HDTV/DVD tearing

[direwolf08]

Hey guys:
Just downloaded and setup SageTV, I am loving it so far! Before I purchase it though, I want to make sure I can get HDTV working perfectly. Here are my system specs:

HP Slimline s3020n
Vista Home Premium
AMD 64x2 3800+
NV 6150 integrated (162.22 drivers and powerstrip)
HD Homerun for QAM HDTV (love it!), and PVR-150 for Analog cable
2GB RAM
VGA out to Samsung 1280x720 DLP
running SageTV
ffdshow, Haali, cyberlink PDVD installed -- tried a number of decoders . . .

No matter what decoder I use (Nvidia, CyberLink, SageTV or ffdshow), I seem to be getting some tearing on the HD channels received by the HD Homerun. I also get SERIOUS tearing on DVD playback, to the point of being unwatchable. In both cases, I know the problem is somewhere in software, as I can get DVDs and HDTV channels to play fine in VLC and Vista MC . . . which I would rather not use

Any thoughts? I don't think my system is underpowered, as I have gotten all of this stuff to work in MythTV/Ubuntu flawlessly before (switched away from that due to other issues).

[Polypro]

If it's not the 6150, try running either Aero Glass (makes everything 3D), or in FSE mode in Sage.

P

[direwolf08]

Originally Posted by Polypro

If it's not the 6150, try running either Aero Glass (makes everything 3D), or in FSE mode in Sage.

P

Tried both, FSE killed any playback. It seems my system keeps switching back to Vista Basic mode whenever I start playing video, even if I tell it to use the Aero theme and tell it to adjust for best appearance.

Do you think it may be the 6150? My box has a low-profile PCI-e slot, I found a compatible 8400GS card that would fit. Do you think that would help?

Could it be that Vista just sucks? I have a copy of XP that I could load on, would an install of SageTV on XP likely yield better results with the current hardware? It seems a lot of people have had a rough go getting HDTV to work in Sage and Vista, while it seems to be pretty painless for XP.

Thanks much for your help!

[Taddeusz]

Sounds like you're running in Overlay mode. That's what it does on my computer when I run SageTV in Overlay. 3D mode works great though.

You may be running into the infamous Vista/nvidia/SageTV bug. There's some kind of problem with SageTV's demuxer that causes playback issues in Vista. ATI cards don't seem to be affected by the problem for some reason.

[Polypro]

I've got an 8600GT and am running Vista. Other than some HDHR niggles that I'm not convinced aren't SiliconDust/Sage related, I love Vista. The quality of SD blew me away. PowerDVD knocks me into Aero Basic, but that uses EVR (I thought). No problems with Sage/VMR9 and Aero Glass.

P

[direwolf08]

Thanks PP and Tad. I just went and bought that GeForce 8400GS, any suggestions on how to get Sage set up to avoid video artifacts (renderers, codecs, etc)? I am looking through the forums now, looks like there is a lot of info on this subject.

[bialio]

With the 8400GS on Vista I recommend installing the old NVidia PureVideo decoder - the one that is "not supported on Vista."

Then, enable Aero, Run Sage in 3D Accelerated mode, with FSE off, with the NVIDIA decoder. That should get you close. Turning FSE on might help, but ymmv there.

After reading your first post I was thinking the 6150 was the limiting factor, so I think you are on the right track with the 8400GS.

btl.

[Polypro]

I'd use MS's DECCHECK to set nVIDIA as default, and then just use "Default" in Sage. I'd use Radlight Filter Manager or DirectShow Filter Manager to go into AC3Filter and disable it ("Prefer Other Decoder"). I'd then go into nVIDIA's audio and video codecs with Radlight, and set the appropriate settings (Anamorphic, Hardware Accel, Smart, etc. for video & Computer Speakers, Center-Sub-Rear, Theater for audio) <*Your Hardware Specific*
Finally I'd play an mpeg file in a window and open the nVIDIA tray icon to set the remaining settings like "Pixel Adaptive". I use the "In Box" Vista audio driver with my ALC880 onboard audio. I like enhancements it offers.

P

[bialio]

Originally Posted by Polypro

I'd use Radlight Filter Manager or DirectShow Filter Manager to go into AC3Filter and disable it ("Prefer Other Decoder").

Just wondering why you don't like AC3Filter?

[Polypro]

Never needed it, so never used (learned) it. Used to only have to check "To A Receiver">"Via S/PDIF" in nVIDIA's audio decoder for everything to work fine.

P

[Taddeusz]

Originally Posted by Polypro

Never needed it, so never used (learned) it. Used to only have to check "To A Receiver">"Via S/PDIF" in nVIDIA's audio decoder for everything to work fine.

P

I personally never could get Nvidia's audio decoder working correctly with my receiver. I went to AC3Filter and it worked great. Now I'm using an MVP so it doesn't matter.