PowerCinema DVB-T Hardware acceleration

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DS248

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Topic # 22139 17-May-2008 22:54

At long last, we knocked the b*gg*r off.

With a bit of to & fro between son & self, we at last got HW acceleration working in PowerCinema 5.1 (with all NZ updates applied).

Trick is making changes to two sets of ini files. (Previously I hadn't realised there were "duplicates" of the ini files under Program files).

This solution applies to Vista. Tested under Vista x64.

For TV viewing (mpeg4 H.264) in VISTA

1. C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\PowerCinema\TVSetting.ini (XXXX = user name)
I had previously added the lines (these were left in place)

enable_dxva2_vista = True
enable_dxva_vista = True

EDIT: These lines should be added into the [TV] block in the .ini file (is the first block in the file).

& changed "default_videorender_vista = VMR9"
to "default_videorender_vista = EVR"

EDIT: This line is further down the .ini file
EDIT2: ArchPrime has reported (below) that changing the default to EVR appeared to cause problems on his system, which has an Ati Radeon HD 2900XT video card. EVR is needed for full HW acceleration, so these instructions may not work for ATI cards.

New mods that did the trick (still need the others, though):

2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\PowerCinema\Customizations\Cyberlink\TVSetting.ini
Have now added the lines (previously did not know about this file):

[TV]
enable_dxva_vista = True
enable_dxva2_vista = True

EDIT: I added these lines at the top of the .ini file followed by a blank line to separate the new [TV] block from the existing [TV_Default] block

NB: Have to run edit program with admin privileges.

Not certain if it was the dxva or dxva2 that did the trick, but after adding them & restarting PowerCinema, CPU usage for TV 3 is now only 4% - 10% (mostly 5% - 7%). Same for TV1 & HD Preview channel. Previously was 20% - 25% or more for TV3 (Graphics card is 8600GTS, cpu = QX9650, HVR4000 tv card)

Having run PC a few times in that configuration, I deleted the added lines in the latter file one at a time to see which one was critical, but even after deleting all the lines, it is still running HW accelerated. I suspect PC has saved the settings somewhere (registry?) & that I probably need to re-boot to "un-set" them. Not going to try just now. Am happy enough that it is working, so I have put all lines back in.

Not only is CPU usage well down, but I no longer seem to be getting the occasional picture "pixelisation" / "breakup" that I used to get, especially with TV3. Feels a lot smoother, though I guess it is still early days.

Note that the "EVR" bit is critical, but only worked after I modified the second set of ini files.

Son also has HW acceleration working (Q9450 + 9800GTX + Nova T500). Similar CPU usage.

For viewing recorded TV (mpeg 2?) in PowerCinema (in Vista 64) keyword seems to be "enable_dxva_vista":

1. C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\PowerCinema\MovieSetting.ini
Changed "enable_dxva_vista = False" to

enable_dxva_vista = True

2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\PowerCinema\Customizations\Cyberlink\MovieSetting.ini
Same modification.

CPU usage for viewing is 3-6% (recorded 1080i HD stream off TV3. Saved as .mpg).

[EDIT: re CPU usage - figures above are with about a dozen other program windows also open (but not active) - plus the usual background programs such as Skype etc. "Base" CPU usage with those windows open, but without PowerCinema running is 2-3%. Not certain whether PowerCinema demand would be lower with the other programs closed (not wanting to close them at this point).

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 131557 18-May-2008 08:55

Good one! I am making this one sticky.

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dxp

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Reply # 131580 18-May-2008 12:23

Sounds great DS248. I installed a new NOVA-T 500 yesterday and have a great picture (without HW acceleration) but no sound yet.

Do you have a link for the "New Zealand updates"? Someone else said it was on the Hauppauge site but I have looked on that and also the CyberLink site and can't find it.

Once that is sorted, I can think about how to make it work with my DMA2200 Media Centre Extender (again, great picture but no sound).

Cheers

sbiddle

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Reply # 131583 18-May-2008 13:30

dxp: Sounds great DS248. I installed a new NOVA-T 500 yesterday and have a great picture (without HW acceleration) but no sound yet.

Do you have a link for the "New Zealand updates"? Someone else said it was on the Hauppauge site but I have looked on that and also the CyberLink site and can't find it.

