DVB-T & NVidia Geforce 210

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huckster

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Topic # 55268 27-Dec-2009 22:20

Has anyone got Freeview running nicely with one of these cards?

I've been using an 8500GT for a while but what something with an HDMI port and that does HDCP.

I've just spent a day or three re-trying the onboard ATI HD3200 with XP, Vista, various catalyst drivers and Cyberlink codec but TV3 stutters - the Mrs says it is dreadfull.

No-one seems to have passive 9400s anymore and the 9500's are too big for my case. I can see there is a passive version of the 210 out there (http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=proddesc&maincat_no=130&cat2_no=136&prod_no=1923) so am keen to confirm before I buy.

Thanks.

(Am using MediaPortal btw)

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Reply # 285515 27-Dec-2009 23:58

Hi

I have no idea about the NVidia 200 series but I am interested to know what you tried with the ATI chipset. I've read that quite a number of people seem to be having problems getting ATI cards/chipsets doing hardware acceleration. I myself use a Sapphire 4670 in combination with a number of operating systems, media players and h.264 codecs without issue (primary setup is XP, MediaPortal and PDVD). I admit that I too had awful problems to begin with (graphics/video and TV card drivers and codec issues mixed with OS differences - just about anything that could have gone wrong did ;) ) but I perservered and (with a little help) managed to work through them. I know a 4670 is not the same as your 3200 series chipset but I'm sure some of what I know will be transferrable. I'd be happy to try and help you get your chipset working if you're interested... I fully understand if you want to give up though!

huckster

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Reply # 285537 28-Dec-2009 08:25

I've tried XP Pro and Vista with PowerDVD 7 & 8 codecs. Catalyst versions have ranged from 8.9 to 8.12 to the latest 9.x. I bought the 780g-based motherboard as soon as it came out and I'm wandering whether I was just unlucky there. I also have a low-power/non-phenom CPU which means no HT3.

I've tried matching the setup of some who say they have it working, but, I dunno, the wind was not blowing in the right direction.

As this is the only way we watch TV, I eventually threw in an Nvidia card and, as a lot of people have found out, it just worked. Now I just want to get that last piece of the jigsaw...... HDCP.

mm1352000

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Reply # 285553 28-Dec-2009 10:32

Hmm okay. Only HDCP - you're so close! I'm not sure whether you're saying you want to give up on ATI, but here are a few thoughts that come to mind...

Based on what you've said about having a low power CPU I guess DXVA (h.264 hardware acceleration) is a must for smooth playback. I guess you are aware that XP is very picky with the drivers that will enable DXVA properly? I've always used a tool called DXVA Checker (free, Google) to check support after installing/upgrading my version of Catalyst. I haven't tried upgrading for some time because I'm not too much of a gamer (so I don't need the best performance in the latest games) and things are working fine. Right now I am running 9.4. I know 8.12 works too, and 9.1-9.3 don't.

Your first post seemed to suggest that TV1 etc. work and TV3 is the only channel you have a problem with. That sounds fishy since on Freeview HD I think TV3 is the only interlaced channel (watching requires more CPU and deinterlacing could potentially introduce problems) and it is also the only channel with an AC3 audio stream (could be a "codec compatibility" thing). I take it you have the "use hardware accelerator" checked in the PowerDVD decoder settings (under DirectShow filter control) in MediaPortal configuration. Do you also have "prefer AC-3 sound" checked on the audio settings tab (under Television, TV Client)? Does changing the audio stream you are using for TV3 make any difference? Also what is the CPU usage like when you watch TV1 as compared to TV3?

In short I think the cause could be one of the following:
1. DXVA not working correctly because of the driver or PDVD codec.
2. Deinterlacing or more likely AC3 codec not working properly assuming that TV3 is the only problem and you're on Freeview HD. I use AC3Filter 1.46.
3. Signal dropouts.

If you're wanting to push on with ATI then I'd be interested to know more about the "stuttering"...

huckster

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Reply # 285562 28-Dec-2009 11:16

DVB-T (Freeview HD). Don't get dropouts on signal; never have any problems with any other channels and never had problems with the NVidia card when I used it.

Currently using 8.12 in XP. DXVAChecker says that the Cyberlink codex will do DXVA1 on ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT and DXVA2 on NV12 (ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT). When I check using a TV3 TS file, I get the same result.

But when I play the file, it's around 50% CPU, so something's not right.

mm1352000

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Reply # 285564 28-Dec-2009 11:27

Okay.

Yeah 50% for TV3 seems very suspicious - I take it this is significantly higher than for other channels? Did you check whether you are using AC3 audio? Have you tried using GraphStudio/GraphEdt to connect to MediaPortal's filter graph and check what the filter tree actually looks like for TV1 as compared with TV3? What app are you using to play back the ts file - have you tried playing it in PowerDVD?

