ffmeg.exe, remote potato, and super high CPU temps

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › ffmeg.exe, remote potato, and super high CPU temps

Des

54 posts

Master Geek

#106505 25-Jul-2012 10:49

Hey there,

I use Remote Potato for streaming my WMC recorded TV etc, to my iPhone. I've run into an issue, and Remote Potato has JUST decided to close their forums. So I'm hoping someone here might be able to help.

I discovered the other day the cause of some very high CPU temperatures I've been recording in my HTPC. When streaming videos, ffmpeg.exe kicks in at about 70% CPU...and my CPU temp then rises and rises and rises. It tends to reach 60deg. 62deg is the stated max for my CPU. I'm not sure what's stopping it at 60deg.

I've got an AMD Phenom II 3.2GHz x4 processor. Resource Manager shows all 4 CPUs running at ~70% when this process is running. I have a Arctic Alpine 64 PLUS CPU cooler, and I've already replaced the thermal paste just incase. I'm not sure what's going on, but I read someone post in another forum that they also find extremely high temperatures with ffmpeg.exe than when another processes are running.

Any ideas?

Thanks heaps

davidcole

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#661717 25-Jul-2012 13:03

FFMPEG generally doesn't hardware decode (what would happen if you watched an h.264 video in something like MediaPortal/W7 MCE - as these can pass the video decoding to the GPU).

Because FFMPEG is cross platform it has to rely on CPU decoding. I think they were working on it for later versions.

That said I use plex on a AMD A8 CPU - it uses ffmpeg for conversion to IOS devices and I don't see my temps going quite that high (could be version differences in ffmpeg).

Previously known as psycik

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Des

54 posts

Master Geek

#661974 25-Jul-2012 19:03

Yeah, that was kinda my understanding...it relies on CPU rather than GPU. Seems a bit extreme though. Is there any way to update/change the ffmpeg version? Or is that dealt with within the streaming software and out of my hands?

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#661987 25-Jul-2012 19:30

The software clearly needs to use the CPU for H.264 transcoding, that's the downside when the device you're playing the video on can't play it natively.

There aren't really any simple fixes except possibly buying a faster CPU that won't necessary have to work as hard.

davidcole

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#662007 25-Jul-2012 20:30

Des: Yeah, that was kinda my understanding...it relies on CPU rather than GPU. Seems a bit extreme though. Is there any way to update/change the ffmpeg version? Or is that dealt with within the streaming software and out of my hands?

You might be able to just replace teh version thats in use, but that could break you software, and 2 have no effect as teh command line switches may not be present.

You could also talk to you software vendor and ask if they have any options for using hardware decoding options.

Des

54 posts

Master Geek

#662014 25-Jul-2012 20:45

True...yeah, frustratingly they've just closed their support forum. They're moving to opensource the software, and until that whole transitions finished, I don't think there's going to be much support.

All good, thanks for the help!!

davidcole

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#662017 25-Jul-2012 20:47

Maybe you need to switch software, videostream or streamtome or plex etc

All similar concepts....I've not tried any of them with WMC (wtv files) though, my pvr puts out .ts.

borgia

101 posts

Master Geek

#662243 26-Jul-2012 11:05

A CPU that is properly cooled should not overheat even with four core pegged at 100% on the stock cooler (assuming you have not overclocked it).

Make sure your cpu cooler is correctly applied, your heat sink and fan are not clogged with dust and your case has some airflow. If you are running a passive GPU, the inside of cases can get oven hot unless you have decent airflow, which is why I actually prefer an active cooled graphics card with a slow fan that exhausts outside the case. I reckon its quieter than the extra case fan used to cool the case!

ivan