[mythtv-users] Re: [Re:] How well does Unichrome work?

[Joe Votour]

Jarod (and everybody else interested),

Hopefully this makes it under the correct thread,
since I lost the previous message from you.

I just wanted to say that I picked up an Epia M10000
over the weekend, the only one that I could find at
the three Fry's stores in the Bay Area that I visited.
 Lots of Epia ME6000's though.  :)

So, I installed the RPMs from ATRpms, the Unichrome
RPMs and recompiled MythTV from CVS.  I must say that
I'm highly impressed.  Unfortunately it isn't powerful
enough to play the XMAME ROMs (though I expected that)
that I want to play, and the picture isn't quite as
good as a PVR-350, but the picture is pretty darn
good.  I'm certainly glad that I picked it up.

In order to get the picture as good as I feel it is, I
enabled the hardware decoding, as well as the XvMC
(interestingly enough, I don't know if it's a bug or a
feature, but you can't turn on only one or the other,
both must be turned on, or mythfrontend aborts).  I
also enabled the kernel deinterlace filter, which
fixed up the motion blur quite well.  I also love the
fact that the EPG isn't full screen (like it is on the
PVR-350).

With those settings, it passes the "CNN test", and
even the ESPN ticker (which seems worse than the CNN
one) is perfectly smooth.  Heck, any scrolling message
seems to be very smooth.

At this point, I've only used it as a frontend, and
haven't tried MythVideo, MythDVD or MythMusic yet (I
will get to compiling them soon).

I can confirm the "rumors" or some DMA issues on the
motherboard.  I noticed a bunch of DMA errors (BadCRC)
last night, but today, I removed the DVD-ROM drive
(which was connected to the HD on the same channel),
changed the cable, and set the HD to cable select, and
the DMA problems went away.  Mind you, at this point,
I don't have a PCI card in the unit, I'll probably
stick a PVR-250 in it and see how well it captures.

So, to reiterate, I'm very happy with the Epia M10000.
 I figure that with time, it can only get better.  I
can't wait until I get a surround sound system for
home to try out.  :)

Now hopefully the OSD stutter issue can be fixed... 
Maybe a lighter weight OSD for Epias.  I may have to
take a look over the long weekend.

-- Joe


		
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