[mythtv-users] HDTV on EPIA SP13000

[R. G. Newbury]

James D wrote:
> Has anyone actually got this to work well?
> I've read this post to the dev list: 
> http://mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-dev/2005-December/042588.html
> but I can't even get close to the results he claims.
>  
> With Via XvMC selected I can actually watch HDTV without the CPU being 
> the bottleneck, but some channels / programs it will be very close. CPU 
> usage is usally 70% - 95% watching HD content depending on the format 
> and program. The video is smooth enough, but the audio is choppy no 
> matter what I do. Enabling AC3 passthrough makes it much worse... any ideas?
>  
> The other thing is the video only works on 720p and SD channels, 1080 
> channels just show a blank screen with audio (that isn't choppy 
> ironically). Perhaps I need to make the code adjustment from the post 
> above? I'm hesitant since I rather rely on gentoo than do a hand 
> compile, but you can only set the framebuffer memory to 64M max in the 
> BIOS, so I'm suspicous there isn't enough video memory for 1080. I've 
> set the framebuffer to 64M, I've got 512M in the box... I wonder if the 
> bus could be the bottleneck??
>  
> Would appreciate if anyone who has watchable HD on an EPIA would share 
> what they did.


You DO realize that the chipset on the SP13000 will NOT actually do full 
HD? The limit is 1024x1024 apparently to VGA and something less through 
the S-video output (limitation of S-video??)

So 720p output probably gets passed as 1024x720 but, unless the HD is 
downscaled, 1080 will not work.

The post you refer to does not actually says what output he is using: he 
may be downscaling to a TV.

The new EN-15000 motherboard uses the VT1625 chipset and will (according 
to the published specs) do full 1980x1080 out.  (Memo to self, not 
needed: add to wishlist!).

Geoff