HVR-1600 and 1080i OTA Studders

I don't think your system is too slow, I use an AMD 3100+/ATi AIW9600xt and have no problem. What s/w are you using, how's your reception, and what CPU% are you seeing with 1080i? Either way, it's NOT the tuner card. It can stream your program to your HDD with minimal effort. It's the playback software, video codec & settings, BIOS and DxVA that will effect your smoothness -- have you tried the latest WMP? It allows hardware video acceleration from its settings panel.

PS. Have you tried WatchHDTV or MediaPortal as your software suite?

How much memory does your video card have? That could be your issue.

I run mine on an AMD Athlon 2500+ (overclocked to 2.2Ghz), 1.5GB ram, Vista Ultimate, Nvidia 6200LE with 256MB ram and have no issues with ATSC tuning. QAM is a separate story, but lots of people have issues with that right now.

Processing of 1080i takes more system CPU and more Gaphics card GPU power then 720p or 1080p since not only does the signal have to be de-interlaced it also has to have motion compensation applied.
I believe that your 5600 Ultra card does not have the Horsepower required for 1080i.
For Media Center Microsoft recommends MCE a 128MB 6600GT, 7600GT, or 8500GT or better for 1080i.

I checked the specs and your 5600 Ultra should handle and should handle it better then a 9600.
What program are you playing the video with and if MCE what decoder are you using?

There is a new beta version of MediaPortal that will recognize the 1600. Their December release 0.2.2.0 did NOT recognize the 1600. And, my AIW 9600xt works fine for 1080i and uses about 20% of my 2500 O'Ced to a 3100+ on WinXP-SP2, 1GB RAM. Personally I think the s/w that came with the 1600 is crap. Try the beta MediaPortal if you want a deluxe front end, or WatchHDTV for a SIMPLE, streamlined functionality! You'll be AMAZED at how well these two operate -- especially the WatchHDTV. Once you get it running you'll have a good baseline on your system's capability. Oh, and your sound/sync is most likely the video dropping frames when the load is high. What sound are you using? I use the on-board SPDIF out to my A/V receiver. AS far as decoders, MediaPortal allows you CLEAR access to select any that you have loaded!

Slightly off topic....but how do we get DD 5.1 from MCE (preferably via s/pdif)

I have the HVR1600 with MCE 2005 but all I get is stereo output.

I'd suggest you still look at your decoder, especially if you're using the Hauppauge ones.

You can try downloading and running the Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility -- it'll tell you what you have on your computer. If you're using the WatchHDTV app, there's an included program that lists the decoders you have installed (and creates a decoder.txt file for its own use).

But if you're content with what you've got and it's just an occassional hiccup, you could just try tweaking the program priority and see if that smooths things out.

Look to the right of your list (in the app) .....there is a check mark against the ones which are compatible and another checkbox for the one which is being used.

Mediaportal allows you to select the decoders from within the application. I did just that last night, and with TaskMan open could see which worked well and how much CPU. I found the Cyberlink one without the ATI (I;m guessing it was from PowerDVD, uses the hardware acceleration and reduced CPU from 80% on 1080i to 27%. The occasional 'glitch' may be a function of a saturated CPU. Seeing as your sound card is decoding the audio, you may be using a fair amount of CPU for that as well.

If you want to use WatchHDTV, use AC3Filter for your audio... oh... you're NOT passing AC3 like I am... you MAY be ok using some other audio codec but the ones that came with the HVR-1600 didn't pass AC3, but they may do a good job decoding it.

As far as the 950 -- BEWARE it still does NOT do good silent recording using WatchHDTV. I selected the HVR-1600 as it works well in all modes of WatchHDTV, not to mention does a fine job in MediaPortal as well! Oh, and it's supposed to be an excellent MCE card!

Hey Andrew,
Do you get DD 5.1 in programs when it is broadcast?

If yes, could you please let me know how you configured your system to output 5.1??

AC3Filter is an application... search for it on Google, or doom9.org You install it, configure the output to USE SPDIF and create a decoders.txt file using AC3Filter as the audio decoder.

Speaking of decoders.txt.... you both should be reading the WatchHDTV thread. It goes into detail about using the utility inside the release ZIP download to identify your available decoders AND has a create decoders.txt button. I've posted MY experience in setting this HVR-1600, the decoders efficiency and such over there. Oh, and I also mention AC3Filter and the Hauppauge's audio decoder NOT passing DD5.1 One more thing: be sure you establish the recording FOLDERS before you run WatchHDTV and its SETUP tab or it'll crash when you pick TIMESHIFT or RECORD since it doesn't see the folders.

No,
I was talking about the Decoder checkup utility. It looks like this (see attachment) there is a checkbox in the line which is actually being used by MCE.

Sorry, I dont use Hauppauge's apps,,,,they are just way too primitive for my tastes.