MCE 2005 users in here please.

pcoltrane

pcoltrane

pcoltrane

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Joined
18 Sep 2005
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Could I ask any media center 2005 users to do a little test for me so I can get to the bottom of the problem I have. It shouldn't take a moment.

Currently, if I have a TV show recording then open the media center front end I will end up with skips/jumps in the recordings corresponding to the point I open media center. I also get the same skips in recordings when I change channel on the second tuner etc. Other than this everything works flawlessly.

I've eliminated certain things such as the gfx card and mpeg2 decoder, but still have no idea if it is related to CPU load, the sata controller or something else.

I'd hugely appreciate if anyone running media center could set something recording, drop to the XP desktop and then reopen media center (and if you have a second tuner try changing channel a few times). Could you then check the recording for skips/jumps. If you could then post back here whether you got an skips along with your ssytem hardware you'd help me a great deal. Thanks in advance to anyone who replies :)

My spec:

Venice 3000+ @ 2250mhz
2 x 512mb Geil value
MSI K8NGM2-FID mobo
Onboard 6150 gfx (also tried a 7600gt but problem still there)
Onboard a880 realtek HD audio
Samsung spinpoint 160gb SATA
2 x Compro T200 DVB-T cards
Using powerdvd 7 decoder (same problem with purevideo decoder too)

Marc
 
Yup - does the same here.

You'll also find if you take MCE from full screen (into a window) and use Windows at the same time, you'll get the same skips and jumps anytime a popup comes along, or a balloon from the system tray, or anything where a tool-tip is used.

It's a bugger, but I've never managed to get to the bottom of it...

nV PureVideo (but the decoder makes no difference) on an ATI X1900XT with a single Black Gold tuner.
 
Thanks for the reply gav. What CPU /mobo are you using?

I'd still appreciate hearing from anyone else with a media center to try and spot any trends and discover if one particular component or driver is the culpit :)

Cheers

Marc
 
Got a similar spec myself in my MCE system (Athlon64 3700+, 2x512MB DDR, MSI K8NGM2-FID (:) - using integrated 6150), 80GB IDE HDD and Cinergy 2400i DT MCE).......so will give it a go tonight when I get home....(using PureVideo atm)

Off topic, just a quicky (;)), got any way of streaming the Live TV over the network (i.e. to my main PC in a different room - might as well make use of the twin tuner card.....) ?? I think my iMon Soundgraph may do it through iCaster, but would like a MCE solution - I figure a software version of a Media Centre Extender ????
 
Yep, a software version of the media center extender would do it. Codenamed Softsled, it never materialised. Probably been canned, although apparently might make a reappearance in Vista.
 
Thanks Kev, I'd be particularly interested in whether you experience the same skips as then i can eliminate the tv tuners - I've been very tempted to buy the Cinergy 2400i to see if that helps.

Incidentally and slightly OT - how do you find the 2400i? Do you sometimes get the "no tv signal" message when you first go to live tv (changing up or down channel makes it starting working again) as a lot of people seem to with the compro and other tuner cards? Any other issues with it?

Cheers

Marc
 
Oh and yes - as csmager says a software extender has been confirmed to be in the pipeline ny MS (softsled) but won't be in XP. Lets hope it is included with the vista release as its something I am dying to have too)
 
marc mercer said:
Thanks Kev, I'd be particularly interested in whether you experience the same skips as then i can eliminate the tv tuners - I've been very tempted to buy the Cinergy 2400i to see if that helps.

Incidentally and slightly OT - how do you find the 2400i? Do you sometimes get the "no tv signal" message when you first go to live tv (changing up or down channel makes it starting working again) as a lot of people seem to with the compro and other tuner cards? Any other issues with it?

Cheers

Marc
Click to expand...

Well....it's good news for me......but maybe not for others...... :(

I tried the 'test' and suffered no ill effects in my 4 minute or so recording - I tried minimising/resizing the MCE window, opened up WMP and played a music track, fiddled with various tray icons and so on, then also tried changing channel in MCE (obviously the recording continued on orignal channel) and suffered no problems with the playback/recording whatsoever.

I am wondering whether the PCI-e bus is the difference here ? Perhaps the greater bandwidth assists ? Perhaps it was just fluke ? :confused:

I took a gamble on the 2400i :

1st MCE build used the K-World hybrid (DVB 220) and I had real issues with 'No Signal' messages etc., particularly when coming out of Standby/Hibernate to record per schedule......so moved over to Avermedia hybrid (can't remeber the model, but the current model) and was over the moon with it - absolutely perfect, full stop. Then, sold the build (kinda what I do in my spare time - and it was s478 based ASUS T2 and of limited scope) and set about deciding what I wanted my definitive build to be, now I had some experience with MCE.....and settled on what I now have, except initiall had the Leadtek hybrid DTV2000H in - this had real issues with not receiving certain channels (same aerial, location, cable etc.) that the previous 2 cards had managed easily, particularly the TS with Five/QVC/Bid TV etc., and Radio1/2 etc. This was an annoyance ! Tried everything to get the channels to stay (also had problems with the Guide losing data) and eventually decided to get shot of the card (shame in many ways as it was fine at recording etc.).

Anyhow, had read about the 2400i (hugely conflicting reports :eek: ) and figured it was the perfect card, if only it would work (properly) in my setup. As luck would have it, found a great price (£46.82 - apparently B-Grade/Clearance, turned out to be perfect but had been in demo machine allegedly :confused: ) from online retailer (with links to Norway).....and it has been 100% perfect ! All recordings have been fine, dual recording fine, no signal/channel/guide loss problems and so on ! Admittedly, 'twas a gamble from what I have seen written, literally perfect or nightmare it seems.

Anywhooooo, probably bored everyone with that lot ! Thing is, it is not a cheap card (normally) but I got lucky on price.....but maybe there is something to be said for using the funny little PCI-e slot (strangely exciting in itself)......and the latest drive seems to be good too......
 
Hi Kev, great reply.

You have answered a load of questions for me (and created some new ones hehe)

Last night i decided to bite the bullet and put my X2 chip from my main pc in the media center. Lo and behold, I no longer get the skips in recordings etc (but out it does make it a pretty expensive machine just for watching and recording tv!)

I assumed that must be the answer - those without dual core chip get the skips and those who have one don't ...... but then today i look at your spec again and argh you have a 3700+ and yet don't get any skips. Since our machines are pretty much identical otherwise that leaves just the tv card ..... or that you are using an IDE drive rather than SATA (Could you confirm this for me?)

I think I will buy the cinergy anyway in the hope of curing the "no tv signal" issue that i get with the compro. i'm sure i have seen them for around £55 which isn't bad value. Hopefully it will then allow me to return to the single core chip as you have. If not I guess that only leaves the SATA controller as the offending item!

Marc
 
Yeah, Marc, my HDD is a vanilla 80GB IDE drive......so could be a SATA issue.....that said, I have seen lots written about skipping problems with dual-cores too......seems dependant on a patch being installed.

From my experiences, it seems that the TV card (or likely the quality/robustness of the driver (BDA)) seems to be the main thing - notice the cards I have gone through !

The Cinergy 2400i has been excellent and only the Avermedia worked as flawlessly, but - of course - the Cinergy has the twin DVB-T tuners one card and thus is the perfect solution. The MCE version is a little cheaper as it comes without the remote and software etc., so is ideal if you really just plan to use in MCE - that said, I have downloaded the software from Terratec and it is pretty good too ;) including rather funky Desktop TV mode which replaces your wallpaper with Live TV ! If you can get one for £55, sounds like a bargain to me :)
 
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