Once that is sorted, I can think about how to make it work with my DMA2200 Media Centre Extender (again, great picture but no sound).

Cheers

The DMA2200 won't support our DVB-T transmissions as it has no support for AAC-LATM audio. I have no idea if Linksys have any plans to roll out a firmware upgrade, have you tried contacting Linksys to ask? If they get people asking then maybe they will do something about it!

DS248

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Reply # 131587 18-May-2008 13:57

dxp: ... Do you have a link for the "New Zealand updates"? Someone else said it was on the Hauppauge site but I have looked on that and also the CyberLink site and can't find it.

First it may pay to check http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/support/support_driversonly.html & if necessary apply the latest driver for your card.

The "NZ updates" are available from http://www.hauppauge.co.uk/pages/support/support_satellite.html. Scroll down to "Satellite via PowerCinema"(!). There are 5 patches. You only need the last two if you are wanting DVB-S (also).

I'm not certain if the order of applying the patches matters, but the order I applied them in was:

+ PowerCinema 5.1 Software Upgrade CD v1.0 (build 4222) to CD v1.4 (build 4410)

+ PowerCinema 5.1 Software Patch, Transponder list update for New Zealand FTA channels

+ PowerCinema HD edition with AAC+ No Audio Patch

The last of these should fix the "no audio" problem when replaying recorded TV.

Steve's post has covered the DMA2200.

dxp

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 131658 18-May-2008 21:46

Thanks for your quick replies. I must have been looking on the Hauppauge USA site. I now have sound on PowerCinema and a significant reduction in the CPU load while playing, so I assume the acceleration is working. Still 15-20% but my CPU isn't the most modern!

Yes, I knew that the DMA2200 doesn't support AAC-LATM audio yet. I have been in contact with Linksys support on another issue, but rest assured I will now be hassling them for AAC-LATM support also. I assume it will come eventually - especially if Media Centre itself gets around to supporting H.254 and ACC-LATM.

Cheers

waynezy

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Reply # 131922 19-May-2008 21:34

Hi I followed everythig in you post to the T but till got $40-60% CPU usage on Freeview Terestrail digital.. I just opeded files added lines and then saved.. there is no option to run as administrator? do I have to use a edit program? I know my system can run EVR becuase it works in media portal but media portal has too many bugs just at the moment.. I really want to get the EVR working and was stocked to see this post.. any help would be great. Thanks :-)

Screeb

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Reply # 131937 19-May-2008 22:24

waynezy: Hi I followed everythig in you post to the T but till got $40-60% CPU usage on Freeview Terestrail digital.. I just opeded files added lines and then saved.. there is no option to run as administrator? do I have to use a edit program? I know my system can run EVR becuase it works in media portal but media portal has too many bugs just at the moment.. I really want to get the EVR working and was stocked to see this post.. any help would be great. Thanks :-)

Press the Start button, then type "notepad" (or navigate to it through "All Programs"). Once you see it there, right click it, and click "Run as administrator". Now open and edit the relevant files with it.

nav2u

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Reply # 132085 20-May-2008 16:19

I am not sure if I'm doing something wrong here:

- Firstly i modified the "TVSettings.ini" file under the users folder with the following:
"enable_dxva2_vista = True"
"enable_dxva_vista = True"
and changed "default_videorender_vista = EVR"

- Then I added:
"[TV]"
"enable_dxva2_vista = True"
"enable_dxva_vista = True"
and changed "default_videorender_vista = EVR" in the "TVSettings.ini" file located under program files.

All in notepad with admin rights of course!

But it does not seem like H/W acc. is enabled. My CPU usage is still between 50 and 70%. Running 3800X2 + 8600GT on Vista32.

Screeb

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Reply # 132128 20-May-2008 18:18

nav2u: I am not sure if I'm doing something wrong here:

- Firstly i modified the "TVSettings.ini" file under the users folder with the following:

"enable_dxva2_vista = True"
"enable_dxva_vista = True"

and changed "default_videorender_vista = EVR"

- Then I added:

"[TV]"
"enable_dxva2_vista = True"
"enable_dxva_vista = True"

and changed "default_videorender_vista = EVR" in the "TVSettings.ini" file located under program files.

