Flash vidoes on laptops

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#1 Post by **gator** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:05 pm

I don't know what the deal is with watching flash videos on laptops. My T60 runs awesome, but once I load up a youtube video (or any flash content), the temperature shoots up pretty fast ... what I cannot figure out is, I run extensive matlab simulations (graphical as well as numerical) and the laptop runs very cool. But with flash, it is hopeless.

Anyone knows why why flash videos consume so much resources? I thought flash would take lesser resources.

#2 Post by **ryengineer** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:24 pm

gator, my system temperature seems to remain stable with little or no variation while watching flash videos.

You should look into your Java flash player.

#3 Post by **gator** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:28 pm

ryengineer wrote:You should look into your Java flash player.

Any pointers on this? I have not installed Java on my machine other than what came with my T60 - I have the IBM Java Web starrt v 1.4.2.

And this problem is univesal, irrespective of the browser I use.

#4 Post by **rkawakami** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:04 am

Another data point...

Running WinXP Pro SP2 on a 1.2Ghz, 1GB, T23, connected via ~900Kbps downstream, ~300Kbps up DSL and viewing ABC.com streaming video (original version; appears to be Adobe Flash) with Firefox, my CPU temp goes from the mid 50's (idle) to the lower and mid 70's, as long as the video window is on top. Firefox CPU usage as measured by Task Manager varies from 25% (video window in background) to 70% (video window in foreground) to 95% (mousing over the preview thumbnails).

YouTube video viewing causes CPU temp to peak at 67c.

My guess would be that displaying video on screen is what is eating up CPU cycles. It probably doesn't matter which viewer or application is being used.

Installed software:
Java 2 Platform Standard Edition ver. 1.5.0
Adobe Flash Player ver. 9.0.28.0

anthean · #5 Post by **anthean** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:12 am

Shockwave will run any CPU at 100%. Does this sound familiar:

Issue
The Windows Task Manager CPU usage meter shows 100% utilization when Director, a projector or Shockwave is running. This affect is seen consistently when there is Flash or Multiuser Server content within a Director movie.

See: http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgeb ... id=tn_8151

Purcy · #6 Post by **Purcy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:41 am

rkawakami wrote:
YouTube video viewing causes CPU temp to peak at 67c.

I have the same heat rise when viewing flash from Youtube. I have Adobe Flash 9 but my Java says it is Sun Java (??) However, I find it interesting that once you download an .flv file from YouTube or anywhere else and convert and save it as an .avi file, the playback of that .avi file causes no temp. rise (or I should say minimal). Of course, it is not streaming any longer, but I do think the video file type and player combo have something to do with it... I've just started saving my favorite .flv videos to my hard drive, as .avi files. Can watch them anytime and they do not cause the CPU spike.

#7 Post by **gator** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:41 pm

Ray/Purcy

Thanks for your repliles. I agree 100% with what purcy says - with .avi or even .divx files, my T60's temperature does not shoot up. If I save youtube vidoes as .flv or .avi, the temperatures do not shoot up. It happens only with streaming flash videos, esp. on youtube ... I have a X1400 (128 MB!) and I am very surprised to see this even with having a dedicated GPU. I checked this on my X31 (before I sold it) and I noticed it there too, but the temperatures rose up much faster. My matlab simulations run for hours with no side effects, watching a DVD fullscreen does not affect my system temperature one bit, but watching a flash video for 5 minutes will make my CPU run hotter by atleast 10C? I hate flash now

Anthean, that was a good link. Thanks for sharing it.

dsigma6 · #8 Post by **dsigma6** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:46 pm

rkawakami wrote:my CPU temp goes from the mid 50's (idle) to the lower and mid 70's

You're not using TPFanControl? I wouldn't run my T23 without it. It'll usually max out at 60C @100% load for an extended period of time. (With fan running 5000RPM)

I'm idling right now at 31C, with Vista.

