[mythtv-users] Is my rig "on the limit" without XVMC?

[Ray Whiteman]

Steve Heistand wrote:
> Ray Whiteman <ray.whiteman at consultant.com>, said on Sat Aug 09, 2008 [09:41:48 PM]:
> } Hello,
> } 
> } I have been trailing, tweaking and enjoying my combined BE/FE for about 
> } 6 months now, and the results have been fantastic.
> } 
> } Here is my box
> } 
> } 3 x Leadtek DTV 1000 T's
> } 1 x Hauppague PVR-150
> } ASUS P-800 E
> } Intel Prescott P4 2.8Ghz (533Mhz FSB)
> } AGP Generic Nvidia 6600 (NOT a GT)
> } 1 x Seagate 250GB SATA I (music, system, ancillary stuff)
> } 1 x Seagate 1TB SATA II
> } 
> } I'm using Ubuntu Gutsy (7.10) , with backports enabled to take me to  
> } 0.21, Nvidia Drivers 169.12. For TV Playback I use DVI out  @ 1280x720. 
> } I have found the best results without XVMC with 2x Bob as the 
> } deinterlacer. Currently that is the setup I am using as my default. I am 
> } using RTC for timing. I transcode some stuff after hours, and offload 
> } comm flagging to another slave backend.
> } 
> } Everything is perfect until I get to MPEG2 HDTV and H.264 playback from 
> } high bitrate BlRray rips. The BluRay I can park as a problem for a while 
> } but the HDTV is annoying. I get periods while watching recordings  where 
> } all I see is the occasional "jump" then everything is ok for a while, if 
> } I jump back and rewatch it, then I see no issues normally, or a jump in 
> } a different spot. I also occasionally see prebuffer pauses in my FE 
> } logs, I have not isolated the reason for this but my suspicion is that 
> } the issue is related.
> } 
> } I know that from my point of view the hardware is delivering above an 
> } beyond the call of duty, (my mates at work think I am insane for pushing 
> } the old girl like this). I guess my question is, am I pushing the 
> } hardware, particularly the CPU and Vid card past it's capability without 
> } XVMC?  How can I measure this? CPU utilisation tops out during HDTV 
> } playback currently depending on the content.... But under the 
> } circumstances..... It is expected :)
> } 
> } I have tried to get XVMC working a few times, (added the Option "NVAGP" 
> } "1" to my xorg.conf etc), but that totally upsets the system, HD is 
> } unwatchable, XVMC use crashes the FE, and other problems......
> } 
> } I would just simply toss more money at it and re platform to something 
> } faster, but I have invested in 4 PCI cards, and PCI motherboards are 
> } hard to get these days.
> } 
> } Any guidance? Particularly on getting XVMC running.
> } 
> } _______________________________________________
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>
>
> you could try playing the problem files with mplayer -vo xmvc
> to see if xvmc is going to help.
>
>
>   

Steve,

Thanks for the tip. However, after going back and doing some testing, I 
seem to have XVMC working reasonably well. The key for me was to avoid 
at all costs anything to do with OpenGL, and to turn on the extra audio 
buffering. Anyway, I will monitor the problem moving forward, and see 
how it goes.

One thing is noticeably different when using XVMC is the lack of 
deinterlacing options, is there a reason for this?