madVR - high quality video renderer (GPU assisted)

[Xello]

So the issue I'm having seems to be sticking around.

Basically with a 2nd monitor attached, playing a file on my main monitor while it is at high refresh (144/165) in windowed mode will have lots of presentation glitches and some dropped frames. It stops happening if I either 1) disable the 2nd monitor or 2) drop the refresh rate down to 60. The refresh on my 2nd display is 60.

Dug up a post from earlier this year that seems to refer to it:

I think this was discussed a long time ago. It's hard to say now, but wasn't the issue tied to multi-monitor setups alone?
I thought it had something to do with timings not playing well if one of the monitors had a high (120, 144Hz) refresh rate and happened to be the one the movie was played on...
It could've also just been a wild guess at that time.

I myself happen to have a 120Hz monitor and I use a projector for movies.
Playing @120Hz on the monitor never really worked for me without a lot of visible jerking and judder as well as tons of presentation glitches.
The only thing that helped was going back to old path and playing around with the number of backbuffers used.
That issue (for me) dates back to when the new render path was introduced.

I've never tried upping the GPU queue though, so far I am auto-changing to 60Hz - minor annoyance...

Greetz, Unr3aL67

Things tried so far:

Upping gpu (+cpu) queue size to 24 and upping "how many video frames shall be presented in advance" to 16.

Upping cpu queue further to 128

Unticking "present several frames in advance" in windowed menu

Upping "how many backbuffers shall be used" from 3 to 8

Anyone got another suggestion ?

Occasionally the issue wont be there when i first open a file, but as soon as I do a seek it kicks off again.

[huhn]

what windows version and GPU are you using?

[Xello]

Win 10 pro x64, gtx 980, i7 5960X @ 4ghz+

[huhn]

^windows 10 should be decent with 2 different refreshrates.

you can try windows 7 overlay as a work around.

[Xello]

Thanks but tried that and it seemed to have no effect.

But, paid more attention to the queues and it's when the render and present queues are full that the presentation glitches start climbing. Turns out, the higher queue values DO alleviate the problem, I just didn't notice before because after seeking the queues shoot up to full then take a few seconds to return to the normal lower values, at which point the glitches stop.

The only problem remaining is that I need to either pause and unpause playback or perform a seek to 'flush' the queues and return them to their normal values (i dont know if any of the 'flush' options would help, i dont even know what they do)

If I open a video file and just leave it to play, the queues remain maxed out, even at 128 / 24 / 16, seemingly indefinitely, and the glitches come non stop:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98455184/Capture1.JPG

I close then open the same video file, but immediately hit space twice to pause and unpause, and the bottom 2 queues return to normal and the glitches stop happening:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/98455184/Capture2.JPG

Sometimes I can open the same file and it will be normal from the start, without having to pause or seek to have the queues be normal. No idea what the causing factor is.

[Q-the-STORM]

I'm having a weird issue, I'm sometimes getting random white pixels, seems to happen more on darker content.

I recently got a new UHD TV, happens ever since I watch at 2160p.

- I tried EVR CP, doesn't happen there, so it's not a TV/HDMI issue, only happens with madVR.
- When I pause on a frame with a white pixel (or step forward frame by frame until I hit a white pixel) the pixel stays, when I resize the window or go fullscreen and go back the pixel disappears, I assume buffers are cleared and it's being redrawn, so it disappears.
- When I pause on a white pixel frame and step a frame forward the pixel is gone, if I step backward it's there again, so I assume it's in the buffer.
- When I close the file and open it up again, the white pixel doesn't appear in the same place.
- When I pause and move the windowed player by dragging it with my mouse, the pixel disappears or moves to another place, or more pixels show up. If I move the windowed player back to its original place, the pixel reappears at the same place. So if there is a pixel at 15,15 and I move the player by 1 pixel, the white pixel will disappear, if I move to player back by 1 pixel, the white pixel is back at 15,15...

seems to happen more on darker content, in brighter scenes are are sometimes no white pixels for the entire scene, while on darker scenes there is a white pixel every 2-4 frames (sometimes multiple pixels per frame)..


