[mythtv-users] Linux MPEG Decoder Driver on EPIA-M

[rwk at americom.com]

Hello,

I have recently purchased a VIA EPIA-M board for running MythTV.  I have
just gotten it up and running today.

The EPIA-M board contains a hardware mpeg decoder.  However, when I fire
up MythTV, running a top shows that 70% or so of the CPU is being used
by the mythtv process.

I was expecting there to be very little CPU usage because I was
expecting the on-board mpeg decoder to be doing all the work.

Here is what I did to get the mpeg decoder working:

I obtained a file called: VIA_CLE266_40024-slim_02182003.zip from the
viaarena website and installed it.  It contains the file: via_drv.o
which it installs in /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers.  I also changed the
"Device" section of XF86Config to refer to: Driver "via" as well as the
appropriate "Monitor" section ModeLines etc...

I was under the impression that this is all that was necessary to get
the hardware mpeg decoder working.  I am assuming that it is not working
because of the high mythtv CPU usage (it is a Nehemiah M10000 and I
would think the CPU usage would be negligible even on lower speed
processors).

. Has anyone gotten the EPIA-M mpeg decoder to work under X on Linux?
  If so, can you suggest what I may have overlooked?

. Am I correct in assuming that mythtv should not be using much CPU if
  the hardware mpeg decoder is working?

. How can I know if the mpeg decoder is being used?

Thanks,
Dick