Re: Recorded TV playback

I don't know much about this, but I'd be interested to know what the TV card
is, and whether it is recording digital or analogue - and if it is the
latter, is the encoder built into the TV card hardware, or is it a software
encoder? If it is software, that might hit the processor quite hard?

"Jason Tsang" wrote:

Yup, I read the rest of the thread and I'd definitely agree that
hyperthreading shouldn't be an issue here (if it was an issue with MCE, it
would have been flushed out ages ago).

What video card is the OP using? Perhaps I skimmed through too quickly, but
I don't think that the video card make and model was provided... that, in
addition to a known good DVD decoder would be chief culprits into Recorded
TV playback issues (assuming the file was recorded properly).

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx



"JW" <nospam@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eI3Z52seHHA.1240@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I see no reason to disable HT it is a benefit not a hinderance. It lets
your background task uses the "CPU" other then the one that you are using
for MCE.
I still believe that the problem is that since MCE uses VMR9 decoding and
the other programs you are playing video with are probably using overlay
rendering.
And since overlay rendering takes less clock time to perform there is more
clock time available for MCE to get the next files off of the disk decode
anbd render them and pass them to your graphics card

Again I would like you to try the NVIDIA Decoder it has in the past
assisted in preventing dropped frames and or stuttering its free for 30
days and if you buy it it only costs $20. All decoders are not the same
and some do apparently use more clock time then others.

When you say that your defrag program runs "daily/continuously" does that
mean it might be running on your C: drive when you are watching a recorded
TV program?

"Jason Tsang" <jason-onlineDEL@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:O0%23d4kseHHA.5056@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
*If* you suspect hyperthreading to be a problem, I'd see if there is a
bios update for your motherboard, and if there is to install it.

It could be that there is some microcode support that the CPU needs that
would be supplied via the bios update.

Worth a shot, given everything else you've already been through.

--
Jason Tsang - Microsoft MVP

Read my blog for the latest in Media Center topics
(and other topics that interest me)
http://jtsang.blogspot.com

More information by me
http://jtsang.mvps.org
http://www.classicsunveiled.com

Find out about the MS MVP Program -
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx



"GEVan" <GEVan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3312C6C6-05B4-496D-B917-0423EA46E5F4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1. I can shut down Hyper-Threading in Bios. Should I?
2. Any and ALL stuttering/ hang problems come from MCE only.
(Note: I have re-installed SP2 to be sure the improvements
haven't
been corrupted.)
3. We seem to be quickly narrowing the search for the root cause, and it
points to the eShell components. The default priority for the receiver
is
'above normal'. I've adjusted video playback option for all
codecs/decoders
MCE could conceiveably use.
4. I've run program integrity scans multiple times.
5. I do have Norton SystemWorks 2006 and Max Registry Cleaner running in
background. Preventing these services has no implact on the viewing the
recording

6. At this point, I'm thinking I MUST have a corrupted file MCE needs to
decrypt .dvr-ms. I don't think a virus or spyware would behave like
this.
I've tried MS System File Checker in two ways. It reports system files
are
either missing or their backups are missing, but it does not tell me
WHAT
files are missing/corrupted. In addiction, SFC does not fix the missing
file
problem. (I even tried taking the entire 5GB I386 folder as the
comparison
source for SFC --> still won't fix. I even reinstalled XP SP2, but all
to no
avail.

7. I'm probable going to have to reformat and start over again, which is
no
big deal. I usually do this every year (give or take). It's stil the
best
means of keeping one's sytem clean. But I'm the type who neeeds to know
WHY a
problem exists and tend to dog it until I find the answer. But I'm tired
of
chacing dead ends.

8. I did move the page file as you suggested earlier. I also tracked
pagefile performance/usage. I've got a minimun file size set at 4GB,
improving the liklihood pagefile won't be fragmented.

9. My de-frag program allows me to place certain files as the end of the
drive. Since .dvr-ms are by far the most volitile, I keept these at the
end.
The fragmentation is less than 3% at any time.

Summary
It must be MS XP ability to use the software decryptions.

"JW" wrote:

The normal cause of your problem is a fragmented HDD. However, since
you
defrag on daily/continuous basis it certainly does not seem to apply,
Since it is not always possible to defrag every fragmented file I would
like
you view the analysis report available in the Windows defragmenter to
see if
there are possibly defragmenter dvr-ms files

Also some decoders apparently do a better job of queuing up the work to
be
done so I would like you to down load and install the 3o day free trial
of
the NVIDIA decoder available at their web site and then make sure it is
the
preferred decoder using the decoder utility.

Yes, certainly your graphics card is not causing the problem as
evidenced by
having no problems it the recordings are on a drive other then C:

Your CPU may be what's called a HyperThreaded or HT CPU which means it
looks
like a dual core to the OS and the OS treats it as such. A HT cpu has
two
sets of registers and two sets of look ahead logic but can only execute
one
instruction at a time for one of the two CPU streams. If it is a HT
CPU
then the CPU percentage you are seeing is the total for both "CPU"s
and you
are actually using 40-60% of one of them since playing video does not
make
use of the second CPU system in a multiple CPU system.