Nety

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Reply # 285570 28-Dec-2009 12:02

Ummm you already have HDCP with the 8500GT. Just need to go from DVI to HDMI and you will have a full HDCP path. You can do this either by getting a cable with a DVI plug on one end and a HDMI plug on the other or you can use a adapter that goes from DVI to HDMI.

How do you currently have it connected?

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

huckster

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Reply # 285580 28-Dec-2009 12:26

:-(

The 8500GT I have is NOT HDCP compatible. I have used a DVI to HDMI plug.

TV1 is around 8 - 12%. TV3 around 50%.

I have PowerDVD Ultra 8. Just downloaded the latest and the codec disspeared from MediaPortal. Do I need build 2217...?

huckster

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Reply # 285590 28-Dec-2009 12:49

TV3 files play nicely in PowerDVD - just not in MP (1.0.2). Any suggestions?

(Have got AC3Filter 1.46 and am preferring AC3 audio)

mm1352000

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Reply # 285592 28-Dec-2009 13:31

Yes you need build 2217 or older - Cyberlink disabled 3rd party apps from using it after that build :(

I think we're making progress. We've effectively isolated the problem to MediaPortal now I think. I have MediaPortal 1.0.2 as well with AC3 preferred, but I would try unchecking that for a start. If that doesn't make a difference then I definitely need to know what GraphStudio/GraphEdt (Google) show, and what other codecs you have installed.

huckster

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Reply # 285603 28-Dec-2009 13:59

Here are some graphs.... (with preffered AC3 off)

TV1

TV1 Graph

TV3

mm1352000

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Reply # 285628 28-Dec-2009 14:59

The graphs look okay to me. I take it that turning off the AC3 option didn't make any difference to the stuttering though?

I'll have to have a think...

In the meantime, can you confirm that playback of the TV3 ts recording with PowerDVD definitely uses hardware acceleration ie. CPU usage is ~15%. It would also help if you are able to describe the stuttering - is it audio only, or video as well, does the entire picture pixelate? etc.

mm1352000

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Reply # 285722 28-Dec-2009 21:43

I've had a few ideas. If the problem is within MediaPortal then you should be able to press [shift] + 1 (!) to view the current decoding statistics. It would be useful to confirm that you are getting jitter and/or dropping frames as expected. At that point I would be looking at the MediaPortal logs in "Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal TV Server\log" and "Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Team MediaPortal\MediaPortal\log".

The other thing to look at would be the deinterlacing settings in the Catalyst Control Center (Avivo Video/Basic Quality). I have "use automatic deinterlacing" and "pulldown detection" checked.

Nety

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Reply # 285729 28-Dec-2009 22:27

OK according to Nvidia's purevideo standards all purevideo cards have hdcp.

From Wikipedia
PureVideo HD

PureVideo HD (see "naming confusions" below) is a label which identifies NVIDIA graphics boards certified for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc playback, to comply with the requirements for playing Blu-ray/HD DVDs on PC:

1. End-to-end encryption (HDCP) for digital-displays (DVI-D/HDMI)
2. Realtime decoding of H.264 high-profile L4.1, VC-1 Advanced Profile L3, and MPEG-2 MP@HL (1080p30) decoding @ 40 Mbps
3. Realtime dual-video stream decoding for HD DVD/Blu-ray Picture-in-Picture (primary video @ 1080p, secondary video @ 480p)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purevideo#The_Fourth_Generation_PureVideo_HD

The 8500GT is Purevideo 2. Maybe there is something that it does not like with your TV. Anyway hope you have some luck with the ATI.

huckster

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Reply # 285794 29-Dec-2009 10:06

Nety: OK according to Nvidia's purevideo standards all purevideo cards have hdcp.

I googled the card some time ago and it was a passive 8500GT that didn't do HDCP. Its an HTD version - HTP versions are HDCP compliant. Amazing what one letter can do.

As far as the HD3200 goes, this thread is long and looking very depressing. Seems it is an MP thing....

http://forum.team-mediaportal.com/1-0-1-svn-builds-313/1080i-material-not-deinterlacing-under-1-0-1-0-a-58486/

I feel a fresh OS install coming on. From memory, I did my usual trick of changing two things at once or at almost the same time - removed the NVidia and upgraded from MP 1RC2 to MP 1.0.2. Might try putting the NVidia back in to see if it jitters too with this version of MP.

mm1352000

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Reply # 285822 29-Dec-2009 12:42

Good spotting - that topic makes for very interesting reading! Unfortunately I think you have found the problem...

Based on what I read the 780G is on the borderline for having enough 'grunt'. If it were me I would find it worthwhile to see if changing the automatic deinterlacing in CCC to a simpler algorithm such as BOB makes a difference (as some of the users in the thread reported).

Other than that all I can say is that at least you know what the problem is and what your options are. I hope I was helpful :)

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