CPU @ 60% & .mkv stuttering?

ssmacc

ssmacc

ssmacc

Soldato
Joined
5 Mar 2007
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Just built my Dad a HTPC and after a lot of reading used the following core parts:

Moatherboard AMD 780G (GA-MA78GM-S2H)
CPU AMD 4850E
Mem. Crucial Ballistix 2GB 800MHz

Codecs
haali media splitter
ffdshow

The machine is stuttering playing back a couple of large 1080p DTS .mkv files (12GB), I’ve played these on my machine no problem and on an E6300 based PC and the files play no problem. The stuttering machine CPU usage is around 60-70% so I guess the problem isn’t raw power, given CPU usage is not maxed I’m a little confused as to what the problem is, can anyone help?

Cheers
 
firstly use coreavc codec to decode h264 from mkv.
use powerdvd for actual bluray/hddvd discs.

for audio, both dts and ac3, try using ac3filter. there was an ffdshow dts problem a while back, not sure if it has been fixed yet, so disable ac3 and dts in ffdshow and use ac3filter instead.
 
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Cheers amkan13, I’ll give those suggestions a go. The system is using a separate Decoder so DTS / AC3 is set to pass-through. just concerned as similar spec. PC's can play the file(s) no problem…
 
regardless let ac3filter handle dts and ac3, and set it up for passthrough. the ffdshow dts problem affected passthrough as well.

the other question i forgot to ask was how recent are the mkv files?
older released ones weren't encoded properly, some have trouble playing, and some cant be hardware accelerated due to this (which is where coreavc comes in, as it is the fastest software decoder you can get).

search for "dxva sample dts 1080p mkv" in your fav. search engine and download the files. these files have been encoded properly to be directx video accelerated by the 780g and should work as long as codecs are set up right. enable dxva in all your software, powerdvd, mpc-hc (see below)

also download Media Player Classic Homecinema and have a mess about with that, all decoders and filters are built in, just see how it performs...link here http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=123537

it takes a while tinkering with codecs until everything works properly for a htpc. its all good at the end of the day as you learn more about codec/filter paths. nevertheless it definitely seems like a codec issue in this case.

when coreavc include hardware acceleration in their codec, most of these issues should be easier to diagnose, and the number of programs needed to play different types of file will decrease making everything simpler.
 
Had this same problem although on an older system.

Did a fresh install of the OS and just used CoreAVC and AC3Filter and it played smooth as butter in mediaplayer 11.
 
Graphics - yep onboard, I've played HD-DVD's with PowerDVD, haven't got any BlueRays to try, HD-DVD's sometimes hardware acceleration works sometimes it doesn't...i'll save that for another thread...
Thanks so far.
 
Might not be related at all but i read mkv's have playback issues with 64bit OS's?

My Vista64 lags now and then during mkv playback :(
 
benjo said:
Might not be related at all but i read mkv's have playback issues with 64bit OS's?

My Vista64 lags now and then during mkv playback :(
Click to expand...

I've got Vista 64 (and its OK) the PC in the thread is running XP. I'm starting to think its due to the DTS sound track, I'm at work at the mo. will try some of the suggestions in this post later, any further advice more than welcome
 
Im sure its going to be a codec problem, AC3Filter with direct pass through is your best bet. Dont install FFDShow at all.

If you want to change aspect ratio and play about with screen resolution etc etc , try using the KMPlayer media player.
 
Played the 12GB file again and viewed core usage, 1 core is maxed out and the other is 1-2% is there a way to use both cores? Other than that I guess its overclock or CoreAVC?
I’m using AC3filter for the Audio (as suggested) but without ffdshow I don’t get a picture.
Thanks for the tips so far (I know it takes a while to get HTPC running well, I went through this six months ago with my PC!)
 
It will be ffdshow thats causing the problem. The processor is more than capable, that wont need overclocking and the motherboard is fine. CoreAvc will play it fine. My athlon 64 3200 plays them with coreavc so your processor will have no problem. See if you can get hold of coreavc and uninstall ffdshow. I removed it though and it left rubbish behind so i had to do a reinstall of the os to get my mkv files to play smoothly with coreavc
 
it could be the encoding on the mkv's iirc there were some issues with older files where they would be jumpy on playback or use excessive cpu processing power. I vaguely remember this being fixed with some newer codecs but coreavc and/or ffdshow (normally use this even though core is slightly better cpu usage) are usually fine for me.
 
lsg1r said:
it could be the encoding on the mkv's iirc there were some issues with older files where they would be jumpy on playback or use excessive cpu processing power. I vaguely remember this being fixed with some newer codecs but coreavc and/or ffdshow (normally use this even though core is slightly better cpu usage) are usually fine for me.
Click to expand...

there have just been a few tweaks here and there to handle the poorly encoded files a bit better, but nothing can be done to completely fix it unless you completely reencode it to proper specs

and the latest ffdshow betas are multithread capable so shouldnt be loading up just 1 core when playing
 
probably the graphics card

i went from an x300 to a hd2600pro (both ati), the difference was massive
 
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