Improving performance...

[steves]

Folks,

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to improve the performance of GB-PVR?

The problem is I'm using GBPVR exclusively thru an MVP and on a very low powered box (800Mhz C3 256MB RAM). Recently it's got to the point where the MVP does a "contacting servers..." after virtually every other button press! I reckon this is probably due to the oh so clever hauppauge MVP timeout feature....

Anyway I figure one way "around" this is to tune up GBPVR for max performance...

So any suggestions?

I thought of:

1) Get more RAM.
2) Clean up the database? HOW? What do I get rid of?
3) Tune the database? Enable indexing?
4) Remove dead channels?
5) EmptyEPG?
6) Up the priority on the GBPVR.exe process?


Anyone done any tuning to get GBPVR to speed up a bit?
(No suggestions of get a more powerful CPU please! I like my silence...)

Cheers

Steve

[n@boleo]

I just succeed optimize my GBPVR box :
It's an old Pentium IV 1.4ghz, with only 256Mo RamBus, (sure it's stronger but anyway).

First I did install a lighter version of XP using nlite for stripping all unneeded package
Then I ran xpLite witch enable more unneeded stuff to be remove (like MSN messenger and other craps)
Using msconfig command, it turned down uneedded services
Then i finally followed this thread

This way my computer is able to start within 40 second (bios sequence included) with is about twice as fast as my previous "standart" setup.
CPU is floating from 0% to 20% with only 290Mo RAM loaded when GBPVR is running(standby)

[sub]

I know you dont want to hear it, but your CPU is the biggest problem. I usually recommend a PIII class CPU of at least 1Ghz for minimum acceptable performance, and probably a little more again if you're using an MVP. The 800Mhz C3 is about the equivalent of a 500mhz celeron.

I like my silence too. I have a passively cooled 2.8Ghz P4 system in my lounge. Admittedly I'm using a Hush which is probably too expensive for most people, but there other other cheaper silent options, which also give much better CPU performance than the VIA EPIAs.

[LilY0da]

What's a hush????

[sub]

See http://www.silentpcreview.com/article151-page1.html

[wannabepvr]

Hush are a very sexy machines. I would love to get hold of a case like this. Most are so ugly.

[pBS]

i notice there are way less 'disconnections' when running the mvp server in manual mode..like gbpvr.exe -mvpmode..[and it runs minimized on task bar]
sometimes i can stay on even when restarting the recording service...never prematurely disconnects...i tried restarting the recording service while watching a movie and it just paused and took me back to the previous menu,no disconnect at all...also it makes the xview work..
won't help the speed much but will keep you connnected better..
[note,the mvp server Doesn't restart when you exit config when run this way]
[only the recording service restarts,so you may have to restart the mvp server yourself, if you made changes, to see them..]
i wish we could have the autostart and reset ability that it does when run with the autostart in config, but run as a user this way..there are interesting differences between the modes..[either run as user or autorun by config]

[lonegeek]

I know you dont want to hear it, but your CPU is the biggest problem. I usually recommend a PIII class CPU of at least 1Ghz for minimum acceptable performance, and probably a little more again if you're using an MVP. The 800Mhz C3 is about the equivalent of a 500mhz celeron.

I like my silence too. I have a passively cooled 2.8Ghz P4 system in my lounge. Admittedly I'm using a Hush which is probably too expensive for most people, but there other other cheaper silent options, which also give much better CPU performance than the VIA EPIAs.

I'm using a Celeron 800mhz lol..It runs fine..Not great but fine..Playback while recording is only major issue..A little skippy..And changing between menus..But I plan on upgrading soon... Maybe..I think i know someone who has like a 1.1 ghz amd pc ...for liek 25 bucks hehe....

[DebbieGibson]

I am using a PIII 667mhz with 512mb ram, 2 WinTV250 cards, Windows XPsp2, latest GBPVR .94.13, OS drive is 10GB and the Media Drive is 120GB.

I can watch a show while recording 2 others and running comskip on another. I get little to no skipping. I am very pleased with its performance.

When I only had 256 MB ram it wasnt so good. Upgrading ram really helped me.

Good luck!

[reboot]

Debbie, that's an amazing setup, for a lowly P3. Well done!