MCE TV hesitates/lags, but WinTV7 is just fine...?

Gents,

Here's the issue: Rebuilt a HTPC w/ a new motherboard. What worked before,
doesn't now. I'm almost 100% sure there's some s/w glitch/issue, but hoping
someone out there has a simple solution (like a registry hack) or something.

Here's my issue: everything works great for video. Games, recorded TV,
DVD's, everything. Except realtime TV. Realtime TV hesitates, lags, and
basically, is just awful to watch. Painful, even.

Seems like it starts OK, for about 10 seconds, then begins to
lag/hesitate/etc. After about 2 mins or so, it's complete crap. Change
channels, and back again, no dice. Get completely out of MCE and back in, OK
for 10 secs, degrade, garbage after 2 mins.

Here's the kicker, bring up WinTV7, no problem.

So I'm thinking it's isolated to MCE. Help, anybody?

All updated drivers, etc. Here's the system: GA-EP45-UD3P m/b, e5400 cpu
(running at 2.7ghz), 2x2gb Gskill ram (6400), 9600gso video(1gb ddr2),
Hauppage 2250 TV card

Related note: ESPN360 does it too. It's not an internet lag, either,
because the laptop (over wifi, same router) plays just fine.

Hauppage 2250 TV card Software and WinTV7 Software maybe running at the same
time.





"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:F22E832B-B60D-4395-90FF-...
> Gents,
>
> Here's the issue: Rebuilt a HTPC w/ a new motherboard. What worked
> before,
> doesn't now. I'm almost 100% sure there's some s/w glitch/issue, but
> hoping
> someone out there has a simple solution (like a registry hack) or
> something.
>
> Here's my issue: everything works great for video. Games, recorded TV,
> DVD's, everything. Except realtime TV. Realtime TV hesitates, lags, and
> basically, is just awful to watch. Painful, even.
>
> Seems like it starts OK, for about 10 seconds, then begins to
> lag/hesitate/etc. After about 2 mins or so, it's complete crap. Change
> channels, and back again, no dice. Get completely out of MCE and back in,
> OK
> for 10 secs, degrade, garbage after 2 mins.
>
> Here's the kicker, bring up WinTV7, no problem.
>
> So I'm thinking it's isolated to MCE. Help, anybody?
>
> All updated drivers, etc. Here's the system: GA-EP45-UD3P m/b, e5400 cpu
> (running at 2.7ghz), 2x2gb Gskill ram (6400), 9600gso video(1gb ddr2),
> Hauppage 2250 TV card
>
> Related note: ESPN360 does it too. It's not an internet lag, either,
> because the laptop (over wifi, same router) plays just fine.
>
>

Most likely an MPEG 2 decoder issue, you need to check to see if the one in
use is compatible.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

You could download nVidia's decoder to test.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_decoder.html


"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:F22E832B-B60D-4395-90FF-...
> Gents,
>
> Here's the issue: Rebuilt a HTPC w/ a new motherboard. What worked
> before,
> doesn't now. I'm almost 100% sure there's some s/w glitch/issue, but
> hoping
> someone out there has a simple solution (like a registry hack) or
> something.
>
> Here's my issue: everything works great for video. Games, recorded TV,
> DVD's, everything. Except realtime TV. Realtime TV hesitates, lags, and
> basically, is just awful to watch. Painful, even.
>
> Seems like it starts OK, for about 10 seconds, then begins to
> lag/hesitate/etc. After about 2 mins or so, it's complete crap. Change
> channels, and back again, no dice. Get completely out of MCE and back in,
> OK
> for 10 secs, degrade, garbage after 2 mins.
>
> Here's the kicker, bring up WinTV7, no problem.
>
> So I'm thinking it's isolated to MCE. Help, anybody?
>
> All updated drivers, etc. Here's the system: GA-EP45-UD3P m/b, e5400 cpu
> (running at 2.7ghz), 2x2gb Gskill ram (6400), 9600gso video(1gb ddr2),
> Hauppage 2250 TV card
>
> Related note: ESPN360 does it too. It's not an internet lag, either,
> because the laptop (over wifi, same router) plays just fine.
>
>

It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not working
correctly with MC.
Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your OS?
The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your decoder
since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.

