Micomsoft SC-500N1 RGB Capture Card

[lettuce]

Ok i have removed the SB card from the system, and the CPU still jumps to 100% usage. It happens as soon as i select the 'SA7160 PCI, Analog 01 Capture device' as the capture device for AmaRec to use!, ifs either fault with the card or a poor designed card!

[Fudoh]

Still, highly unlikely. What OS do you use ? Do you have the possibility of installing another OS (maybe 32bit instead of 64bit or 7 instead of 8 or XP instead of 7) to check this out ?

I don't actively use my 500N1, but when I set up the system this would have caught my eye. The only way I could raise the CPU usage above a few % was to chose a really CPU-hungry codec.

[lettuce]

Im using Windows 7 64Bit, i could Install Windows 7 32bit i guess but im sure its not an OS bug!.

I have upload a vid of the problem, when you select the StarTech card for AmaRec to use. Take into consideration the only reason my CPU clock speed is at max is because im capturing the Desktop with OBS, just take not of the 'LOAD' value In the RealTemp Window, and see it jump up as soon as i tell AmaRec to use the StarTech card for capture......

http://youtu.be/4riMnZy4S5s

[N64Fan]

I actually tested to see if I had the same problem as lettuce. I did not but Amarec was memory leaking. A blank Amarec screen gave me 480,000 K used on Task manager after 20 minutes idling (It started around 55,000 K). I fixed it by going to config > advanced and clicking "priority to EVR" then going back to "auto" (Amarec now sits on about 32,000 K constant). I also noticed CCC.exe (ATI Catalyst) would consume CPU at the exact time Amarec would gradually use more memory.

It's a long shot but maybe it's related to ATI drivers? You should try an older version just incase. I'm using 12.8 (I see no reason to upgrade).

[lettuce]

I actually tested to see if I had the same problem as lettuce. I did not but Amarec was memory leaking. A blank Amarec screen gave me 480,000 K used on Task manager after 20 minutes idling (It started around 55,000 K). I fixed it by going to config > advanced and clicking "priority to EVR" then going back to "auto" (Amarec now sits on about 32,000 K constant). I also noticed CCC.exe (ATI Catalyst) would consume CPU at the exact time Amarec would gradually use more memory.

It's a long shot but maybe it's related to ATI drivers? You should try an older version just incase. I'm using 12.8 (I see no reason to upgrade).

Thanks for the info, i dont think its related to AmaRec program though as Video Keeper behaves the same way. Which captured card do you have the StarTech card or Micomsoft?

Also whats ya system Spec, version of windows and slot you have the capture card placed in please?

Just seems too much of a coincidence that this is a brand new system bar the sound card (which ive removed) and 2 SSD and i still have the same issue

[N64Fan]

Oh sorry I never read that VideoKeeper did the same. Actually, I know VideoKeeper can use GPU encoding so it could still be a graphic driver issue (amamoblog http://amalabo.blog35.fc2.com) - Translate it and look for "SC-512N1-L/DVI VideoKeeper2 GPU encode video recording test"

I have the StarTech card.

System is:

i5 2500k Sandybridge
Gigabyte P67A-UD4
ATI 6850

I have the card in the second from top PCI-E 1x slot: http://puu.sh/3eUMP.jpg

Actually got another idea that is probably wrong but may as well try everything. You said "the only reason my CPU clock speed is at max" which leads me to believe you use the power saving features and stuff in the BIOS? I can't remember what it is called but stuff like C1E? Try disabling all power saving features in the BIOS. It might be bugging the PCI slots.

[lettuce]

I'll give anything a try. I may contact StarTech and see if can get is send back as faulty and replaced

What windows version do you have btw?

[lettuce]

Ok have just tried that and still no use. I have done the following in the BIOS:

Disabled Turbo Mode
Disabled Hyper Threading
Disabled all energy saving features, (C1, C3/6, EIST states)
Disbaled all cores and just ran single core

and still no difference

[N64Fan]

Sorry forgot to add that in. It's Window 7 64 bit Ultimate.

Sad to hear that didn't fix it.

