High CPU usage with Nvidia ION (Zbox-ND22)

Hi everyone! Just setup my new htpc using a Zbox-ND22 (Celeron SU2300 1.2Ghz + Nvidia ION + 4GB RAM) but I noticed a very high CPU usage inside the program even while IDLE. Playing a 1080p movie using VLC (with GPU decoding enabled) uses pretty much no CPU at all so my drivers are correctly installed (at least for video decoding).

My problem is: Do I need any special setup / config to enable video aceleration into XBMC for the ION videocard? I mean, not for video playing (since enabling DXVA works just fine) but for rendering the XBMC itself. The XBMC installation is pretty much clean (only installed the Aeon skin) but the CPU usage is high even with the Confluence default skin :/

So, any ideas?

TioSolid Wrote:So, any ideas?

I believe you have win7 64bit and all HW drivers up to date.. Is your HDD in ACHI mode in bios? DXVA2 enabling makes H264 HD content possible..

The high CPU tends to be related to problems with the graphics drivers. I'm a little suprised you see it with an ION chipset as it doesn't happen with my ION based Revo 3610. The high CPU is generated by the menu refreshing itself, which is why the CPU drops as soon as you start a full screen video.

A debug log would give us a bit more info about your system.

JR

Thanks for your help so far guys, here is the debug log: http://pastebin.com/bXFpqrzT

PS: The log stopped in that line because all of sudden XBMC stoppped responding while logging (it does this all the time in this computer, dunno why, maybe related to the high cpu problem?)

Not sure if important, but I got a NVIDIA Forceware System Info log too: http://pastebin.com/LdNLPYtd

For all the other system info, here is what I got:
- Windows 7 Professional 32bits Service Pack 1
- Realtek High Definition Audio driver 6.0.1.5845
- NVIDIA High Definition Audio driver 1.2.22.1

For those wondering about the specs, here is the box im using: http://www.zotacusa.com/zotac-zbox-zboxh...ni-pc.html (Check the specifications tab for hardware information)

About the AHCI information, no, the Controller is running um SATA Mode according to the BIOS (AHCI is avaliable).

I'm surprised to it happens with a ION system but then again what percentage is it running at are we talking 100% because I noticed it has a Celeron SU2300 which is only clocked at 1.2 GHz

The problem jhsrennie is talking about normally gives 100% CPU so if its not as high as that it might be normal with only a 1.2 GHz processor just depends how high we are talking ?

Well actually the CPU usage varies between 35% ~ 75% so XBMC is using both cores (since it reaches more than 50% sometimes). Still this is really wierd since I dont think XBMC should use that much of CPU even when IDLE o.0. I didnt even add any files to my media folder to avoid refreshing / scanning so the app is pretty much totally IDLE with this CPU usage.

Does anyone here has an ION and could post which drive version you use? I think the problem lies in some configuration into the Forceware drive instead of a low-end CPU processor..

I am using the same setup (ND22 with Win 7 32 bit), and have CPU around 5-6% while playing HD video. I used the Nvidia drivers on the CD that came with the ND22. I can check the version when I get home. The Celeron is not your problem.

pcdude Wrote:I am using the same setup (ND22 with Win 7 32 bit), and have CPU around 5-6% while playing HD video. I used the Nvidia drivers on the CD that came with the ND22. I can check the version when I get home. The Celeron is not your problem.

He's not concerned with how much CPU is being used when watching video he's concerned with what the CPU is doing whilst IDLE in the GUI if you turn on debug and then you can give him a comparison

XBMC GUI requires CPU its not the GPU that does all the work in the same way as decoding HD video

Thats right. If you can take a look and see how much CPU XBMC is using while IDLE'ing in your computer that will be of great help too

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