Setup:
GPU: 780 Ti set to full range 2160p 24hz 4:4:4
Win7 Pro x64
MPC-HC x32 1.7.10 (latest stable)
LAV 0.66.0.0 (integrated with MPC-HC)
madVR 0.90.21 (latest release)

madVR settings:
- Error diffuision option 1 + colored noise (I switched to ordered dithering and disabled colored noise - same issue)
- smooth motion disabled
- exclusive mode enabled (like I said also happens in windowed mode without scaling)
- Use Direct3D 11 + present a frame for every v-sync (I disabled both, same issue with Direct3D 9)
- Chroma upscaling: Super-XBR sharpness 100 (changed it to lanczos3 - same issue)
- Luma doubling NNEDI3 64neurons (as I said, issue appears without any luma scaling)
- no upscaling refinement options
- no image enhancements
- no zoom control
- reduce banding: default low, fade in/out high
- reduce ringing disabled
- deinterlacing disabled
- display expects PC levels, 8bit

In my tests it only happened with 1080p and 2160p content (AVC and VC-1) not in 720p content, but I haven't seen much 720p content since I got the TV, so it might just happen less often, idk..

[Devrim]

Does anyone know if it is possible to force MadVR to use a specific GPU? I have a second monitor connected to a HD4000 but I would like MPC-HC to use my main GPU on that monitor too...

[Plutotype]

Does anyone know if it is possible to force MadVR to use a specific GPU? I have a second monitor connected to a HD4000 but I would like MPC-HC to use my main GPU on that monitor too...

Nvidia Control Panel, Manage 3D settings, Select a program to customize.

Attention, you have to create mpc-hc2.exe for this work. Nvidia Control Panel does not recognize mpc-hc.exe as application :-(

[ryrynz]

I'm having a weird issue, I'm sometimes getting random white pixels, seems to happen more on darker content.


Would recommend disabling/defaulting each setting you have one at a time to narrow down exactly what's causing it.

[Q-the-STORM]

Would recommend disabling/defaulting each setting you have one at a time to narrow down exactly what's causing it.

already have...
debanding, chrome/luma upscaling, dithering, direct3d 9/11.. I don't what else I can change... Anything I haven't mentioned in settings is disabled...

[ryrynz]

already have...


Uninstall your drivers and reinstall by ticking the clean install option, also try madVR defaults.

[racerxnet]

When I enable or disable deinterlacing with MadVr the picture becomes darker or lighter depending on the setting. Nothing else has changed. Is that normal or a bug?

MAK

[nevcairiel]

Does anyone know if it is possible to force MadVR to use a specific GPU? I have a second monitor connected to a HD4000 but I would like MPC-HC to use my main GPU on that monitor too...

Unless its a laptop with GPU switching mechanics, you can't. madVR has to render on the GPU thats connected to the screen.

[Q-the-STORM]

Uninstall your drivers and reinstall by ticking the clean install option, also try madVR defaults.
I did a clean install of drivers, only thing I didn't try is madVR default settings, because it's gonna take ages to set it up again (I got profiles for different resolutions)

lets see what madshi says first before I try that...

[ryrynz]

I did a clean install of drivers, only thing I didn't try is madVR default settings, because it's gonna take ages to set it up again (I got profiles for different resolutions)

lets see what madshi says first before I try that...

The reset batch file creates a backup of your settings.bin to a file called settings.bak, all you have to do is delete the new settings.bin and rename settings.bak and everything is as it was.

Doesn't hurt to make a backup of this in another location also.

[e-t172]

I'm having a weird issue, I'm sometimes getting random white pixels, seems to happen more on darker content.

Sounds like GPU memory corruption, perhaps due to overload. That would explain why other renderers like EVR are unaffected, as they go way easier on the GPU relative to madVR. Check that your GPU is not overheating. If you're overclocking your GPU, try reverting to the standard clocks. Check for GPU problems by running a stress test such as OCCT, FurMark, 3DMark etc.

