[mythtv-users] 350 for video playback

[Blues Guy]

Darren Richards wrote:

>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Joseph A. Caputo" <jcaputo1 at comcast.net>
>To: "Discussion about mythtv" <mythtv-users at mythtv.org>
>Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 7:53 AM
>Subject: Re: [mythtv-users] 350 for video playback
>
>
>  
>
>>On Saturday 21 February 2004 16:43, Dan Boger wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>I currently have our 350 set up on a P3-450MHz, and watching live TV, or
>>>playing back recordings is very simple.  However, when I try to use
>>>MythVideo, the playback is too slow to be viewable.  I understand that's
>>>because the ivtv driver isn't using the full hardware capabilities (as
>>>far as rgb->yuv), but I was wondering if anyone has any experience using
>>>a 350 on a faster machine (2GHz+), and if MythVideo was usable at that
>>>point?  Or do I just need to keep waiting until the ivtv driver develops
>>>more?
>>>
>>>If so, I can try to convince my wife we need a better myth server.
>>>
>>>Any suggestions welcome!
>>>      
>>>
>>Unfortunately, the problem is not CPU-bound, except in the sense that you
>>    
>>
>need
>  
>
>>enough CPU to do the decoding... a P3-450 is on the low end of the scale
>>    
>>
>for
>  
>
>>full-screen DVD decoding.  However, a faster machine will not be much
>>    
>>
>better,
>  
>
>>because the real limiting factor is the ability of the 350's framebuffer
>>    
>>
>to
>  
>
>>display (non-MPEG) video.  The hardware is capable; the ivtv driver isn't
>>(yet).  I believe there's an mplayer patch to use the 350's decoder, which
>>should help for DVDs, but as yet there's nothing for non-MPEG-1/2 streams
>>(i.e., divx/xvid).  Though some folks with fast enough machines have
>>    
>>
>reported
>  
>
>>being able to transcode divx->MPEG1/2 in real time & using the patched
>>mplayer...
>>
>>Bottom line: your 2 likeliest options are (1) wait for the ivtv driver to
>>support raw YUV video, or (2) use a different video-out card
>>
>>-JAC
>>    
>>
>
>Unfortunately I didn't do my homework before buying the 350, and I'm faced
>with the two options mentioned above.  I think I'll wait for the 0.2.0 ivtv
>drivers, and if they don't solve the problems I'm seeing, I think I may
>invest in another video-out card until drivers mature.  Jarod mentioned
>using a GF4MX card.  If I used a similar setup (350 for capture, GF4MX for
>video out), would this also solve the ivtv-related problems I'm seeing with
>the program guide crashing my system, and truncated/incomplete recordings?
>
>Right now the WAF is about zero, and she's not too happy that I spent all
>this money on something that's not really usable.  If investing in a video
>card would make the setup more wife-friendly, it would be worth it...
>
>  
>
Hot news off the ivtv-dev list is a new X driver from Matthias and some 
patches from Chris that make the EPG usable.  Personally I only needed 
to use the X driver, because the latest ivtv rpm from Axel has been very 
stable for me (aside from the EPG).  All I did was install the new ivtv 
X driver, modify one line my X86Config, and restart X.  My EPG now works 
flawlessly with my PVR-350.

Here's the link to the driver... 
http://www.poptix.net/ivtv/current/msg00419.html
Chris' patches (which I didn't need) are here... 
http://www.poptix.net/ivtv/current/msg00422.html

With both those two, everyone with PVR-350's *should* be able to get 
stable tv-out and use the OSD/EPG without lockups....YMMV.

Many kudos to Matthias, Chris, Kevin, the rest of th ivtv guys, and of 
course Isaac for Myth being some awesome....




>thanks,
>darren
>
>_______________________________________________
>mythtv-users mailing list
>mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
>  
>