With your CPU running at 20-30 percent CPU power is not a issue and if
it
was it would also be a problem when playing a program from another
drive.


When you say you have no trouble playing a DVD from C;drive are you
using
MCE to play the DVD or another program?

Have you tried playing a recorded TV program using Media Player instead
of
MCE? If yes did it also stutter? If no please try to do so.

"GEVan" <GEVan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1D28AFAF-078E-472B-AD15-CCE50184E10C@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1. First of all, I thank you for taking a personal intterest in this.
I'm
not
sure if you're a Windows Tech or just a smart person, but you're the
only
one
willing to take on this conundrum. The following is documentation of
a
running analysis in my feeble brain. See what you think. . .

2. It's my turn to applogize. I misstated myself concerning the dual
internal drives. I have a HP m1280n, which uses a pullout HD in its
expansion
slot. It connects to the system boad via USB. That's where this
confusion
comes from. Yes, it is internal but it is treated as an EXTERNAL
drive by
the
system. Capice?

3. When I record to this internal/external drive (or any other)
drive, I
get
smooth playback no matter what the source or format. This implies to
me
that
my graphics card is strong enough to handle the video information
load.
I've
got 256MB RAM on the Radeon X600 chipset. It is a PCI ExpressT based
video
card. All this seems to bring into question the viablility of
measured
throughput of the main internal Maxtor 300GB drive. It is a 7200RPM
drive
with average seek time of 7 or 8 ms.

I must add that the Intel Pentium(R) 4 CPU (3.2GHz) is NOT dual core,
but
Device Manager lists it twice. Not sure why. Maybe I can shift eShell
processor association to a perticular CPU node, the signal won't get
fouled
up in the CPU's data splitting and recombination process. After
dealing
with
this for a year, I firmly believe THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE HARD DRIVE,
but
rather the CPU throughput. (i.e. when Messenger was running and MCE
had
Messenging Service turned on, this caused all sorts of stutters and
stops --
both in recording and playing. When I turned off Messenger in MCE and
uninstalled it from my PC, it GREATLY improved performance. Now, I
can
record
two channels at once with no recorded infractions.

So why would the CPU have trouble processing information off the main
drive
and not the USB/IEEE drives? Bios has it set for Ultra-DMA5, SATA.
Should
I
play with these settings?
.

"JW" wrote:

You are correct I did not read your last response completly I
apologize.
I
am trying to resolve your issue which is certainly one of the more
complex
that I have worked on in the last couple of years so please bear
with me
we
will get to the solution.
At one time I thought that you had a second internal drive and when
I
sugested that you try puting the page file on it as a test which Ms
always
suggests you do when you have two internal drives you replied that
you
did
not want to put it on an external drive and I can fully understand
that

AFAIK MCE Does not use Media player to play DVDs it goes direct to
your
preferred decoder and forces it forces it to use VMR9 rendering
instead
of
Overlay rendering which Media player normally uses by default. Since
VMR9
rendering puts a bigger load and takes more clock time on your
system
then
overlay rendering I think this may be why your graphics card does
not
have
the clock time required to not drop frames or stutter.. This is
therfor
why
you are not seing the stuttering problem when not using MCE to play
DVDs
or
TV recordings.

I understand that your are using the WinDVD deocder.

If you use Media Player instead of MCE to play a recorded TV program
do
you
get stuttering?

You want maximum hardware acceleration to play recorded TV files.

When you say an internal SATA controller do you you mean an add on
IDE
controller card or one built into the MOBO?

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Recorded TV playback
    ... hyperthreading shouldn't be an issue here (if it was an issue with MCE, ... your background task uses the "CPU" other then the one that you are using ... both in recording and playing. ... and not the USB/IEEE drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Recorded TV playback
    ... Any and ALL stuttering/ hang problems come from MCE only. ... Your CPU may be what's called a HyperThreaded or HT CPU which means it ... both in recording and playing. ... and not the USB/IEEE drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Recorded TV playback
    ... I still believe that the problem is that since MCE uses VMR9 decoding and ... It could be that there is some microcode support that the CPU needs that ... both in recording and playing. ... and not the USB/IEEE drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Recorded TV playback
    ... Any and ALL stuttering/ hang problems come from MCE only. ... Your CPU may be what's called a HyperThreaded or HT CPU which means it looks ... both in recording and playing. ... and not the USB/IEEE drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)
  • Re: Recorded TV playback
    ... hyperthreading shouldn't be an issue here (if it was an issue with MCE, ... your background task uses the "CPU" other then the one that you are using ... both in recording and playing. ... and not the USB/IEEE drives? ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.mediacenter)