NVidia 6800 Problems

[rsagetv99]

I got an NVIDIA 6800 recently and I am having a terrible time getting it to work properly. I just reloaded my PC from scratch hoping that would solve the problem, but no such luck.

Here are my specs.
Asus A7V266 MB with AMD 1700+ Processor
PNY NVIDIA 6800 AGP with 128MB RAM (running at 4xAGP) - Connected via DVI to 57" Toshiba HDTV
PVR 150 connected to an STB, also using the ir blaster.
768 MB RAM
120 GB drive formatted with 64k blocks for videos
60 GB drive partitioned with 10GB for OS and 50 GB formatted with 64k blocks
for imported videos
10 GB drive for backing up downloaded drivers/software
Motorola Wireless G USB Adapter
Intel 10/100 NIC
8x DVD+-R/RW

Windows XP Professional SP2
DirectX 9.0c (with quartz.dll fix)
NVidia Video Codec (Version .67)
SAGE 2.2.2
Recording quality set to Standard DVD
Cayars 17TestA

I tried the suggested setting using VMR9, NVPP, Smart, and VMR9 preferred everything else set to default. This causes SAGE to have about 85-100% CPU utilization. If I switch the video renderer to the plain NVidia (non-NVPP) the CPU drops to 60-80% utilization. With both of these settings I get significant stuttering. The only thing that really helps is to switch to Overlay, but even in this mode I still get some occasional stuttering.

Any ideas? I'm getting to the point where I want to just sell the 6800 and buy an XCard!!!

[mlbdude]

Are you outputting at 1080i over DVI to your TV?

[rsagetv99]

No, 720p.

[mlbdude]

Have you tried Default as the renderer? nVidia has some serious issues with their drivers with VMR9 over DVI right now. Maybe VMR7 will work better.

[rsagetv99]

No, I have not tried this. How does this work? Do I set the nVidia codec to prefer VMR7 and then set the SAGE renderer to default, but what about the VMR9/Overlay setting in SAGE?

[mlbdude]

Originally Posted by rsagetv99

No, I have not tried this. How does this work? Do I set the nVidia codec to prefer VMR7 and then set SAGE to default renderer, but what about the VMR9/Overlay setting in SAGE?

The renderer settings are Default, Overlay, or VMR9. On XP Default will be VMR7. I don't hink you have to do anything in the decoer properties itself. Just make sure hardware acceleration is enabled.

[rsagetv99]

OK, sorry I was getting confused with the renderer and the decoder. So set the renderer to default and use NVPP as the decoder?

[mlbdude]

Originally Posted by rsagetv99

OK, sorry I was getting confused with the renderer and the decoder. So set the renderer to default and use NVPP as the decoder?

I think if you use NVPP as the decoder is not right. I think you use the normal NVidia listing. Unless you want to NOT use hardware acceleration but that is probably not what you want for TV.

[rsagetv99]

You are right, I think most of my problems occur because of the high CPU utilization. It kind of makes sense now that Post Processing would be more Processor intensive.
I had just read some other threads that said to use NVPP for the best picture....

[mlbdude]

Originally Posted by rsagetv99

You are right, I think most of my problems occur because of the high CPU utilization. It kind of makes sense now that Post Processing would be more Processor intensive.
I had just read some other threads that said to use NVPP for the best picture....

There are lots of debates on the NVPP. First thing to remember that you can use the hardware VPP by using hardware acceleration and Smart deinterlacing. If you use the software one the problem you will see is that it is great for DVD's but horrible for TV. VPP is basically usefull for film content and not video content you get from TV.

[rsagetv99]

How do you turn on smart de-interlacing if you are not using NVPP? I have only seen this setting in the Codec properties, which usually only show up when NVPP is enabled - at least on my PC...

[mlbdude]

Originally Posted by rsagetv99

How do you turn on smart de-interlacing if you are not using NVPP? I have only seen this setting in the Codec properties, which usually only show up when NVPP is enabled - at least on my PC...

The option in the codec properties should alwasy be there. Smart with Hardware Acceleration on will get you hardware VPP.

[stanger89]

BTW, are you using the 67.03 official drivers? I had some tearing problems with the 71.24s, switching back to the 67.03s fixed it for me (1080i via VGA breakout).

[GbrNole]

you need to set the codec in sage to "default" rather than "nvidia video decoder" if you want to see the codec options. as you stated they show up when you set it in sage to "nvidia vpp" too.

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by mlbdude

The option in the codec properties should alwasy be there. Smart with Hardware Acceleration on will get you hardware VPP.

So does the nVidia codec icon show up in your systray when you are using the non-NVPP nVidia driver? I don't think it does for me.

And Stanger, yes I am using the official driver from nVidia (not the guru driver).

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by GbrNole

you need to set the codec in sage to "default" rather than "nvidia video decoder" if you want to see the codec options. as you stated they show up when you set it in sage to "nvidia vpp" too.

OK, I'll try this.

[stanger89]

Might want to just give re-installing the drivers a try (for the tearing).

[Wheemer]

The Nvidia system tray Icon should show up when selecting NVPP the reugular Nvidia and default (assuming Nvidia is your defualt MPEG2 decoder).

In order to be able to adjust the setting via the system tray icon you must has Sage set to default. If the I con is not showing up for you, then Nvidia is not working... Be sure you select a different audio decoder as there may be issues with Nvidia's.

[kny3twalker]

BTW, are you using the 67.03 official drivers? I had some tearing problems with the 71.24s, switching back to the 67.03s fixed it for me (1080i via VGA breakout).

do not use 67.03 if you are using DVI output
they are worthless then
71.24 are WHQLed as well (same as 67.03)

[rsagetv99]

Originally Posted by kny3twalker

do not use 67.03 if you are using DVI output
they are worthless then
71.24 are WHQLed as well (same as 67.03)

So what should I use?