All in notepad with admin rights of course!

But it does not seem like H/W acc. is enabled. My CPU usage is still between 50 and 70%. Running 3800X2 + 8600GT on Vista32.

Have you tried enabling H/W acceleration for recorded videos? Does that work?

waynezy

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Reply # 132175 20-May-2008 21:12

Ok it was this part off the edit that done it.. got EVR working..

For viewing recorded TV (mpeg 2?) in PowerCinema (in Vista 64) keyword seems to be "enable_dxva_vista":

1. C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\PowerCinema\MovieSetting.ini
Changed "enable_dxva_vista = False" to

enable_dxva_vista = True

2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\PowerCinema\Customizations\Cyberlink\MovieSetting.ini
Same modification.

After editing the movie.ini file EVR now works but I now have a problem with TV3.. when I rewind TV3 I get bad pixelation problems. These are the same issues I get when I use media portal with EVR enabled.. Anyone know how to fix this problem??

ArchPrime

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Reply # 133216 26-May-2008 00:43

Hi - not working for me unfortunately.
A couple of cycles of doing clean reinstall of Power Cinema 5.1 (after doing uninstall & a registry clean), installing PC 5.1, patching with the three files, in the order listed, testing to see that I am getting something (video appears but is always stuttering), then going on to change the ini files as described, then testing again I always get PC5.1 crashing after aloud click from speakers & perhaps a single video frame

I note that even without HW aceeration, my CPU is only recording around 3- 5% utilization on one core, so presume lack of processing power is not the problem causingthe stuttering. THe signaal strength utility shows 100 quality for all channels, so I assume reception is not the problem either.

I am tearing my hair out here!

I wonder if there is anything about my PC or graphic card set up that is a problem? (see signature below)

I note that by default, Catalyst drivers for Ati radeon cards also install an "AVstream" driver (something to do with 3rd partyTV cards of one sort or another) and an HDaudio driver, which both appear in Vista 64 device manager beside Nova T500 as sound devices. Disabling or reenabling these doesnt *seem* to help. Are these devices likely to be significant to the problem at all?

Has anyone else with a high end Radeon card managed to get NZ Freeview working properly & smoothly, let alone working with hardware acceleration ?

I note in instructions that that only one of the TVSetting.ini files has default_videorender_vista = MVP9 changed to EVR, while the other file has this setting left alone - is that intended?

Cheers

ArchPrime

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Reply # 133219 26-May-2008 01:50

OK - partial breakthrough - If I do everything EXCEPT change the default video renderer setting, I get nice smooth video & sound on all channels, incvluding TV3 - better than patching alone.

On the HD demonstration channel, I get CPU usage around 17% so presume I am getting no HW aceleration...?

Would really love to know what else to do to get full performance!

DS248

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Reply # 133220 26-May-2008 02:26

... On the HD demonstration channel, I get CPU usage around 17% so presume I am getting no HW aceleration...? ...

I see you have an ATI video card, which may be the reason you are having difficulty getting HW acceleration working.

Many people posting on this site have had difficulty getting HW acceleration working with ATI video cards. Seems to be simpler to get HW acceleration working properly with Nvidia cards.

Both our systems with HW acceleration working have recent Nvidia video cards.

ArchPrime

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Reply # 133221 26-May-2008 02:35

Thanks for your help - would not have got as far as I did without your first post/tutorial!
Might be worth adding that last tip about omitting default renderer for Ati users?

Otherwise have you heard of ANYONE getting recent Ati cards to decode Mpeg 4 from freeview?- they are supposed to be very good at it from other sources...

DS248

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Reply # 133223 26-May-2008 03:02

ArchPrime: ... Might be worth adding that last tip about omitting default renderer for Ati users? ...

Done.

Hope it is OK to update posts written over a week ago, but it makes sense to consolidate the info into the one post.

As I understand it though, EVR is needed for full HW acceleration(?), so if EVR will not work with ATI cards, full HW acceleration may not be possible? Then again, many seem to have had difficulty getting HW acceleration fully working with ATI cards period, so that may not be surprising.

Would be interested to hear others experience with PowerCinema and ATI video cards.

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