but I can't chime in on Win7. I'm still crashing rocks together to start a fire, with XP. Using VMR9 FSE, and in my case gives a wonderful result