[Sunspark]

Bad HDMI cables have something known as "snow" or "sparkles".. maybe try another cable?

[Q-the-STORM]

Sounds like GPU memory corruption, perhaps due to overload. That would explain why other renderers like EVR are unaffected, as they go way easier on the GPU relative to madVR. Check that your GPU is not overheating. If you're overclocking your GPU, try reverting to the standard clocks. Check for GPU problems by running a stress test such as OCCT, FurMark, 3DMark etc.

I got render times of about 35ms, after 20min of watching, GPU-Z says my GPU is at 37°C, my entire system is watercooled, I doubt there are heat issues...
They also show up when I disable image doubling, lowering my render times to about 9ms



Bad HDMI cables have something known as "snow" or "sparkles".. maybe try another cable?

As I said, it only happens with madVR and pixels stay in paused mode... if I had cable snow/sparkles, the pixels would not pause... And they would show up in other applications..

I've been paying special attention today while watching, and it really seems like the white pixels only show up on dark areas in the frame, that are not completely black... as soon as it gets brighter or completely black, there are no white pixels.... I could be wrong, but at least that's what it seems like so far...

[ryrynz]

As I said, it only happens with madVR and pixels stay in paused mode... if I had cable snow/sparkles, the pixels would not pause... And they would show up in other applications..


Testing defaults and reverting will take you all of a few minutes..

[Q-the-STORM]

The reset batch file creates a backup of your settings.bin to a file called settings.bak, all you have to do is delete the new settings.bin and rename settings.bak and everything is as it was.

weird.... I don't have a settings.bin in my madVR folder...

[Magik Mark]

There is a setting that can treat 25p as 24p using reclock or videoclock. I have tried reclock. Now I would like to try videoclock. Can someobe point where to download videoclock? I have been looking around and only reference I got is using JRiver

[e-t172]

I got render times of about 35ms, after 20min of watching, GPU-Z says my GPU is at 37°C, my entire system is watercooled, I doubt there are heat issues...

I would still test the GPU using stress test software just to be sure. Corruption/instability issues are not always heat related, though that's indeed the most common cause. For example, if there is a problem with one of the VRAM chips, it can go completely unnoticed until something actually tries to use that memory location. madVR is quite video memory hungry, especially in 2160p.

[Q-the-STORM]

I would still test the GPU using stress test software just to be sure. Corruption/instability issues are not always heat related, though that's indeed the most common cause. For example, if there is a problem with one of the VRAM chips, it can go completely unnoticed until something actually tries to use that memory location. madVR is quite video memory hungry, especially in 2160p.
I just ran OCCT, didn't have any issues...

[Asmodian]

I'm having a weird issue, I'm sometimes getting random white pixels, seems to happen more on darker content.

It may be something else but this is a common issue when overclocking my video RAM just a bit too much.

Your issue might be bad video RAM. madVR uses the GPU heavily, especially with high resolution content, maybe this heats up weak RAM enough to start causing errors.

edit: oops, this advice is a bit late. :o

[ryrynz]

weird.... I don't have a settings.bin in my madVR folder...

Export HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\madshi\madVR to a reg file or alternatively give madVR access to write the bin file by giving all users permission to write files in that directory (probably ideal)

[Q-the-STORM]

It may be something else but this is a common issue when overclocking my video RAM just a bit too much.

Your issue might be bad video RAM. madVR uses the GPU heavily, especially with high resolution content, maybe this heats up weak RAM enough to start causing errors.

edit: oops, this advice is a bit late. :o

Like I said, this also happens without upscaling, so 1080p24 windowed, where I got rendering times of 10ms... before I used SVP, so madVR had to render 60 frames instead of 24, so this is now less than half the load I used to have...


also when I play the 1080p content with 2160p resolution set in 1080p windowed mode I get white pixels, but playing the exact same 1080p content with 1080p resolution set in fullscreen mode I don't get white pixels... So the GPU has about the same load and does the same thing, but only if I have 2160p resolution set, I get white pixels, no matter what kind of load is on the GPU...

