High CPU usage on playback compared to PVRX2

[rookie]

I recorded a 1080i ATSC file with NPVR. I'm using fddshow tryouts SVN 3530 for playback for both PVRX2 and NPVR.

When playing under VMR9 FSE with PVRX2 I get about 20-25% CPU usage on a single core.

When playing under VRM9 with NPVR I get about 70-75% CPU usage on a single core. The picture isn't as smooth and appears a bit more grainy.

Do I have something configured incorrectly?

Is there a way to force DXVA with NPVR?

Does VMR9 FSE on WinXP make that much of difference?

As another reference point, MPC-HC plays the same file with DXVA with 15-20% CPU usage on a single core.

[sub]

It'll pretty much just come down to the combination of decoder and video renderer you're using, whether the video decoder and video card can agree on using dxva or not. There is no NPVR settings that have a direct say on whether you get dxva or not, but try going into the video decoder setting on the decoders screen, and enable it there if the decoder gives options for this.

[rookie]

More information. For PVRX2 I had set the mpeg splitter:

<PreferredMpegPlaybackDemux>MPC - Mpeg Splitter (Gabest)</PreferredMpegPlaybackDemux>

Doesn't appear I can do that with NPVR.

Graph listing from NPVR is:

2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] Graph filter list:
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - Video Mixing Renderer 9
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - NPVR PES Collector (DVBSubs)
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - Default DirectSound Device 0004
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - Default DirectSound Device 0002
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - Default DirectSound Device
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - ffdshow Audio Decoder
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - ffdshow Video Decoder
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - ffdshow Audio Decoder 0003
2010-08-15 17:56:01.781 [DEBUG][1] - ffdshow Audio Decoder 0001
2010-08-15 17:56:01.796 [DEBUG][1] - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2010-08-15 17:56:01.796 [DEBUG][1] - NPVR TS Reader

Graph for PVRX2 is:

2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE Graph contains the following filters:
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device 0006
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - GB-PVR DVB Subtitles
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device 0003
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - Default DirectSound Device
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - Video Renderer
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - ffdshow Video Decoder
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - ffdshow Audio Decoder 0004
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - ffdshow Audio Decoder
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - NVIDIA Audio Decoder
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - GB-PVR Flow Status
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - MPEG-2 Demultiplexer
2010-08-15 18:08:55.125 VERBOSE - SOURCE

Besides the MPEG splitter, it seems to come down to VMR 9 renderless/FSE vs VMR 9.

[sub]

I'd try some other decoders. There was some experimental support for dxva in ffdshow, but I dont think its mainstream/stable.

[ga_mueller]

I've never had ffdshow work with DXVA, although others have. The MPC-HC decoder works great for .264 (mpcvideodec.ax). And in any case, ffdshow does not support DXVA for mpeg2. You need something like Arcsoft (Asvid.ax) or Cyberlink (Clvsd.ax) decoders for that.

As far as "MPC-HC plays the same file with DXVA with 15-20% CPU usage", MPC-HC does not provide DXVA for mpeg2 (1080i ATSC) so you have something else "funky" going on.

[whurlston]

MPC-HC can use external decoders (like Arcsoft or Cyberlink) and I suspect that is the case. You should find out which decoder MPC-HC is using and set that as your default MPEG2 Video decoder. The demux will have minimal impact on CPU.

[ga_mueller]

MPC-HC can use external decoders (like Arcsoft or Cyberlink) and I suspect that is the case. You should find out which decoder MPC-HC is using and set that as your default MPEG2 Video decoder. The demux will have minimal impact on CPU.

yeah, that's what I meant!

[rookie]

As far as "MPC-HC plays the same file with DXVA with 15-20% CPU usage", MPC-HC does not provide DXVA for mpeg2 (1080i ATSC) so you have something else "funky" going on.

I can only tell you what I'm seeing. I'm seeing "DXVA" in the lower left corner of the MPC-HC app. The filters used is the "MPC Video Decoder". Here is a screen shot of decoder's property page while MPC-HC is playing the file.

The second screen shot is from trying to use MPC Video Decoder with NPVR. I get only sound and a blank screen in NPVR when using this filter. I'll see if I can get a graphs next.

[rookie]

First screen shot is graph from MPC-HC playing the file.

Second screen shot is the graph from NPVR trying to use MPC Video Decoder which gives a blank screen with sound. The graph shows the video decoder not connected.

Third screen shoot is from the property page when adding the decoder in NPVR.

I wonder if this could be related:

http://forums.gbpvr.com//showthread.php?...post385590

On a side note. Why are "png" files limited to such small sizes? Looks like the forum converted the "png" files to "jpg" and lost resolution.