[mythtv-users] New installation, choppy video (not DMA) help request

James C. Dastrup jc at dastrup.com
Tue May 16 15:41:03 EDT 2006


>> Expect your CPU to be very high with your CPU (AMD 3200+).  Personally,
>> I've never used that CPU so I couldn't tell you if it should even work at all;
>> if it's even fast enough (without XvMC, of course) at only 2 Ghz. I know that
>
>My understanding is that mpeg decoding load would be reflected in
>"mythfrontend" cpu usage, rather than X.  Since the "X" process seems to be
>taking up so much CPU time, it leads me to believe (possibly incorrectly!)
>that there is a setup/config problem somewhere.
>

On my CPU, I see high CPU for both X and mythfrontend. I don't recall which
is higher, but they both contribute significantly to the overall CPU usage.

>> Downoad the fglrx drivers from ATI's website and install those closely following
>> their instructions, instead of using the drivers that came with your distro. I've
>> had better luck doing that.
>
>That much is done.  Using 8.24.8-1 downloaded from ATI recently.
>
>> Check your Xorg log files and make sure fglrx is loading properly.
>
>It appears to be.
>
>> Run glxinfo and make sure you are getting a good frame rate.
>
>glxinfo does not seem to report a framerate to me.  I ran glxgears
>and got ~11500 fps, in case that is what you meant.  I understand that
>this doesn't really indicate anything other than that the correct
>drivers are installed.
>

Sorry, I meant glxinfo and glxgears. Both should give you some good info.

>> Make sure 'agpgart' is not compiled into your kernel.
>(apologies for reordering your comments a bit)
>
>I believe that it is.  Would this cause the behavior I am seeing?  I 
>have building a suspicion about the AGP performance so I have been
>reading a bit about the AGPGART.  Research did not seem conclusive
>about whether it helps or hurts.  I think I'd need to make a new kernel
>to get rid of it as lsmod does not show it as a module.  If that is what
>will help, I'll get on that...
>

Yes, you should see it loaded as a module in lsmod, and <M> in the kernel
config, not <*> (or <Y>). Then, use ATI's built-in AGP support, instead of
external - this is set in in xorg.conf, and can be verified in the Xorg log.
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