I will try default settings later, I hope that will fix it, so I can start to figure out what is causing it...

[Asmodian]

Like I said, this also happens without upscaling, so 1080p24 windowed, where I got rendering times of 10ms... before I used SVP, so madVR had to render 60 frames instead of 24, so this is now less than half the load I used to have...


also when I play the 1080p content with 2160p resolution set in 1080p windowed mode I get white pixels, but playing the exact same 1080p content with 1080p resolution set in fullscreen mode I don't get white pixels... So the GPU has about the same load and does the same thing, but only if I have 2160p resolution set, I get white pixels, no matter what kind of load is on the GPU...

I will try default settings later, I hope that will fix it, so I can start to figure out what is causing it...

Honestly, it still sounds like bad video RAM to me, not madVR interacting badly with LAV or the GPU drivers or something. Maybe some part of RAM that is only used when you are running 4K frame buffers or something. Bad video ram can result in odd problems, reproducible white spots that only show up in some games, some benchmarks, some resolutions, etc. are common symptoms of bad video ram in my experience. It doesn't sound related to heat/load in your case but do you have a few 3D games you could play in 4K to test with?

Good luck, if you do figure it out please let us know! :)

[Mano]

Anyone using amd gpu? what is the latest stable catalyst driver version?

[ryrynz]

Anyone using amd gpu? what is the latest stable catalysy driver version?

Just download the latest stable catalyst release for your card and try it..

[Mano]

Just download the latest stable catalyst release for your card and try it..

i am just too lazy to carry out the testing and bsod troubleshoot. :devil:

[ryrynz]

i am just too lazy

Nothing will BSOD. Everything should work, at least for anything other than a 480X it would seem.

[chros]

I've been paying special attention today while watching, and it really seems like the white pixels only show up on dark areas in the frame, that are not completely black... as soon as it gets brighter or completely black, there are no white pixels.... I could be wrong, but at least that's what it seems like so far...
Can you make a screenshot? (You can do it with PrintScreen in windowed mode.)

[huhn]

When I enable or disable deinterlacing with MadVr the picture becomes darker or lighter depending on the setting. Nothing else has changed. Is that normal or a bug?

MAK

the driver image "enhancement" are applied when using DXVA. so check these settings.

[starlight2]

Hi, I have a JVC HD350 Projector (RS10),i can use mkv to 4k in HDR ?(obviously in a limited way with respect to a panel HDR)

HElP?

[Gagorian]

Hi, I have a JVC HD350 Projector (RS10),i can use mkv to 4k in HDR ?(obviously in a limited way with respect to a panel HDR)

Your question about using "mkv to 4k in HDR" does not make sense. Also your projector does not support 4k, nor does it support HDR. It's a 2008 model. It seems to have HDMI version 1.3.

For 4k support you need a 4k capable projector, at least 1.4 version HDMI and for HDR support you need HDMI 2.0(a). You also need a GPU with suitable HDMI output and enough processing power.

How are you expecting to make it work with a 8 year old projector?

[Sunset1982]

ok, I just finished my madvr gpu comparison. Here are a conclusion of my observations:


RX480:

- If you guys want to go for the AMD, I would definitely wait for the custom design card. The fans of the standard cards are a bit noisy.

- The rx480 is comparable to the GTX970 in terms of power consumption, while getting a bit better performance

- had problems with jumping render queues (but no glitches or dropped/repeated frames

- couldn't get HEVC files running with dxva2 copy back enabled. Worked only with software decoding

- RX480 displays near perfect 23,976fps (1 framedrop every 6 hours)




GTX 1070:

- performance gain of 4-93 % against the RX480. In most cases it is between 20-40 % performance again while using same or even less power.

- the MSI custom design often keeps in passive fan mode. If under heavy load the fans are running, but not audible from the outside the computer case.

