xbmc.bin idling at 100% CPU usage

Snippo · 2012-04-14 21:18

(2012-04-06 19:48)wsnipex Wrote: if you have dirty region rendering enabled, v-sync on and still get very high cpu load(in my case 100% on 1 core) you can try downgrading the ati driver to 11.12 or 11.11. so far this issue has only been reported with ati hd 4000 series and catalyst >12.2, possibly it also affects other ati hardware. Worth a shot, if you are out of ideas. If you try it, plz report back with results.

I had the same problem as nouniques. xbmc.bin kept using 100% cpu when it idles, even after enabling v-sync and dirty regions. I just tried your suggestion and I can confirm that it works Smile

. I downgraded to fglrx 8.850 (Catalyst 11.5) and everything works fine again now.

nouniques · 2012-04-14 21:47

Thanks for letting us know Snippo.

I decided to investigate further when Ubuntu 12.04 will be released, then I'll reinstall everything anyway. I'm a bit short on time at the moment, so thought if something goes wrong while downgrading, and I would need to reinstall OS, I would rather install to newer version.
It's not a big issue for me, because nothing stutters or anything performance wise, only problem is raising temperature of CPU, because it's fanless at the moment. Plus fingers crossed AMD would do something better with their drivers in a mean time.

geekmiki · 2012-04-17 10:29

Same problem here with the CPU idling at 100% but wih some differences.

XBMC 11 "Eden", running on Ubuntu 10.04
Asrock ION HD330

Upon startup everything is fine, CPU is idling at approx. 10%, once I launch a video file the CPU jumps to 100% and stays like that for the rest of the session.
As nouniques mentioned, this does not compromise performance (even with 1080p), but my Asrock 330 gets extremely warm...

I have tried:
-adding dirty regions
-changing skin (I used Night, but tried with stock Confluence)
-Downgraded NVidia drivers from 295.40 to 275.43
-Deactivated the common plugin cache add-on
-V-sync is enabled

Has anyone managed to solve this issue completely? Is it reported as an Eden bug?

**FernetMenta** · 2012-04-17 12:23

So we have this issue on ATI and NVidia systems. Some say that upgrading the OS cured it, other have downgraded Catalayst. I can't reproduce this on any of my systems. Might be due to the fact, that they are all setup the same way, basically a standard installation of Ubuntu 11.10 (64bit) with these characteristics: completely removed pulseaudio, I run XMBC either in window manager gnome-classic (no effect) or Fluxbox.

Does anybody observe this issue having:

- fresh installation of XMBC
- skin confluence
- no additional add-ons
- pulse audio removed
- no 3D window manager

If not, start reverting to your original configuration one by one.

turbopsi · 2012-05-09 06:42

I can confirm the same issue. XBMCbuntu 11.0 out of the box, no other add-ons etc.
ION330 Mobo.

CPU is fine until a video is played. After that one core is at a constant 100% when idle.

rumburake · 2012-05-15 16:33

Hi!

I have the same problem.

I have XBMC 11.0 git20120423 from Ubuntu 12.04 precise/universe repo running on an Asrock ION330, NVidia drivers 295.40-0ubuntu1.

I appiled the advancedsettings.xml in this thread.
I have v-sync only when playing video - not in GUI.
I have disabled "adapt refresh rate to match video".
I also run in windowed or fullscreen mode or even minimized.
I also have "blank" screensaver, 3 min.

I have ~44% CPU in idle.

The loop I see in strace is:

Code:

clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, {163919, 502462986}) = 0

clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, {163919, 502691026}) = 0

clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, {163919, 502904026}) = 0

time(NULL)                              = 1337091987

clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, {163919, 503318026}) = 0

clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, {163919, 503515226}) = 0

recv(8, 0x9080f70, 4096, 0)             = -1 EAGAIN (Resource temporarily unavailable)

select(9, [8], NULL, NULL, {0, 0})      = 0 (Timeout)

time(NULL)                              = 1337091987

time(NULL)                              = 1337091987

nanosleep({0, 1000000}, 0xbf95b648)     = 0

I am very intrigued about how can I find out what is this socket supposed to be? It is always invalid.

I can't see any other process connected to it. Only a few threads from this only xbmc.bin process.

BTW, I had this problem for at least one year, including version XBMC v10 and older Ubuntu versions such as 10.04.

What could it be?

G10CHY · 2012-09-07 12:47

I am having the same issues. XBMC will not idle below 50% Sad

Any solutions?

rumburake · 2012-09-07 15:05

XBMC was designed to continuously refresh the image, like an XBox game as it was originally software made for XBox. There are some optimized settings to reduce unnecessary refreshes such as when the UI is idle, but, as they may cause problems on various GPUs, they aren't set as default.

Try this:

Code:

$ cat .xbmc/userdata/advancedsettings.xml

<advancedsettings>

<gui>

        <algorithmdirtyregions>2</algorithmdirtyregions>

        <nofliptimeout>0</nofliptimeout>

</gui>

</advancedsettings>

With this I get ~13%CPU on an ASRock ION 330. Without them it would be ~87% or more...

Try tuning those params as well, there is a wiki page here: http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Dirty_regions

Please come back and share what worked best for you, and what hardware are you using.

G10CHY · 2012-09-07 16:31

I have tried both

<advancedsettings>
<gui>
<algorithmdirtyregions>1</algorithmdirtyregions>
<nofliptimeout>0</nofliptimeout>
</gui>
</advancedsettings>

and

<advancedsettings>
<gui>
<algorithmdirtyregions>2</algorithmdirtyregions>
<nofliptimeout>0</nofliptimeout>
</gui>
</advancedsettings>

with both making no difference at all to CPU usage at idle Sad

**Martijn** · 2012-09-07 16:43

Make sure it's loaded by checking the log. It's impossible that it doesn't make a difference

turbopsi Junior Member Posts: 4 Joined: Aug 2010 Reputation: 0	2012-05-09 06:42 Post: #15 I can confirm the same issue. XBMCbuntu 11.0 out of the box, no other add-ons etc. ION330 Mobo. CPU is fine until a video is played. After that one core is at a constant 100% when idle.
	find quote

G10CHY Junior Member Posts: 15 Joined: Oct 2009 Reputation: 0	2012-09-07 12:47 Post: #17 I am having the same issues. XBMC will not idle below 50% Any solutions?
	find quote

G10CHY Junior Member Posts: 15 Joined: Oct 2009 Reputation: 0	2012-09-07 16:31 Post: #19 I have tried both <advancedsettings> <gui> <algorithmdirtyregions>1</algorithmdirtyregions> <nofliptimeout>0</nofliptimeout> </gui> </advancedsettings> and <advancedsettings> <gui> <algorithmdirtyregions>2</algorithmdirtyregions> <nofliptimeout>0</nofliptimeout> </gui> </advancedsettings> with both making no difference at all to CPU usage at idle
	find quote

Martijn Team-XBMC Posts: 7,787 Joined: Jul 2011 Reputation: 115 Location: Dawn of time	2012-09-07 16:43 Post: #20 Make sure it's loaded by checking the log. It's impossible that it doesn't make a difference Always read the XBMC online-manual, FAQ and search the forums before posting. Do NOT e-mail Team-XBMC members asking for support. Read/follow the forum rules. For troubleshooting and bug reporting, make sure you read this first For your mediacenter artwork go to
	find quote