What's the minimum CPU requirement for HDTV transcoding in placeshifter?

[mkanet]

I'd like to know what the minimum CPU requirement for HDTV transcoding in placeshifter. I have a 2.6Ghz PC which comfortably transcodes analog recordings done with my Hauppauge encoder, but can't do smooth HDTV transcoding. I've asked this question before on the forum, but at the time, nobody knew.

Thanks in advance!
-Michael

[mayamaniac]

I would think something like the fastest CPU available right now, even then.. just maybe.

I say email tech support and ask them.

[Dekard]

does the transcoding system sage is using support dual core cpu's?. the 805 and 820 would become the lowest cost ways to do hd transcoding then.

[mkanet]

There's gotta be 1 person out there that know the answer to this... It's hard to believe nobody has been successful making this work.

[Narflex]

I know I've answered this a few times....we'd recommend a 3.0GHz+ processor for doing HD Placeshifting. As an example, I can do it fine on my 3.0GHz HT P4 processor (with HT enabled). And it uses between 80-90% of the CPU while doing it.

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by Narflex

I know I've answered this a few times....we'd recommend a 3.0GHz+ processor for doing HD Placeshifting. As an example, I can do it fine on my 3.0GHz HT P4 processor (with HT enabled). And it uses between 80-90% of the CPU while doing it.

Does the system support dual core procesors? That would allow multiple streams to be transcoded. Very useful.

[Opus4]

Here's the answer for multiple processors.

- Andy

[mkanet]

Thanks Jeff, now I know it's worth it for me to upgrade my 2.6Ghz CPU to a 3.2Ghz CPU..

Originally Posted by Narflex

I know I've answered this a few times....we'd recommend a 3.0GHz+ processor for doing HD Placeshifting. As an example, I can do it fine on my 3.0GHz HT P4 processor (with HT enabled). And it uses between 80-90% of the CPU while doing it.

[bullgates]

Originally Posted by Dekard

Does the system support dual core procesors? That would allow multiple streams to be transcoded. Very useful.

Excuse me if I am misunderstanding the term transcoding in this discussion but I was under the assumption if there is an AC3 track present in the stream than multiple cpu's or cores won't be used.

[bcjenkins]

Originally Posted by Opus4

Here's the answer for multiple processors.

- Andy

Andy, I read that link, but didn't see an answer for multiple procs, only mult. streams of video. So I guess the question looms, are SageTV.exe or SageTVService.exe and their sub components (whatever is doing the actual encoding) multithreaded applications?

Thanks,

B

P.S. I could have missed the answer though, I haven't updated my prescription glasses this year

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by bullgates

Excuse me if I am misunderstanding the term transcoding in this discussion but I was under the assumption if there is an AC3 track present in the stream than multiple cpu's or cores won't be used.

Per the link above the system can handle multiple threads. There was no qualifying statement about ac3 or not. That makes me think it would handle them, but it isn't clearly stated.

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by bcjenkins

Andy, I read that link, but didn't see an answer for multiple procs, only mult. streams of video. So I guess the question looms, are SageTV.exe or SageTVService.exe and their sub components (whatever is doing the actual encoding) multithreaded applications?

It has been said many times that SageTV is multithreaded & will make use of multiple cpus/cores (at least on Windows).

You are right that the answer in that link I posted mentions multiple transcoding streams instead of multiple cpus, but the original question there was asking about it in the context of using a dual core cpu, so I took it to mean that transcoding is multi-cpu aware, just like the rest of SageTV.

- Andy

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by Opus4

It has been said many times that SageTV is multithreaded & will make use of multiple cpus/cores.

You are right that the answer in that link I posted mentions multiple transcoding streams instead of multiple cpus, but the original question there was asking about it in the context of using a dual core cpu, so I took it to mean that transcoding is multi-cpu aware, just like the rest of SageTV.

- Andy

Andy, I very much appreciate you taking the time to answer this. I've got 2 more questions for you, if you can.

1) CAn sage break a transcoding stream across two processors (say using 2 lower power processors to do 1 larger job) or can the transcoding streams only exist on 1 proc at a time.

2) Does the linux version share all or some of these features if running on a SMP enabled core?

[Opus4]

Originally Posted by Dekard

1) CAn sage break a transcoding stream across two processors (say using 2 lower power processors to do 1 larger job) or can the transcoding streams only exist on 1 proc at a time.

A single transcode uses a single cpu.

2) Does the linux version share all or some of these features if running on a SMP enabled core?

I saw your other thread where it was stated that SMP support isn't enabled in the Linux version & that you were trying to see if it would run with it enabled somehow. I think I'll leave this to be whatever you find if you try it, but SageTV obviously has SMP off for Linux right now.

- Andy

[mkanet]

Jeff or Andy, I'm about to place the order of my new CPU chip. Will a Northwood 3.0GHz work as well as a Prescott 3.0GHz have enough CPU power? Apprently, they both can work in my PC. Jeff do you have a Northwood or Prescott 3.0Ghz CPU?

[Dekard]

Originally Posted by mkanet

Jeff or Andy, I'm about to place the order of my new CPU chip. Will a Northwood 3.0GHz work as well as a Prescott 3.0GHz have enough CPU power? Apprently, they both can work in my PC. Jeff do you have a Northwood or Prescott 3.0Ghz CPU?

The northwood is widely considered the superior of those two cpus. Besides running cooler is has a more efficient design. The Prescott is newer, but doesn't do as well at those speeds. Ramp them up to 4 ghz and its another story tho. Personally, I would be looking at a new motherboard and a 805 or 820 cpu. They are literally double the performance and similiarly priced.

[mkanet]

Thanks. I just ordered me a Northwood 3.2GHz 800FBS CPU

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ductCode=80663

I really hope that's all I need to do transcoding of HD for placeshifter since that's the only reason Im getting this upgrade.

[mkanet]

Okay, I am now using a Northwood PIV 3.2GHz CPU, 4GB's of RAM. I'm getting choppy/slow 1080i/720p transcoded video just like before I upgraded. I checked my taskmanager while streaming...


SageTVService.exe using ~52% CPU
Transcoder using ~33% CPU

I don't have anything else runnning that significantly takes up my CPU power.

So, what am I doing wrong? I also unchecked the open top post-processing in the client. I really need to get this to work and already invested a lot of time and money into this..

Thanks,
Michael

[mkanet]

I didn't realize that last night I had also set a favorite called "Suspense". I took out that favorite and my sagetvservice.exe CPU utilization went down from 50% to 1%

Is there a setting where I can change the CPU priority of sagetvtranscoder.exe?

Thanks,
Michael