- playing a FullHD, HEVC 10 Bit file, the GTX hada power consumption of only 60 W and fans kept in passive mode while RX480 used 190 W with loud fan noise.

- The MSI GTX1070' dimension where to big (279 x 140 x 42 mm) for my fractal design node 605 case. So i had to get the motherboard out of the case to finish my comparison. If you like to go for a GTX 1070 while using a small htpc case, I would consider to look for a smaller card (My personal favorite is the Palit 1070 Jetstream)

-running a movie with 23,976 fps without dropped/repeated frames is only possible with a custom resolution (same as with my old GTX 970)



I am torn between the performance and the price of the GTX1070. Performance wise it would be a keeper, but the price of 479 € for the Palit Jetsteam GTX1070 is a bit high. (MSI's GTX 1070 even more; 529 €)

I'll wait for the GTX 1060 and then I'll made my decision. Hopefully I can get one and add it to this comparison.


Excel File:
MadVRComparison.xlsx (http://www.file-upload.net/download-11746774/MadVRComparison.xlsx.html)

[Gagorian]

ok, I just finished my madvr gpu comparison. Here are a conclusion of my observations:


Thank you very much for this comparison! I put in an order for the EVGA GTX 1070 for my HTPC. I've always had AMD cards for my HTPC before, but I prefer the efficiency on the GTX 1070. I was hoping for GTX 1060 reviews today but unfortunately NDA is not lifted yet. Looking at the specs 1060 vs 1070; GTX 1060 has 66.7% (1280 vs 1920) of the CUDA cores of the GTX 1070 but has only 30W less TDP (that is 80% of the 150W's of the GTX 1070), which probably means less efficiency. If the price holds true it will probably be more performance for the price though. Availability at a decent price concerns me though so that also weighed for ordering the GTX 1070.

[huhn]

Hi, I have a JVC HD350 Projector (RS10),i can use mkv to 4k in HDR ?(obviously in a limited way with respect to a panel HDR)

if you are talking about HDR sample files yes madVR can play them on any display.

decoding and processing these files needs a powerful GPU and CPU if a HEVC hardware decoder isn't present.

[Mano]

Nothing will BSOD. Everything should work, at least for anything other than a 480X it would seem.

But sometime random thing happens. For e.g. 16.3 has random flicker horizon lines (the kind like in the horror movie effect) while playing video with madvr. If it didn't appear right after installing but only after a few days/weeks i may very well, unable to troubleshoot and be annoyed to death.

[starlight2]

Your question about using "mkv to 4k in HDR" does not make sense. Also your projector does not support 4k, nor does it support HDR. It's a 2008 model. It seems to have HDMI version 1.3.

For 4k support you need a 4k capable projector, at least 1.4 version HDMI and for HDR support you need HDMI 2.0(a). You also need a GPU with suitable HDMI output and enough processing power.

How are you expecting to make it work with a 8 year old projector?

it is clear, you do not understand the question.
I want to see 4K material downscaling to 1080p, but wanted to know if he can use the HDR processing of madVR (if there is information in the metadata file) and be able to view the improvements even partially.

Native Gamut is large is extensive compared to the rec 709 .. and accepts 10bit 4.4.4 signals. It can be used to view the effect HDR (partially?)

[pirlouy]

ok, I just finished my madvr gpu comparison. Here are a conclusion of my observations:
The excel file is very nice. Good Job !
Maybe you should join it to your post (hoping an admin approved it) in case the host deletes it.

[Plutotype]

ok, I just finished my madvr gpu comparison.
Thanks as well...you deserve a paypal link somewhere.:)

[ispano]

ok, I just finished my madvr gpu comparison. Here are a conclusion of my observations:


RX480:

- If you guys want to go for the AMD, I would definitely wait for the custom design card. The fans of the standard cards are a bit noisy.

