flash (flv) video files high CPU usage

AllyM

AllyM

AllyM

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Joined
11 Mar 2011
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9
For a short time now I've noticed that on my main PC flash videos (.flv files) use an excessive amount of CPU time. I have a dual core AMD processor and one core is at 100% when I play flv videos meaning that the video is usually a bot choppy. I'm guessing that it must be something that has changed on my system at some point as I have some flv files which used to play ok a while back but now don't. Other video formats (avi, mpeg, wmv etc) play ok using minimal CPU time.
Has anyone else experienced this and knows how to fix it?
The PC is running Windows XP by the way.
 
Flash is quite taxing.

What kind of gpu do you have?

Use the latest drivers, as they implemented at a certain point, flash acceleration on the gpu (AMD and Nvidia)

Also, use the latest version of flash, and latest version of your browser.
 
The PC I'm having problems with is running 2 NVidia 8600GT graphics cards in an SLI configuration and I have installed the latest drivers.
I have another PC on which flv files run ok. It is running a single NVidia 7600GT graphics card with the latest drivers, which suggests to me that the problematic one should have enough processing power.
Just to repeat again also, I have flash videos which have been on my HDD for some time, which used to run ok but lately exhibit this issue. If I knew at which point the issue started, it may help me to pinpoint what changes to cause it, but sadly I do not.
 
Defrag your hdd?

The only reason why it would be choppy is if you dont have enough processing power.

It doesnt sound like flash is using the two cores of your cpu, and only running on one, which isnt faster enough.

I would back up your data, and format the hdd, so as to start fresh and clean.
 
Yes, flash appears to be using 100% of one core of the CPU but on another machine only a small amount (say about 10% of each of the 2 cores) are in use when playing a flash video so it's using much more CPU power in total for no apparent reason.

I have tried to defrag the HDD already, which made no difference.
I'm certain starting afresh with a clean install will eliminate the problem but I was actually hoping someone would know how to fix it without having to do that.
 
Ok, I think I've fixed it (sort of).
I have disabled SLI and it is working fine.
I don't really understand the reason though, and I'm sure it used to work ok with SLI enabled.
 
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