[lettuce]

Ok on to a different matter. I have now got one of those HDMI splitters thats stripped HDCP, i can now use my PS3 with this card which works but im not getting any audio atm. My 360 works find with the hdmi cable coming out of the captrue card but the PS3 doesnt appear to. Is this because of the HDCP stripping thats going on, as i am getting sound out of my A/V AMP that the PS3 goes to before the capture card (PS3>>AMP>>Capture card), or do i need to change a audio option on the PS3 itself?

[blizzz]

Most likely your console is set to surround sound. The card can only capture stereo.

[lettuce]

Most likely your console is set to surround sound. The card can only capture stereo.

Nah doesnt matter, my 360 is set up as 5.1 DD and that captures the sound fine. I have tried just selecting, Linear PCM 2 Ch. 44kHz & Linear PCM 2 Ch. 48kHz audio options within the PS3 sound settings, but still dont get any an capturing

[Fudoh]

I could only think of some EDID stupidity.

[lettuce]

I could only think of some EDID stupidity.

such as?

[Fudoh]

Maybe the capture card's EDID does not report any audio capabilites.

Your HDCP killer is a splitter, right ? Do you have only have connected one output ? It can cause problems when two sinks have different EDIDs in place. If you have your AVR near your capture PC, just run a digital output from the PS3 to the AVR and connect it's pre-outs (if available) to your audio capture device.

[lettuce]

Maybe the capture card's EDID does not report any audio capabilites.

Your HDCP killer is a splitter, right ? Do you have only have connected one output ? It can cause problems when two sinks have different EDIDs in place. If you have your AVR near your capture PC, just run a digital output from the PS3 to the AVR and connect it's pre-outs (if available) to your audio capture device.

Yeah its the TrueHD splitter, http://www.ebay.com/itm/ViewHD-1x2-HDMI ... 0641169821, I have just the PS3 connected to it and 1 output that goes to my AV AMP. Im not entirely sure its this thats cause the issue though, as i can here audio from my PS3 out of the amp, so its not stopping the audio signal otherwise i would get sound through the amp?

My amp does have 2 audio phone output sockets, but its not near enough to my capture card for a cable to reach. I would have thought with the vast amount of audio settings the PS3 has it should be able to find one type that it accepts

[lettuce]

Ok i have move my amp out of the equation all together, the setup now it, PS3>>HDCP Stripper>>>Capture card and now the audio works!!!

But this set up means i would have to play on my PC monitor which i dont really want to do

[Fudoh]

If you connect the AVR to the 2nd output of the splitter, but only switch the AVR on after you've started your PC, it should still work and you should get audio on both setups (assuming it was a EDID problem after all).

[lettuce]

I thought i might have figured it out, there is an option on the amp under sound settings where you can set it to, AMP or AMP & TV. With the AMP & TV setting i do get the audio coming out of my PC, but when i watched back the capture there was still no audio being recorded

Not sure why the 360 works with this setup but the PS3 refuses to

EDIT: Managed to rig a setup that works. Basically using a S/PDIF for the audio from the PS3 to the AMP and then running the PS3 via the splinter directly to the Capture card.

[lettuce]

Now back to the problem i was having with this StarTech card putting 100% load on to my CPU all the time, i have now noticed that it seems to keep my CPU at 100% load even after i have closed down the capture software, the only way i appear to be able to get it to drop back to normal levels is going into power options in Windows and restoring the settings to default for which ever power setting is enabled!!!

I have now filled out an RMA for the card to be send back to StarTech and i have ordered another card for the time being!

[blizzz]

Ok, I just put my card into a test rig. No problems at all. Works as expected and the CPU usage is at 3% with 720p input. It's most likely some feature of the motherboards that's causing the problems. I doubt the RMA will help you :/

[lettuce]

Ok, I just put my card into a test rig. No problems at all. Works as expected and the CPU usage is at 3% with 720p input. It's most likely some feature of the motherboards that's causing the problems. I doubt the RMA will help you :/

Having the same problem on 2 different PC systems, seems to much of a coincidence to me though!?