- The rx480 is comparable to the GTX970 in terms of power consumption, while getting a bit better performance

- had problems with jumping render queues (but no glitches or dropped/repeated frames

- couldn't get HEVC files running with dxva2 copy back enabled. Worked only with software decoding

- RX480 displays near perfect 23,976fps (1 framedrop every 6 hours)


- I also have render queue info jumps only in exclusive mode w/ the RX480. In window mode, the queues show properly.

- Currently also having playback issues with DXVA2 CB w/ 0.68.1 LAV. Playback of non-HDR content is smooth but with some decoding issues (blockiness that eventually syncs) when skipping fowards/backwards.

- HDR content does not playback at all when hardware accelerated w/ DXVA2 CB. Content plays fine when using software/CPU playback with LAV.

Maybe others could confirm if these are isolated to the new polaris cards? First time AMD user too so could be user error if there is something that is AMD specific related that I'm missing.

EDIT: "On AMD GPUs, 4K support is very fragile, and may even cause crashes or BSODs, use at your own risk." <--- Saw that on LAV's github so I'm guessing 4K/HEVC/HDR is a works in progress atm.

[Village Guy]

Over the past few years prior to MadVR availability, I tested AMD & Nvidia GPU cards for what I perceived to be the best picture quality. I also got third parties involved that did not have a clue technically and they simply indicated which picture they preferred. At that time the AMD cards always seemed to be preferred. To my eyes AMD gave the picture more punch and depth than the Nvidia products. I tested at least 3 Nvidia cards at the time and always preferred any of my AMD cards 3000, 4000 series.

I note on this forum that Nvidia is very popular. Is it possible that MadVR has had a secondary effect of leveling the playing field regarding perceived video performance?

[Xello]

With or without madvr, what difference in quality could there be between an nvidia or amd card ?

While no expert this is how i see things: taking a standard scenario of playing 1080p content on a 1080p screen, when considering the quality of viewing i look at video file properties, the display, and the playback chain software. As far as a picture having more 'punch' and 'depth', i'm not sure what you are referring to, if you mean actual color differences then I highly recommend calibrating to an appropriate standard ie rec 709 for bluray, otherwise it's easy to play about with colors and stuff to make things appear more 'vibrant' but that means the color is not correct.

When it comes to other scenarios such as viewing interlaced content I guess there's room there for differences as I know there are some nvidia specific options and the like, but nothing I would say one team has a major advantage over the other on. I'm sure there are *performance* differences between the cards too, as in power efficiency and stuff not exactly related to picture quality.

[leeperry]

To my eyes AMD gave the picture more punch and depth than the Nvidia products. I tested at least 3 Nvidia cards at the time and always preferred any of my AMD cards 3000, 4000 series.
Many ppl on HCFR and myself would agree with your conclusion, I did try several generations of both brand on different displays and the diff was always very obvious. All combinations were rightfully calibrated for that matter, but this is OT anyway ^^

[pirlouy]

To my eyes AMD gave the picture more punch and depth than the Nvidia products.
I don't get it. In this thread, madVR is supposed to do all the job at creating image/movie and it is recommended to disable all GPU extra jobs in driver settings.
I think "punch and depth" etc. is the same whatever GPU you use.

I suppose Nvidia is more popular because it has better performance per watt.
Sorry for off-topic.

[ryrynz]

To my eyes AMD gave the picture more punch and depth than the Nvidia products. I tested at least 3 Nvidia cards at the time and always preferred any of my AMD cards 3000, 4000 series.


This is likely placebo. But I need to know for certain.. Can we get a definite answer on this?

[Magik Mark]

Guys can you try latest nvidia driver V368.69. I'm getting nicer video. Richer colors


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ispano]

This is likely placebo. But I need to know for certain.. Can we get a definite answer on this?

I can acknowledge that back from the days of the initial radeon release, ATI's overlay mode was superior to Nvidia's in that regard. ATI's analog out for RGB was also sharper back when CRT was more prominent. With respect to MadVR between AMD/Nvidia with the advent of digital output, it's more likely placebo. I would expect any differences would be from proper user calibration/setup and personal preference.