HD2600XT HD Stutters

[sixdoubleo]

OK, I just got my new HTPC up and running today and have some HD stuttering. HD recordings stutter both in Sage and in WMP.

How can I tell that I'm getting hardware decode? During HD playback, my CPU is at 5-9% or so...

Asus M2N SLI Deluxe
Athlon X2 5000+
Corsair 2GB
Sapphire 2600XT 512MB
Windows XP
Nvidia Codec 420.236.0.0 (Came from Theatertek install)
Latest ATI Drivers with Catalyst Control Center
DVI/HDMI out to Samsung DLP @ 1920x1080p

VMR9, 3D Acc, FSE

I have set demux buffers to 80.
I have set optimize_local_client_playback=true
I have run this guy's script: http://home.comcast.net/~exdeus/ati-hd2x00/
I have NOT set this: "encode_digital_tv_as_program_stream=true"
I've tried both Nvidia and SageTV decoders.

I would presume that at 5% CPU, the card is doing its thing, right? At this point I'm stumped...almost wondering if it's a network issue, but I have good solid Gigabit between the HTPC and the server.

Thoughts?

[sixdoubleo]

Also...

My HD recordings are via an HVR-1600 QAM on Comcast Cable. (If that matters)

[sixdoubleo]

OK, more info...

I'm pretty certain I'm getting hardware decoding...here's what I did:

During playback in Sage, I exit from full-screen mode and can see the Nvidia icon in the lower-right, indicating that the Nvidia decoder is active. I check properties on that and the "Hardware Acceleration" box is checked. If I un-check it, and then stop and start play-back my CPU shoots up to 30-40%.

If I check the box again, stop and start playback, CPU drops back down down to 5-11%.

But even with Hardware Acceleration enabled I still have noticeable stutter (maybe every 10-20 seconds).

Also, I copied an HD recording to the local drive of the HTPC and tried playing it with WMP....still stutters. Also resizing WMP's window to a smaller size still shows stutter.

[mikesm]

I wouldn't run the purevideo codec with the ATI card. Grab the avivo codec via the 2400/2600 thread on avsforum, or use powerdvd. They are both designed to work well with the ATI hardware.

Thx
mike

[sixdoubleo]

And more info....

I think it could be the recordings. I have one show (Brothers and Sisters from last night) that has NO stuttering. But then Desperate Housewives from last night stutters like crazy.

Furthermore, I notice that if I play this Desperate Housewives recording in Sage, in WMP, change the decoder, or even play it on a different PC, it always stutters in the same EXACT places...

Wouldn't this suggest that there is something wrong with the recording? Or would some decoders have the ability to filter out defects better than others?

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by mikesm

I wouldn't run the purevideo codec with the ATI card. Grab the avivo codec via the 2400/2600 thread on avsforum, or use powerdvd. They are both designed to work well with the ATI hardware.

Thx
mike

Thanks Mike, I'll check out those Avivo decoders right now.

[Conejo]

Originally Posted by sixdoubleo

I think it could be the recordings. I have one show (Brothers and Sisters from last night) that has NO stuttering. But then Desperate Housewives from last night stutters like crazy.

Furthermore, I notice that if I play this Desperate Housewives recording in Sage, in WMP, change the decoder, or even play it on a different PC, it always stutters in the same EXACT places...

Wouldn't this suggest that there is something wrong with the recording? Or would some decoders have the ability to filter out defects better than others?

Sometimes you'll get stuttering from a bad recording, where the data is corrupted and the HD Capture can't correct it. And many people have seen bad compression from certain TV Networks or individual Stations.

So, yes, what you're seeing is definitely probable. Test your system playback against many HD sources. There's no harm in tweaking the video drivers to get the broadest playback compatibility, you just need to remember what you tweak.

[sixdoubleo]

OK, with the Avivo decoders, there is less stutter, but it has been replaced by a great deal of macroblocking. Also the Avivo decoders just don't look that good...hard to tell it's even HD.

Furthermore Sage has crashed 4 times now with the the Avivo decoders. Any time I switch between full screen and windowed mode, Sage crashes.

[ToxMox]

I would try the new Sage TV Decoder in the latest beta and enable DXVA (new option right below it when you choose the Sage decoder).....but....if it always stutters in the same places then there are problems with your recordings. Check your signal and drives.

[Lucas]

You can also try to to use an alternative audio decoder like AC3filter and maintain purevideo for the video side of things.

