Slow frame rate when zoomed (WiFi)

[LS1Andrew]

I seem to have a really inconsistent frame rate on a wifi connection when zoomed in. (iPhone 3G)
The thumbnail picture is very smooth, but the zoomed in frame rate stutters around.

Anyone have any ideas?

[LS1Andrew]

Also worth noting...

Same WiFi network as the webcam (built-in webcam on a netbook w/ 2GB ram)
The iCamSource app jumps around between 15-30% CPU.

[Stefan]

Does the % CPU jump around when idle, when it is connected and displaying the thumbnail, or when it is zoomed in? Does disabling audio in iCam help at all when zoomed in?

What are the specs of the computer that is running the iCamSource?

[LS1Andrew]

Does the % CPU jump around when idle, when it is connected and displaying the thumbnail, or when it is zoomed in? Does disabling audio in iCam help at all when zoomed in?

What are the specs of the computer that is running the iCamSource?

Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz
2GB DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
64GB Corsair SSD
Built-in 1.3MP webcam
Windows XP Home SP3

Audio has been disabled from the start, no measurable difference.

CPU is:
~4%  when idle (iCam Source App open but the webcam isn't on)
~40% when the webcam is on and running (iPhone not connected)
~50% when viewing in thumbnail
~60% when zoomed in

Thanks for the help in advance.

[LS1Andrew]

1 more interesting fact...

I can also run OSX 10.5.8 on the same computer listed above, and this makes for much smoother video zoomed in on WiFi.

Inside iCam Source App, it isn't quite as smooth on OSX as it was on XP, but the iPhone experience is better when streaming from iCam on OSX.

 

[Stefan]

The % CPU usage sounds unusually high ... Especially when zoomed in. Are those CPU percentages for the entire computer or for only the iCamSource process? If those are just for the iCamSource, what does the computer's total CPU usage look like under those same circumstances?

[LS1Andrew]

The % CPU usage sounds unusually high ... Especially when zoomed in. Are those CPU percentages for the entire computer or for only the iCamSource process? If those are just for the iCamSource, what does the computer's total CPU usage look like under those same circumstances?

That's the total CPU usage.

I can try it on my desktop to see if it's any better, but that would be a USB cam instead of the built-in cam on the netbook.

I was surprised that it was smoother on OSX on the same computer.

[Stefan]

That is surprising that it would perform better on Leopard than Windows XP ... But I guess that could be another argument for why Macs are better than PCs.

[LS1Andrew]

That is surprising that it would perform better on Leopard than Windows XP ... But I guess that could be another argument for why Macs are better than PCs.

what's the next step?

Do you need any more information... or is there anything I can try or test?

[Stefan]

How did it work on your desktop computer, and what was the CPU usage?

It sounds like the motion detection and other image processing is too much for your computer's hardware, and that's why the frame rate is slower.

Have you tried closing the iCamSource window to hide it to see if that has a positive affect on what you see on iCam when zoomed in? If the image is not being resized and displayed that will use less CPU, although not that much less, probably.