#9 Post by **gator** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 2:40 pm

dsigma6 wrote:It'll usually max out at 60C @100% load for an extended period of time. (With fan running 5000RPM)

5000 RPM? I am wondering how that will sound ... is it like the hum of a desktop?

To Lenovo's credit, the T60 runs pretty cool ... I loved my X31, but I went crazy about the amount of heat that it generated on extended use ... had to resort (thanks to tomh009's help) undervolting the CPU using NHC and it became bearable then.

Temetka · #10 Post by **Temetka** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 12:11 am

How does one convert .flv to .avi?

#11 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 1:08 am

Google "convert .flv to .avi" and be amazed.....

#12 Post by **ryengineer** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:34 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:Google "convert .flv to .avi" and be amazed.....

Let me know if you get any freeware through that.

dr_st · #13 Post by **dr_st** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 4:48 am

It's easier just to get an FLV player, or use FFDSHOW to play FLV in any codec-compatible media player.

Purcy · #14 Post by **Purcy** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:39 am

Temetka wrote:How does one convert .flv to .avi?

I have used two different freewares; the first is actually a Firefox extension and puts a button on your toolbar:
http://javimoya.com/blog/youtube_en.php

but the one I like better is called YouTube Downloader:
http://www.download3000.com/download_19063.html ; this app allows you to save any .flv as .avi or .mpeg to your designated computer folder.

and the advantages of converting .flv to .avi - .avi will play on many more players and I feel it looks better. After downloading I even put some of my favorites on my PDA (stored on a storage card) and they play fantastically well. My player of choice for my PC is Core Media Player: http://www.corecoded.com/ and for my PDA I use the Core Pocket Media Player: http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=1080

Website · #15 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 6:37 pm

Purcy wrote:...After downloading I even put some of my favorites on my PDA (stored on a storage card) and they play fantastically well. My player of choice for my PC is Core Media Player: http://www.corecoded.com/ and for my PDA I use the Core Pocket Media Player: http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=1080

Purcy...YOU ROCK!!!!

I finally got around to following your advice....I am now watching Underworld 2 on my Dell Axim X51v!!!!!!!!! I was able to use this program to watch the files that I was able to shrink down to 300MB for my PDA, and the viewing experience is EXCELLENT!!!! (especially in landscape format)

(Note: Before anyone asks...NO I am not going to post the name of the program that I used to shrink the files, as it would violate forum rules)

Purcy · #16 Post by **Purcy** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:21 pm

Oh boy, am I in trouble for posting the links to the applications I use?? I am sorry about that. I am not pirating anyone's licensed videos, I promise, only Youtube stuff which is open license to anyone and my own videos.

Glad you are finally enjoying some videos Steve, one of my favorite Youtube videos is Nora the Piano Playing Cat

#17 Post by **ryengineer** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 7:29 pm

Purcy wrote:one of my favorite Youtube videos is Nora the Piano Playing Cat

That kitty is so cute.

Website · #18 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 8:07 pm

Purcy wrote:Oh boy, am I in trouble for posting the links to the applications I use?? I am sorry about that. I am not pirating anyone's licensed videos, I promise, only Youtube stuff which is open license to anyone and my own videos.

Glad you are finally enjoying some videos Steve, one of my favorite Youtube videos is Nora the Piano Playing Cat

No, you aren't in trouble...I just don't want to post the name of the program that I am using to basically "rip" DVDs. You posted the link to a program that "reads" the files.

As for favorite YouTube videos, aside from my own of course, I really like the "Kick His Ask!" video. I have watched it countless times.

dsigma6 · #19 Post by **dsigma6** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 4:19 pm

gator wrote:5000 RPM? I am wondering how that will sound ... is it like the hum of a desktop?

Ha, it's not that bad. I'd rather deal with a little noise than have my system melting.

Fan level of 64 results in 6000RPM...that's a bit distracting.

#20 Post by **gator** » Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:22 pm

dsigma6 wrote:Fan level of 64 results in 6000RPM...that's a bit distracting.

Just one bit? Dontcha mean a giga bit?

I know, I know, weak joke ...

militops · #21 Post by **militops** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 2:06 am

You can try this youtube downloader.

Flash vidoes on laptops

Flash vidoes on laptops

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