High CPU Usage!

[Screechyd]

I know this has been discussed to death, but no real solution has been given, from what I've seen anyways.

I just got Sage TV version 6.0.19.120

When i open it up and start watching TV (standard, not HD), sagetv starts using 100% of my CPU! The video/audio then becomes very choppy, and unwatchable.

Once I turn the TV part of sage TV off, my CPU usage goes back down to about 30 to 50%. This is when no other program is running. (seems like this could be much lower... The only thing using the CPU is the system idle process, but I wouldn't expect that to be using 30 to 50 % of the CPU!)

I have gone through and turned off all the startup applications that I am able to, Turned off all the startup events that I am able to, and split my pagefile between my two drives. Doing those things have sped up my PC greatly, but sagetv still sucks up all the CPU...

My processor is a Athlon x2 64 Dual Core 2200 (2.2 ghz x2) and I have 3.0gb of RAM - Its a fast machine that shouldn't have problems with too much cpu usage.

All my drivers are current as possible

The TV card im using is a Diamond Xtreme TV PVR 550 card, and my video card is a Visiontek Radeon X1300XT, with dual monitor setup (the CPU spiking occurs no matter which monitor the program is placed on)

Please help me or at least guide me in the right direction for what is causing this!

Thanks, in advance
Adam

p.s. I have also tried using the newest version of Beyond TV, with the same results (High CPU usage, very choppy video)

[teknubic]

Originally Posted by Screechyd

The only thing using the CPU is the system idle process,

What's using up the rest of the 50-70%?

Originally Posted by Screechyd

The TV card im using is a Diamond Xtreme TV PVR 550 card

This isn't on the Supported hardware list. You may want to try one that is and see if it does the same thing.

[garyellis]

Mine goes right to 100% when watching live HD using VMR9..If I change to overlay, it only goes to about 50%...But, then I have to change back to VMR9 when I go to SD because the picture quality is so bad.

Gary Ellis

[lparkin]

Originally Posted by teknubic

What's using up the rest of the 50-70%?

This isn't on the Supported hardware list. You may want to try one that is and see if it does the same thing.

The diamond is the exact same chipset and tuner as the pvr150/500. I have no issues using the diamond AND the pvr 500 recording 2 shows and watching a third.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by lparkin

The diamond is the exact same chipset and tuner as the pvr150/500. I have no issues using the diamond AND the pvr 500 recording 2 shows and watching a third.

But they don't use the same drivers. Make sure you have installed the Diamond card and drivers first before installing and using the PVR500. The Diamond card uses the Falcon 2 drivers that are provided by Conextant.


Gerry

[Goodspike]

I had a problem with the free version of Zone Alarm causing higher usage with the Sage Service running, but your situation sounds different. Mine was high only when Sage Service was running and Sage was also open.

[FidgetyRat]

My high CPU usage was resolved by switching to VMR9 when paired up with the pure-video decoder. Overlay was the culprit it seemed.

Overall though, there are a ton of reasons for high CPU usage, most of which are setup-specific (As was my case). Can't really blame sage for that.