As i said i have tried every CPU related option in the BIOS. I turned all Hyper Threading, Turbo and Power Saving functions off, i even disabled all cores bar 1 and i still got the same problem

[Fudoh]

Having the same problem on 2 different PC systems, seems to much of a coincidence to me though!?

not really if you stuck to the same mainboard manufacturer.

[lettuce]

Having the same problem on 2 different PC systems, seems to much of a coincidence to me though!?

not really if you stuck to the same mainboard manufacturer.

Well yes it is the same, Gigabyte, if what your saying is right then this capture card is incompatible with the leading motherboard manufacture, in which case StarTech need to rectify this. My old system was the X58 and my new one a Z87 there's 4 years difference between them and the architecture is completely different between the 2 boards.

What Mobo do you have blizzz?

[blizzz]

No problems on:
Intel H67 B3 (Zotac H67-ITX Wi-Fi)
AMD A50M (ASUS E35M1-I Deluxe)
Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q Premium)

100% CPU load:
Intel Z77 (ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe)

Did anyone else with a Z or X class chipset try the card? My other guesses would be PCIe 3.0 and Win8, but that wouldn't fit to the X58 board.

[lettuce]

No problems on:
Intel H67 B3 (Zotac H67-ITX Wi-Fi)
AMD A50M (ASUS E35M1-I Deluxe)
Intel P45 (ASUS P5Q Premium)

100% CPU load:
Intel Z77 (ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe)

Did anyone else with a Z or X class chipset try the card? My other guesses would be PCIe 3.0 and Win8, but that wouldn't fit to the X58 board.

Ok I have gone balls out on this!. I have tested the capture card, on a AMD system with a Asus mobo, now I found out that AMD CPU aren't supported by the RealTemp program (bugger!), so I used CoreTemp instead. CoreTemp reported that the clock speeds on all cores went up as soon as I loaded Stream Catcher or told AmaRec to use the startech card, BUT the load levels stayed low. At which point I thought 'fuck!', and was under the impression that Fudoh may have been correct!. Next I tried the card on a Gigabyte mini ITX mobo which has a sandy bridge Intel 2500k i5 chip, I had to remove the graphics card as there is only one PCI slot and use the onboard GPU, as this is a intel CPU I can again use RealTemp to measure the CPU load. Low and behold the CPU Load went up to 100% as soon as Stream Catcher or told AmaRec to use the StarTech card. I then decided to load up CoreTemp, and much to my surprise the clock speeds were maxed out on all cores but the Load levels on all cores was low!.

Now you might be saying well its RealTemp that's at fault here and there's nothing wrong with the StarTech card, but the spike in temps on all cores as soon as the startech card is initialised suggests that infact there is 100% load on all cores, if it was just the clock speeds being maxed out it still wouldn't produce this much heat, only when there is 100% loads do you get the sort of high temps that I'm seeing, clock speed alone will not produce high temps

Blizzz I noticed 1 of system you report having no problems on is an AMD system, so your unable to use RealTemp to measure the CPU load, so thats probably why your not seeing a problem, but its possible it still be at 100%!. What did you used to measure CPU loads on your AMD system?. Did u notice the temps being alot higher on the setup you have reported a problem on compared to the systems you dont see a problem. Also on the systems that there wasnt a problem was the CPU clock speed still maxed out?

EDIT: I have done another test now, and uploaded a video.

I have disabled all the Power Saving functions so my CPU will run at its max speed all the time (4.7Ghz), as its running full speed there is a slight increase on the temps, with power saving on my idle temps are usually 30c on all cores but here they are around 40c. With CoreTemp and RealTemp Both loaded and left running for a few seconds i then loaded Stream Catcher, CoreTemp reported no extra load on the CPU cores whilst RealTemp reported 100% Load, take notice of the temps as they increase as soon as i load Stream Catcher, which backs up the reading of RealTemp over CoreTemp as the 100% load is causing more heat, if CoreTemp was to be believe then the temps wouldn't increase when i load Stream Catcher, but they do.....

http://youtu.be/1GzBjOSM68M

[blizzz]

Blizzz I noticed 1 of system you report having no problems on is an AMD system, so your unable to use RealTemp to measure the CPU load, so thats probably why your not seeing a problem, but its possible it still be at 100%!. What did you used to measure CPU loads on your AMD system?. Did u notice the temps being alot higher on the setup you have reported a problem on compared to the systems you dont see a problem

I used the task manager, simple as that. There is no problem on the three systems I tested. Only the Z77 one has increased load/temps. Increased clock speed is no bad thing. When you're dealing with real time threads it's exactly what you want.

