Video (media) performance issues

[Spadge]

Since upgrading and updating everything (hardware and software), I've noticed a significant drop in video rendering performance. Like horrible tearing on everything.

I've ditched VLC in favour of smplayer, and the only way to get a screen that doesn't tear is to select vdpau as the output method, which disables any post-processing.

Using modern hardware, but not top of the line: i5-3450 CPU and nvidia 660Ti GPU; and UEFI boots.

Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks

[oshunluvr]

Driver?

[Spadge]

nvidia-current, most recently 310.14

[oshunluvr]

Are you using an xorg.conf file or allowing xorg to configure your card?

[Spadge]

Yes, I am. Ought I not?

[Spadge]

I think the problem with VLC was that it liked to have a framebuffer output, and depmod has a right hissy fit if you have one of those and UEFI. So OpenGL was the only working option.

I don't know what smplayer's problem is, but the only wokring output module is vdpau and I rather suspect that's not using the one from the nvidia drivers.

[oshunluvr]

I don't understand how UEFI interferes with your video after booting. Point to the xorg.conf is to use it to properly set up your video. Search for some options to increase the speed of your card. I use these for my 8800GT's;

    Option "TripleBuffer" "True"#                + Enables triple buffering. "Decreases the time an application stalls while waiting for vblank events, but increases latency slightly" (NVIDIA Readme) 
    Option "UseCompositeWrapper" "True"
#                + Enables the X server's composite wrapper instead of the builtin one. 
    Option "BackingStore" "True"
#                + Cache overlayed areas in case they get redisplayed later 
    Option "OnDemandVBlankInterrupts" "True"
#                + only fire VBlank interrupts in modes where they are needed

I would install gtkperf to check video speed. I get around 7 sec's using a single card, dual monitors, and all effects enabled.

If you're wondering what driver options are being enabled, look into /var/log/Xorg.0.log

[Spadge]

I get Total time: 7.83



I will look into the triple buffering - I know it's a great help when you use vsync.

[oshunluvr]

That's not too bad actually. Do you have this section in your xorg?

Section "Extensions"
    Option "Composite" "Enable"
    Option "RENDER" "Enable"
EndSection

[oshunluvr]

BTW, a lot of people are having tons of trouble with the BLUR effect. If you have it enabled - turn it off and log out and back in.

[Spadge]

EFI/UEFI is meant to interfere with *everything* after booting, I thought. The whole point is to replace the ancient BIOS with something that allows device drivers to pass stuff around without having to go through the CPU all the time.

[oshunluvr]

AKAIK: EFI effects boot up, but not operation. I could be wrong, though.

[Spadge]

That's not too bad actually. Do you have this section in your xorg?

Section "Extensions"
    Option "Composite" "Enable"
    Option "RENDER" "Enable"
EndSection

I didn't ... but now I do.

I had Blur on, now I don't.

You could be right on the UEFI thing, who knows. I always considered the BIOS to be more voodoo than science. You can try a million things to fix a problem, only to find that shaking a dead chicken at it fixes it.

[oshunluvr]

That cracked me up

[Spadge]

Still, selecting xv instead of vdpau as the output method in smplayer still causes horrible tearing when there is any amount of movement on the screen.