I had all sorts of issues with the Nvidia Purevideo audio decoder.

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by Lucas

You can also try to to use an alternative audio decoder like AC3filter and maintain purevideo for the video side of things.

I had all sorts of issues with the Nvidia Purevideo audio decoder.

I'm doing AC-3 passthru to my receiver. It was my understanding that AC3Filter decodes the audio, rather than passing it through.

[Djc208]

Have you tried using the nVidia codec for audio? I had stuttering issues with my playback using nvidia for video and AC-3 for audio passthrough. I turned off AC-3 and used the nVidia decoder passthrough and that fixed it.

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by Djc208

Have you tried using the nVidia codec for audio? I had stuttering issues with my playback using nvidia for video and AC-3 for audio passthrough. I turned off AC-3 and used the nVidia decoder passthrough and that fixed it.

I have always used the Nvidia codec for Audio. I was only asking about the AC3Filter for my own information, but yes I am using the Nvidia codec for audio.

I'm beginning to think my stuttering is at the recording end of things.

[m1abrams]

I have had horrible stuttering with VMR9 and my 2600Pro. In overlay I get very little if any stuttering. I know my setup is using Hardware Acceleration. I have tried pretty much everything you have as well. I get the same level of stutter in VMR9 with Nvidia Codecs or PowerDVD.

Question for the OP, is your 2600XT AGP or PCIe? My 2600Pro is AGP.

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by m1abrams

I have had horrible stuttering with VMR9 and my 2600Pro. In overlay I get very little if any stuttering. I know my setup is using Hardware Acceleration. I have tried pretty much everything you have as well. I get the same level of stutter in VMR9 with Nvidia Codecs or PowerDVD.

Question for the OP, is your 2600XT AGP or PCIe? My 2600Pro is AGP.

Yeah, I used your thread as a guide to getting mine tuned up. My card is PCI/Express.

This card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102703


My CPU is barely breaking a sweat while playing HD. 5% usually.
Several of my HD recordings do not skip at all. Smooth as silk.
Of the recordings that do stutter, they stutter in the exact same places, and they do it consistently, even in Windows Media Player on on other PC's.

So I'm thinking it might be a recording issue.

[m1abrams]

Does yours stutter in overlay?

In VMR9 my stutters are too frequent to be able to say if they happen in the same place, basically playback is very jumpy. However my CPU usage is also low 10-20%, I am running an X2 3800+ so little slower cpu but still dual core.

[sixdoubleo]

Originally Posted by m1abrams

Does yours stutter in overlay?

In VMR9 my stutters are too frequent to be able to say if they happen in the same place, basically playback is very jumpy. However my CPU usage is also low 10-20%, I am running an X2 3800+ so little slower cpu but still dual core.

Yes, and it stutters in the exact same places. In fact there really is no difference between VMR9 and Overlay. I'm going to try the new 6.3.2 beta and try the DXVA in the Sage decoder and see if that helps.

I set the settings as follows:
Overlay
NVidia Video Decoder
NVidia Audio Decoder
FSE ON
3D Accel. ON

and it still stutters.

My CPU is an X2 5000+

I'm almost wondering if I should clip 30 seconds of this thing and upload it for others to try. I have this 30-second sequence I've been using for reference. Be interested to see if it stutters in the same places for others.

[m1abrams]

I would try it for you. Just let me know where to get it.

[sixdoubleo]

Just fired up Videoredo, and I can see some of my macroblocking and artifacts in the frames of the video. I'm gonna clip it anyway.

[sixdoubleo]

OK, I clipped a section of the video. Uploading it in a minute. The stuttering is IN the recording for sure...so there's my problem...or at least a good portion of it.

Videoredo gave the following report at the end. This was for a 45-second clip of video:



For comparison, I took one of my HD recordings that ISN'T stuttering and clipped 2-3 minutes from it. Here is VideoRedo's report:


Incidentally, these shows were both on ABC back to back on the same night. The stuttering show is Desperate Housewives on at 9pm. The non-stuttering show is Brothers and Sisters on at 10pm. They came from the same tuner and saved to the same hard drive on the server.

I'm pretty sure my client is fine.

So now I need to start troubleshooting the recording side of things.

Is there a program that will analyze a video and tell me how many errors, sync problems, etc are in the video? I suppose I could just open it with VideRedo, and then resave it....but just thought there might be an easier method?