Help: High CPU Load Playing Movies

[Pavel]

I got this problem on the desktop that does not replicate itself on other computers. I have a P4 Celeron 1.8 GHZ with 768 MB RAM and 128 MB Video Card.

A while ago, the display when playing movies was messed up and the colors were all off. I downloaded various codec packs like K-lite and I have them installed on other machines.

I managed to fix the color issue but ever since then whenever I play a movie, JPEG, AVI, MPEG, etc the CPU performance is very high. I even played the same movies on an older P3 800 MHZ and the problem is not replicated. It doesn't matter which player I use but the CPU performance is a bit lower with Media Player Classic.

I don't want to reformat my drive. Any info?

 

[Acanthus]

Did you happen to check it before installing the codecs? The P4 celeron 1.8 is a wilamette core, and a gutted one at that. I would literally equate it to about a 1.2ghz tualatin PIII (and im being generous).

If youre playing high resolution videos (640x480 or higher) i would expect issues. Im guessing with the age of your pc that youre not using a graphics card that supports hardware decoding?

 

[imported_JeReMY]

What program are you using?

 

[xtknight]

Is CPU usage high with this player?
http://oss.netfarm.it/mplayer/gui/mplayer-gui-rtm-cvs-20051111.zip

 

[Pavel]

The same codecs are in place in the P3 800 mhz as well as another 2.8 GHZ laptop. So, I don't think that the speed of the CPU's or video card are the issue. I actually just installed the new video card and the CPU load was lessened a bit.

Everything was fine before I reinstalled Windows XP on top of XP.

 

[Pete]

Have you tried FFDShow via MPlayer Classic? Is your computer otherwise in working order (DMA enabled on the HDs and optical drives, latest MB, sound, and video card drivers installed)?

 

[Pavel]

Originally posted by: Pete
Have you tried FFDShow via MPlayer Classic? Is your computer otherwise in working order (DMA enabled on the HDs and optical drives, latest MB, sound, and video card drivers installed)?

I have tried virtually every player out there and it makes little or no difference. I am not sure how to force FFDShow via MPlayer Classic. DMA is enabled. Everything else is fine. I think there may be overlapping codecs or drivers that are being used at the same time because the CPU load is about 2x what it should be on other PC's.

Originally posted by: xtknight
Is CPU usage high with this player?
http://oss.netfarm.it/mplayer/gui/mplayer-gui-rtm-cvs-20051111.zip

Yeah, about 1 or 2% load difference.

 

[Pavel]

Originally posted by: JeReMY
What program are you using?

Media Player Classic 6.4.

 

[Acanthus]

sounds like a format

 

[T101]

FFDShow should solve your problems. Although the newer ones can give you color problems. You just install it, and then it should be used with whatever player you use.

 

[imported_JeReMY]

Get the newest media player available. I had that problem but the new media player fixes it.

 

[xtknight]

mplayer-gui will bypass DirectShow unlike 99% of other players out there, so if that didn't solve it, nothing will. That one exe contains every codec and it doesn't access any other codecs.

Update your chipset drivers and reinstall graphics drivers. After that make sure graphics acceleration is set to the highest. Then try dxdiag (in start menu run) and see if it can pass all the available tests. Otherwise, your PC is just too slow.

 

[Pavel]

Maybe it's not the codecs if mplayer-gui bypass all codecs then it can't be the chipset or drivers cuz they are all updated too and I have the same results with the new video card. Prior to reinstalling Windows the speed was not an issue. An older [6.5 year old] Abit BH6 chipset doesn't have this problem, neither does my notebook.

I think Acanthus is right, a reformat will have to be done.
But, I am not ready to do that just yet.

Originally posted by: JeReMY
Get the newest media player available. I had that problem but the new media player fixes it.

I have the newest player.

 

[jldash]

try downloading GSpot to figure out what codec is actually being used to display (render) the movies. You might have a mis behaving codec installed that is doing a crap job at decoding a regular MPEG4 variant. Codecs can also interfere with one another, which is why I avoid codec packs.
Edit: Link
http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

 

[Pavel]

Arggh. I have GSPOT and I have many codecs. I tried to unregister some but Windows wouldn't let me.

I ran mplayer-gui again and to my surprise the CPU load was heckuva lot less than it was before. So, clearly it is a codec issue. Just to be safe I reinstalled by audio and video drivers. Windows Media Player 10 sucks the juice still big time, Medial Player 6.4 a bit less, about 10-20% less.

Any idea which codecs are messing me up? I can post a list of video codecs if you like?

 

[jldash]

Did you try to unregister using GSpot or the command shell?
What codec is being reported as the actual rendering codec?

If you are having trouble with an MPEG4 codec (xvid, divx, x.264) then I would suggest that you look at the settings for each codec and decide which one you want to decode. For example, I have both XviD and DivX 6. I let DivX 6 "Support decoding of Generic MPEG-4 Video". This way, it is the highest ranked codec for all MPEG4 content and I can use it's advanced post processing. I have XviD installed because that is what I like to use for Encoding.

You can also have a look at this tool to change the priority (merit) that DirectShow will use.
http://www.radlight.org/products/filter_manager/index.php
I'd suggest giving the latest versions of XviD (binaries by Koepi) or Divx 6 Free higher merit to see if that helps you out. You should also check the decoding options for post-processing and overlay settings -- common CPU culprits.

I have seen several CD burning suites install crappy codecs, that might be a good place to start unregistering.

 

[Pavel]

Yes, I have tried to uninstall using GSPOT and I have downloaded radlight. Dunno which ones to change the priority. I have several different renderers. I have:

DMO WMVA WMVideo Advanced Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmvadvd.dll
DMO MP4S Mpeg4s Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mp4sdmod.dll
DMO WMV Screen decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmsdmod.dll
DMO WMVideo Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmvdmod.dll
DMO MP43 Mpeg43 Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mp43dmod.dll
DMO MPG4 Mpeg4 Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mpg4dmod.dll
DSH 3ivx D4 Video Encoder 3ivx.com 3ivxDSEncoder.ax
DSH DV Video Encoder qdv.dll
DSH ffdshow video encoder ffdshow.ax
DSH InterVideo Video Encoder InterVideo Inc. IVIVENC.ax
DSH IYUV Ligos GoMotion Mpeg Filter Ligos Corporation GoMotionMpegFilterULead.ax
DSH MJPEG Compressor quartz.dll
DSH PICVideo MJPEG Compressor Pegasus Imaging Corporation pvmjpg21.dll
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Compressor Pinnacle Systems MjpgCompress.ax
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Decompressor Pinnacle Systems, Inc. MjpgDecompress.ax
DSH YUY2 Pinnacle MPEG 2 Encoder Pinnacle Systems GmbH PCLEMPEGBox.ax
DSH YUY2 Pinnacle(dicas) MPEG-4 Video Encoder dicas digital image coding GmbH pclempeg4videnc.ax
DSH XLCompress MyCompanyName XLCompress.ax
DSH XLDecompress Pinnacle Systems XLDecompress.ax
DSH ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder ffdshow.ax
DSH XVID XviD MPEG-4 Video Decoder xvid.ax
DSH DIVX DivX Decoder Filter DivXNetworks, Inc. divxdec.ax
DSH MPEG1 MPEG Video Decoder quartz.dll
DSH VSSH Intervideo H.264 Decoder Videosoft, Inc. iviH264.dll
DSH DirectVobSub (auto-loading version) Gabest vsfilter.dll
DSH DIVX DivX Decoder Filter DivXNetworks, Inc. divxdec.ax
DSH VP60 VP6 Decompressor On2.com Inc. vp6dec.ax
DSH MP43 3ivx D4 Video Decoder 3ivx.com 3ivxDSDecoder.ax
DSH MSS1 Microsoft Screen Video Decompressor Microsoft Corporation msscds32.ax
DSH PICVideo MJPEG Decompressor Pegasus Imaging Corporation pvmjpg21.dll
DSH WMV1 Windows Media Video Decoder Microsoft Corporation wmvds32.ax
DSH WMV2 Windows Media Video Decoder Microsoft Corporation wmv8ds32.ax
DSH DVSD DV Video Decoder qdv.dll
DSH VP70 VP7 Decompressor On2.com Inc. vp7dec.ax
DSH MPEG1 Ligos MPEG Video Decoder (ULead) Ligos Corporation Mpeg2DecoderULead.ax
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Decompressor Pinnacle Systems, Inc. MjpgDecompress.ax
DSH AVI_PASS Pinnacle Systems AVI_PASS.ax
DSH MPEG2 InterVideo Video Decoder InterVideo Inc. IVIVIDEO.ax
DSH IV41 Indeo® video 4.4 Decompression Filter Intel Corporation Ir41_32.ax
DSH MJPG AVI Draw quartz.dll
DSH Video Port Manager quartz.dll
DSH UYVY ATI Media Center Video Encoder ATI Technologies, Inc. atimcenc.dll
DSH MJPG MJPEG Decompressor quartz.dll
DSH AVI Decompressor quartz.dll
DSH XLDecompress Pinnacle Systems XLDecompress.ax
DSH QTRpza QT Decompressor quartz.dll
DSH Nero Video Decoder Ahead Software AG NeVideo.ax
DSH Nero DVD Decoder Ahead Software AG NeVideo.ax
VFW 3IV2 3ivx D4 4.5.1 Pro Video Codec 3ivx.com qcap.dll --> 3IVXVF~1.DLL
VFW CVID Cinepak Codec by Radius Radius Inc. qcap.dll --> iccvid.dll
VFW DIVX DivX® 5.2.1 Codec DivXNetworks, Inc. qcap.dll --> divx.dll
VFW FFDS ffdshow Video Codec qcap.dll --> ff_vfw.dll
VFW IYUV Intel IYUV codec Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> iyuv_32.dll
VFW M261 Microsoft H.261 Video Codec Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> msh261.drv
VFW M263 Microsoft H.263 Video Codec Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> msh263.drv
VFW MJPG PICVideo MJPEG Codec Pegasus Imaging Corporation qcap.dll --> Pvmjpg21.dll
VFW MP42 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V2 Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> Mpg4c32.dll
VFW MP43 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V3 Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> Mpg4c32.dll
VFW MPG4 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1 Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> Mpg4c32.dll
VFW MRLE Microsoft RLE Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> msrle32.dll
VFW MSVC Microsoft Video 1 Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> msvidc32.dll
VFW PIM1 PCLEPIM1 32-bit Compressor Pinnacle Systems qcap.dll --> pclepim1.dll
VFW VP31 VP31 On2.com qcap.dll --> vp31vfw.dll
VFW VP60 VP60® Simple Profile On2.com qcap.dll --> vp6vfw.dll
VFW VP61 VP61® Advanced Profile On2.com qcap.dll --> vp6vfw.dll
VFW VP62 VP62® Heightened Sharpness Profile On2.com qcap.dll --> vp6vfw.dll
VFW VP70 VP70® General Profile On2.com qcap.dll --> vp7vfw.dll
VFW WMV3 Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 Microsoft Corporation qcap.dll --> wmv9vcm.dll
VFW XVID XviD MPEG-4 Codec qcap.dll --> xvidvfw.dll
VFW YU12 ATI YUV12 Format Codec qcap.dll --> ATIYUV12.DLL
VFW YV12 ATI YUV12 Format Codec qcap.dll --> ATIYUV12.DLL
VFW YVU9 Intel Indeo® Video Raw R1.2 qcap.dll --> IYVU9_32.DLL

 

[xtknight]

See if you can unregister these filters as a start. There are just way too many filters on your system. Remember, you can always reregister them later. I really recommend you just get rid of the below ones completely and try to get a fresh install, then after all that reinstall ffdshow.

Uninstall any big codec packs like K-Lite.
Uninstall ffdshow.
Uninstall 3ivx.
Uninstall DivX.
Uninstall XviD.

Unregister these:

The way to unregister (in start menu run or command prompt): regsvr32 /u "c:\path_to_ax\file.ax"

You'll need the full paths of them, which you can probably get with RadLight.

DSH InterVideo Video Encoder InterVideo Inc. IVIVENC.ax
DSH IYUV Ligos GoMotion Mpeg Filter Ligos Corporation GoMotionMpegFilterULead.ax
DSH VSSH Intervideo H.264 Decoder Videosoft, Inc. iviH264.dll
DSH MPEG1 Ligos MPEG Video Decoder (ULead) Ligos Corporation Mpeg2DecoderULead.ax
DSH MPEG2 InterVideo Video Decoder InterVideo Inc. IVIVIDEO.ax
DSH Nero Video Decoder Ahead Software AG NeVideo.ax
DSH Nero DVD Decoder Ahead Software AG NeVideo.ax

When done, reboot.

Reinstall ffdshow. Reboot again. Try playing file.

 

[dingetje]

try vlcplayer .... it has internal codecs... www.videolan.org

 

[Pavel]

Thanks, unfortunately, that didn't do much good. I did see a slight drop in CPU load. I uninstalled several apps including Ulead and Intervideo so I did not unregister them before uninstalling.

Here is my current list of video codecs BEFORE System Restore since I have many unregistered Microsoft codecs here and I couldnt register after the deletion.

FWIW, the file that I know that has a high cpu load is a wmv file (in addition to ALL other files including AVI and MPEG). Maybe that may narrow it down to Microsoft's codecs?


DMO WMVA WMVideo Advanced Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmvadvd.dll
DMO MP4S Mpeg4s Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mp4sdmod.dll
DMO WMV Screen decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmsdmod.dll
DMO WMVideo Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> wmvdmod.dll
DMO MP43 Mpeg43 Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mp43dmod.dll
DMO MPG4 Mpeg4 Decoder DMO Microsoft Corporation qasf.dll --> mpg4dmod.dll
DSH DV Video Encoder qdv.dll
DSH ffdshow video encoder ffdshow.ax
DSH MJPEG Compressor quartz.dll
DSH PICVideo MJPEG Compressor Pegasus Imaging Corporation pvmjpg21.dll
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Compressor Pinnacle Systems MjpgCompress.ax
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Decompressor Pinnacle Systems, Inc. MjpgDecompress.ax
DSH YUY2 Pinnacle MPEG 2 Encoder Pinnacle Systems GmbH PCLEMPEGBox.ax
DSH YUY2 Pinnacle(dicas) MPEG-4 Video Encoder dicas digital image coding GmbH pclempeg4videnc.ax
DSH XLCompress MyCompanyName XLCompress.ax
DSH XLDecompress Pinnacle Systems XLDecompress.ax
DSH ffdshow MPEG-4 Video Decoder ffdshow.ax
DSH MPEG1 MPEG Video Decoder quartz.dll
DSH DirectVobSub (auto-loading version) Gabest vsfilter.dll
DSH VP60 VP6 Decompressor On2.com Inc. vp6dec.ax
DSH MSS1 Microsoft Screen Video Decompressor Microsoft Corporation msscds32.ax
DSH PICVideo MJPEG Decompressor Pegasus Imaging Corporation pvmjpg21.dll
DSH WMV1 Windows Media Video Decoder Microsoft Corporation wmvds32.ax
DSH WMV2 Windows Media Video Decoder Microsoft Corporation wmv8ds32.ax
DSH DVSD DV Video Decoder qdv.dll
DSH VP70 VP7 Decompressor On2.com Inc. vp7dec.ax
DSH Pinnacle DCxx MJPEG Decompressor Pinnacle Systems, Inc. MjpgDecompress.ax
DSH AVI_PASS Pinnacle Systems AVI_PASS.ax
DSH IV41 Indeo® video 4.4 Decompression Filter Intel Corporation Ir41_32.ax
DSH MJPG AVI Draw quartz.dll
DSH Video Port Manager quartz.dll
DSH UYVY ATI Media Center Video Encoder ATI Technologies, Inc. atimcenc.dll
DSH MJPG MJPEG Decompressor quartz.dll
DSH AVI Decompressor quartz.dll
DSH XLDecompress Pinnacle Systems XLDecompress.ax
DSH QTRpza QT Decompressor quartz.dll
VFW CVID Cinepak Codec by Radius Radius Inc. ** Codec not registered
VFW FFDS ffdshow Video Codec ** Codec not registered
VFW IYUV Intel IYUV codec Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW M261 Microsoft H.261 Video Codec Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW M263 Microsoft H.263 Video Codec Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MJPG PICVideo MJPEG Codec Pegasus Imaging Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MP42 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V2 Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MP43 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V3 Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MPG4 Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1 Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MRLE Microsoft RLE Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW MSVC Microsoft Video 1 Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW PIM1 PCLEPIM1 32-bit Compressor Pinnacle Systems ** Codec not registered
VFW WMV3 Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 Microsoft Corporation ** Codec not registered
VFW YU12 ATI YUV12 Format Codec ** Codec not registered
VFW YV12 ATI YUV12 Format Codec ** Codec not registered
VFW YVU9 Intel Indeo® Video Raw R1.2 ** Codec not registered

 

[Pavel]

*bump*

 

[Nextman916]

dude all i can say is, TYT A$$ RIG YO!!!!!!

 

[tuteja1986]

i am getting annoyed with cpu codenaming:
crestwood > oka.. but still
merom > wtf ?
conore > wtf ?
VIIV > WTFDOUBLE?!

 

[Pavel]

Originally posted by: Nextman916
dude all i can say is, TYT A$$ RIG YO!!!!!!

don't know the language you speak, but it doesn't sound nice.