I found a workaround. Go to smplayer settings and set all cache options to zero. This cured the issue for me. This solution was inspired by the following bug in the smplayer sourceforge.net bug tracker http://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3340564&group_id=185512&atid=913573
** Bug watch added: SourceForge.net Tracker #3340564 http://sourceforge.net/support/tracker.php?aid=3340564 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/878000 Title: smplayer GUI hangs with 100% CPU usage when trying to play anything To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/smplayer/+bug/878000/+subscriptions -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs