System Slows Down - still a problem

[jphhughes]

Sometime back I had posted this problem, that when using SageTV my entire system slows down. I generally use SageTV while doing other things on the computer. However when Sage is running other programs are show to respond making multitasking a real labor. So I would like to again try and find a possible solution. This may be a problem peculiar to my system. I am using an HP 864N MCE PC with 512k RAM, 160GB hard drive, Hauppauge 250 tuner card and Nvidia 5200 graphics card. As you can see the system has Microsoft Media Center on it but I am not pleased with its PVR functionality and would like to use Sage to replace it. However Until I can get to the bottom of this issue that will not be possible.

I have used Task Manager to monitor memory usage and when Sage is running the Physical memory does drop to a very low lever of say 15KB while the system cache line on the physical memory area read 300 to 300 MB. These number obviously change and I am using them just to give you an ideal of memory usage. The CPU use is low in that it rarely goes above 30% usually in the 25% range. The page file never gets to more then half used.

I do not see anything obvious that would be causing this problem so any help on possibilities would be appreciated. Do I need to change a setting in the properties file or something like that? This system slow down only occurs when running SageTV. I have used MCE as well a Beyond TV without this happening so I am convinced it is a SageTV related problem. By the way in spite of this problem I do like SageTV and would like to continue to use it. Thanks .

[insomniac]

Have you done the registry "hack" to enable dxva and hwmc?

Also, I cannot tell if thats intel or not. If so, are you hyperthreading.

And by reading below, are you saying that sage basically uses all your available ram?? If so thats your problem. Check the total ram usage in taskmanager by the sagetv process as compared to other processes running.

Have you made any other performance increases in the past (large systems cache, disk caching?)

Other common things to increase system performance:

Increase size of page file to 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 times the size of system memory and make it static

optimizing performance for applications (default) will keep your foreground stuff running cleaner at the backgrounds expense.

most systems get a huge performance increase by adding this key(default is 512):
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\Memory Management

Value: IoPageLockLimit (REG_DWORD): 4000 (Hex) 16384 (Decimal)

Just throwing out ideas...

I.

Originally posted by jphhughes
Sometime back I had posted this problem, that when using SageTV my entire system slows down. I generally use SageTV while doing other things on the computer. However when Sage is running other programs are show to respond making multitasking a real labor. So I would like to again try and find a possible solution. This may be a problem peculiar to my system. I am using an HP 864N MCE PC with 512k RAM, 160GB hard drive, Hauppauge 250 tuner card and Nvidia 5200 graphics card. As you can see the system has Microsoft Media Center on it but I am not pleased with its PVR functionality and would like to use Sage to replace it. However Until I can get to the bottom of this issue that will not be possible.

I have used Task Manager to monitor memory usage and when Sage is running the Physical memory does drop to a very low lever of say 15KB while the system cache line on the physical memory area read 300 to 300 MB. These number obviously change and I am using them just to give you an ideal of memory usage. The CPU use is low in that it rarely goes above 30% usually in the 25% range. The page file never gets to more then half used.

I do not see anything obvious that would be causing this problem so any help on possibilities would be appreciated. Do I need to change a setting in the properties file or something like that? This system slow down only occurs when running SageTV. I have used MCE as well a Beyond TV without this happening so I am convinced it is a SageTV related problem. By the way in spite of this problem I do like SageTV and would like to continue to use it. Thanks .

[jphhughes]

insomniac

Thanks for the help. I will implement the dxva and hwmc hack. I have not done this. A question I am using the Media Center Hauppauge 250 card so will this hack work with that card or are all 250's the same?

CPU is an Intel P4 2.66GHz I believe it has hyperthread.

I will check and see just what SageTV uses in memory.

I have not done any other performance increases. I bough this system pre-packaged as is required when you buy a MediaCenter PC.

I will check size of page file and if not already adequate will make your suggested changes including making it static.

I will also change the registry key for Memory management as you suggested.

Will let you know the outcome. Thanks again.

[TunaBoo]

512k of ram? That might be your problem

[insomniac]

I do not own a mce card, but from what i hear its the same card. Look around and maybe check shspvr.com for info as well. Im sure it will work exactly the same. What codecs are installed? If its the hauppauge intervideo ones, I cant see why it wouldnt work.

I.

Originally posted by jphhughes
insomniac

Thanks for the help. I will implement the dxva and hwmc hack. I have not done this. A question I am using the Media Center Hauppauge 250 card so will this hack work with that card or are all 250's the same?

CPU is an Intel P4 2.66GHz I believe it has hyperthread.

I will check and see just what SageTV uses in memory.

I have not done any other performance increases. I bough this system pre-packaged as is required when you buy a MediaCenter PC.

I will check size of page file and if not already adequate will make your suggested changes including making it static.

I will also change the registry key for Memory management as you suggested.

Will let you know the outcome. Thanks again.

[jphhughes]

Insomnia

I have made the three registry changes you suggested. By the way the iolocklimit entry did not exist on my system so I created it. I will let you know after using the sytem if their is an improvement. Right now I would say its look encouraging. Thanks again and I will follow up after some extended use.

[insomniac]

np..hope it works 4 ya.

I.

Originally posted by jphhughes
Insomnia

I have made the three registry changes you suggested. By the way the iolocklimit entry did not exist on my system so I created it. I will let you know after using the sytem if their is an improvement. Right now I would say its look encouraging. Thanks again and I will follow up after some extended use.

[jphhughes]

insomniac
Those change you suggested have made a considerable increase in the performance of the system. once again, I thank you.