I still have no idea what's causing the high load (most likely a buttload of interrupts), but I won't investigate it much further. I'm switching from a USB sound card to an internal one (ASUS Xonar Essence STX ), which is taking the spot of the SC-500N1.

Edit: Checked again on the P45 with Win7. The load does indeed increase to 100% in RealTemp while it stays at 0% in the Task Manager. The temps are also higher than normal. I just never noticed it on the other machines because the Windows 7 Task Manageris not as good as the one in Windows 8 :/

Can anyone else check (with RealTemp or Win8 Task Manager) to verify if this happens on all cards?

[lettuce]

Blizzz I noticed 1 of system you report having no problems on is an AMD system, so your unable to use RealTemp to measure the CPU load, so thats probably why your not seeing a problem, but its possible it still be at 100%!. What did you used to measure CPU loads on your AMD system?. Did u notice the temps being alot higher on the setup you have reported a problem on compared to the systems you dont see a problem

I used the task manager, simple as that. There is no problem on the three systems I tested. Only the Z77 one has increased load/temps. Increased clock speed is no bad thing. When you're dealing with real time threads it's exactly what you want.

I still have no idea what's causing the high load (most likely a buttload of interrupts), but I won't investigate it much further. I'm switching from a USB sound card to an internal one (ASUS Xonar Essence STX ), which is taking the spot of the SC-500N1.

Nice choice of Sound Card, what will you be using in the future for capturing then??

Ah thats why then!, task manager does'nt report the CPU Load usage at all on my system either, its only RealTemp that reports any sort of Load. The video i upload in my post above points to that the RealTemp readings are valid, as the increase in temps when loading Stream Catcher, if there was no Load being added to the CPU when Stream Catcher was loaded then the temps wouldnt rise, but they do.

Also i wouldn't have thought that loading the capture program that uses the StarTech card should result in the CPU Clock speed going to max!, especially when nothings being captured at the time, its just the program being loaded and sitting idle!?

Just be interesting to see everyone who owns this Capture Card and has an Intel CPU to download RealTemp (www.techinferno.com/files/RealTemp_TI.zip, its no install just an exe) and load it up and then load up whatever Capture Software they use in conjunction with their StarTech card and see if they get 100% Load reading in RealTemp.

[blizzz]

I've updated my previous post:

Edit: Checked again on the P45 with Win7. The load does indeed increase to 100% in RealTemp while it stays at 0% in the Task Manager. The temps are also higher than normal. I just never noticed it on the other machines because the Windows 7 Task Manager is not as good as the one in Windows 8 :/ And I didn't notice the increased temps because the cooling for the quad-core P45 is always noisy (stock cooler), the AMD one is passive and the i3-2100T doesn't produce much heat even at max load.

Can anyone else check (with RealTemp or Win8 Task Manager) to verify if this happens on all cards?

I'm not sure what I'll be using to record in the future. I hardly record at all, I mostly buy the stuff because I find it fascinating. Maybe the best option is to disable the card when you're not using it and reset the Windows power options after a recording.

If you're bored you could run an x264 encoding job at low priority. Once normally and once with the capture card active at 100%. I wonder if there is a difference in fps for the encoding. That would mean that the CPU is indeed doing something. If it's (nearly) the same then it's just interrupts. Maybe the Win7 task manager doesn't count them while the Win8 one does.

[N64Fan]

I always just used the Task Manager in Win 7 to.

Some observations.

1. RealTemp shows me 100% load even with nothing open but Core Temp shows 0% as does task manager. I get like 6-7% CPU used momentarily with the card selected in Amarec. Buggy Real Temp? It's not had an update since January 2012.
2. I encode with x264 and load increases to 100% on all cores and I see a slight jump in temps of 2-3c. I have my CPU underclocked so even at max load I never go over 40c.