"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:F22E832B-B60D-4395-90FF-...
> Gents,
>
> Here's the issue: Rebuilt a HTPC w/ a new motherboard. What worked
> before,
> doesn't now. I'm almost 100% sure there's some s/w glitch/issue, but
> hoping
> someone out there has a simple solution (like a registry hack) or
> something.
>
> Here's my issue: everything works great for video. Games, recorded TV,
> DVD's, everything. Except realtime TV. Realtime TV hesitates, lags, and
> basically, is just awful to watch. Painful, even.
>
> Seems like it starts OK, for about 10 seconds, then begins to
> lag/hesitate/etc. After about 2 mins or so, it's complete crap. Change
> channels, and back again, no dice. Get completely out of MCE and back in,
> OK
> for 10 secs, degrade, garbage after 2 mins.
>
> Here's the kicker, bring up WinTV7, no problem.
>
> So I'm thinking it's isolated to MCE. Help, anybody?
>
> All updated drivers, etc. Here's the system: GA-EP45-UD3P m/b, e5400 cpu
> (running at 2.7ghz), 2x2gb Gskill ram (6400), 9600gso video(1gb ddr2),
> Hauppage 2250 TV card
>
> Related note: ESPN360 does it too. It's not an internet lag, either,
> because the laptop (over wifi, same router) plays just fine.
>
>

Yup. Just updated video card, TV card drivers <again> last night and still
no help. For the earlier comment, WinTV isn't running at the same time. I
just check it last on a whim, as I was running out of hair to pull. I don't
think it's a driver, or MPEG issue because of the other programs running
smoothly (DVD, recorded TV, etc). However, ESPN360 displaying the same issue
makes me really suspect a software/registry setting.

The PC isn't overloaded either, with CPU and RAM paging in the single-digits
during most of this activity.

The behavior is definitely like some buffer is too short or the like. Runs
great, then not so great, then like crap, finally getting too painful to take
anymore.

Thanks for all the help, folks.

"Curious" wrote:
> It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not working
> correctly with MC.
> Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your OS?
> The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
> There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your decoder
> since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.

"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:ACC1DDB1-D1D5-4DEA-BDE3-...
> Yup. Just updated video card, TV card drivers <again> last night and
> still
> no help. For the earlier comment, WinTV isn't running at the same time.
> I
> just check it last on a whim, as I was running out of hair to pull. I
> don't
> think it's a driver, or MPEG issue because of the other programs running
> smoothly (DVD, recorded TV, etc). However, ESPN360 displaying the same
> issue
> makes me really suspect a software/registry setting.
>
> The PC isn't overloaded either, with CPU and RAM paging in the
> single-digits
> during most of this activity.
>
> The behavior is definitely like some buffer is too short or the like.
> Runs
> great, then not so great, then like crap, finally getting too painful to
> take
> anymore.
>
> Thanks for all the help, folks.
>
> "Curious" wrote:
>> It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not working
>> correctly with MC.
>> Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your OS?
>> The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
>> There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your
>> decoder
>> since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.

After rereading your OP it appears that you tuner card and you graphics card
may be sharing the same IRQ.
Make sure that they are not in adjacent slots.

"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:ACC1DDB1-D1D5-4DEA-BDE3-...
> Yup. Just updated video card, TV card drivers <again> last night and
> still
> no help. For the earlier comment, WinTV isn't running at the same time.
> I
> just check it last on a whim, as I was running out of hair to pull. I
> don't
> think it's a driver, or MPEG issue because of the other programs running
> smoothly (DVD, recorded TV, etc). However, ESPN360 displaying the same
> issue
> makes me really suspect a software/registry setting.
>
> The PC isn't overloaded either, with CPU and RAM paging in the
> single-digits
> during most of this activity.
>
> The behavior is definitely like some buffer is too short or the like.
> Runs
> great, then not so great, then like crap, finally getting too painful to
> take
> anymore.
>
> Thanks for all the help, folks.
>
> "Curious" wrote:
>> It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not working
>> correctly with MC.
>> Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your OS?
>> The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
>> There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your
>> decoder
>> since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.

Thanks for your time, Curious.

Just checked the 'systems' settings. Video card is on IRQ 16, TV card has
IRQ 18. The video card is a PCIe, and the TV a standard PCI. They're not in
adjacent slots.
Counting from the power supply, slot 1 empty, slot 2 GSO, slot 3 empty, slot
4 TV tuner. All other slots, empty.

Further investigation shows IRQ 16 has four ICH10 devices (3x PCI root
ports, 1x USB controller, etc), along with an ethernet port. IRQ 18, has
four more ICH10 devices, mostly USB controllers.

"Curious" wrote:

> After rereading your OP it appears that you tuner card and you graphics card
> may be sharing the same IRQ.
> Make sure that they are not in adjacent slots.
>
> "garndawg" <> wrote in message
> news:ACC1DDB1-D1D5-4DEA-BDE3-...
> > Yup. Just updated video card, TV card drivers <again> last night and
> > still
> > no help. For the earlier comment, WinTV isn't running at the same time.
> > I
> > just check it last on a whim, as I was running out of hair to pull. I
> > don't
> > think it's a driver, or MPEG issue because of the other programs running
> > smoothly (DVD, recorded TV, etc). However, ESPN360 displaying the same
> > issue
> > makes me really suspect a software/registry setting.
> >
> > The PC isn't overloaded either, with CPU and RAM paging in the
> > single-digits
> > during most of this activity.
> >
> > The behavior is definitely like some buffer is too short or the like.
> > Runs
> > great, then not so great, then like crap, finally getting too painful to
> > take
> > anymore.
> >
> > Thanks for all the help, folks.
> >
> > "Curious" wrote:
> >> It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not working
> >> correctly with MC.
> >> Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your OS?
> >> The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
> >> There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your
> >> decoder
> >> since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.
>
>

