High CPU usage when using webcam in MSN

[kandinsky63]

Hello

I have Windows Live messenger Version 2009 (14.0.8089.726), winXP(SP3), AVG
9, Spywareblaster, Windows defender, Celeron D 3.06 GHz CPU, 1.5 Gb RAM

I recently acquired a webcam and have noticed that when using it in MSN with
sound, the CPU rockets up to 90-100%. Everything else then freezes - for
example IE8 takes forever to open a new tab let alone open up a website.

Using MSN without webcam, the CPU is down to 10-15% usage.

Has anyone got any idea why the use of webcam with sound in MSN is soooo
CPU intensive.

Thanks

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings,

I haven't tried it, but supposedly the latest Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD
apparently has high CPU usage when using the camera. Regardless, out of
curiosity, are using the standard Video Call option? If so, you may want to
try initiating the audio call, and then sharing your webcam (press the Alt
key on the keyboard to bring up the menu bar, choose Actions, then Video and
then 'Share my webcam' to see if you get better CPU usage that way.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature
or citation

 

[kandinsky63]

Hi

Unfortunately, the option 'Share my webcam' is not available. I only
options I have are
' start a video call
stop showing my webcam
stop viewing the contacts webcam
get a webcam'

Please advise further.

Thanks

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Hi,

So in that case you're actually already using the webcam functionality over
video call.
You might try using video call instead as it is a bit different, but I
suspect it won't help.

There's no magical registry settings here to tweak or anything that would
affect CPU usage, if that's the sort of solution you were looking for.

Video and audio encoding/decoding in real-time is extremely intensive, even
on high-end systems. I've actually been a bit disappointed that no one has
ever stepped up to do some hardware acceleration for these things.

Regardless, it might be worth trying other applications to see if they fair
better -- Yahoo Messenger or AIM comes to mind, Skype too but that's
generally higher CPU usage than Messenger on its own. Another option is to
use Windows Messenger (not Live), if you're both using Windows XP and
haven't uninstalled it (it's the client that comes with XP and you'll find
it on the start menu) -- as it was written at the beginning of this decade,
its CPU usage is far less for audio/video (at the expense of quality of
course). Note that Windows Messenger audio/video is not compatible with
Windows Live Messenger audio/video even though it runs on the same network
(so you both have to use Windows Messenger).

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2009 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature
or citation