Does the audio also stutter in live TV?
What programs are you watching SD or HD if HD are they 1080i or 720p
programs?
You mention a wireless router. Is it involved at all in playing Live TV on
your system? If so how?
What Decoder software are you using for MC?

"garndawg" <> wrote in message
news:2FF38BD5-6107-426D-A2A1-...
> Thanks for your time, Curious.
>
> Just checked the 'systems' settings. Video card is on IRQ 16, TV card has
> IRQ 18. The video card is a PCIe, and the TV a standard PCI. They're not
> in
> adjacent slots.
> Counting from the power supply, slot 1 empty, slot 2 GSO, slot 3 empty,
> slot
> 4 TV tuner. All other slots, empty.
>
> Further investigation shows IRQ 16 has four ICH10 devices (3x PCI root
> ports, 1x USB controller, etc), along with an ethernet port. IRQ 18, has
> four more ICH10 devices, mostly USB controllers.
>
> "Curious" wrote:
>
>> After rereading your OP it appears that you tuner card and you graphics
>> card
>> may be sharing the same IRQ.
>> Make sure that they are not in adjacent slots.
>>
>> "garndawg" <> wrote in message
>> news:ACC1DDB1-D1D5-4DEA-BDE3-...
>> > Yup. Just updated video card, TV card drivers <again> last night and
>> > still
>> > no help. For the earlier comment, WinTV isn't running at the same
>> > time.
>> > I
>> > just check it last on a whim, as I was running out of hair to pull. I
>> > don't
>> > think it's a driver, or MPEG issue because of the other programs
>> > running
>> > smoothly (DVD, recorded TV, etc). However, ESPN360 displaying the same
>> > issue
>> > makes me really suspect a software/registry setting.
>> >
>> > The PC isn't overloaded either, with CPU and RAM paging in the
>> > single-digits
>> > during most of this activity.
>> >
>> > The behavior is definitely like some buffer is too short or the like.
>> > Runs
>> > great, then not so great, then like crap, finally getting too painful
>> > to
>> > take
>> > anymore.
>> >
>> > Thanks for all the help, folks.
>> >
>> > "Curious" wrote:
>> >> It appears that your driver which works fine with WinTV7 is not
>> >> working
>> >> correctly with MC.
>> >> Are your latest drivers the ones from the Hauppauge Web site for your
>> >> OS?
>> >> The ones from Microsoft are most likely out of date,
>> >> There is no problem with your graphics card, its driver or with your
>> >> decoder
>> >> since they are all working fine with your recorded TV and DVDs.
>>
>>

TV audio also stutters, pretty much in sync with video. (Check for updated
audio drivers for the GA-UD3P m/b, maybe?) Channels don't matter, be it SD
or HD, all behave the same. I'm not sure on the resolution as it's over a
DVI to a Viewsonic 16:9 monitor right now. Will eventually move to a LCD TV,
but not with these problems.

Wireless router is no factor for TV. Included it for ESPN360 problem, which
might well be a seperate issue from the TV. Setup is DSL
Modem->Router->Cat6->PC. Earlier version of HTPC had the same hookup without
the problems. I will say here that the earlier version had a micro board
with integrated 630i video card. (Which included a HDMI output). Current
version has the 9600GSO, but no HDMI. Didn't need it, as was going to use
DVI hookup to TV anyway. I mention the laptop/wifi to confirm it's not the
internet hookup/speed for ESPN360. It's in no way involved with watching
live TV. TV comes from an antenna in the attic, direct to the card on the
m/board.

I've switched the MPEG decoder around a bit. I've tried the CCCP pack
(which sucks), Descaler, and another free one I can't recall off the top of
my head (not at my PC right now). These are the same I used for the earlier
version of the HTPC. Would the decoder work for DVD's/recorded TV and not
for MCE? Does WinTV7 use it's own built-in decoder? At this point, I'd pay
for NVidia's, but I have little confidence in that being a silver bullet.
(Of course, I'm more than willing to be pleasantly surprised...)

Thanks for the help, Curious...

"Curious" wrote:

> Does the audio also stutter in live TV?
> What programs are you watching SD or HD if HD are they 1080i or 720p
> programs?
> You mention a wireless router. Is it involved at all in playing Live TV on
> your system? If so how?
> What Decoder software are you using for MC?