[mythtv-users] Netflix under MythTV

Big Wave Dave bigwavedave at gmail.com
Fri Apr 9 16:57:53 UTC 2010


On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 9:50 AM, Allen Edwards <allen.p.edwards at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 9:18 AM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
>>
>> On Friday 09 April 2010 10:03:18 am Allen Edwards wrote:
>> > I have seen some discussion on integrating Netflix Streaming in a Myth
>> > system. Perhaps I can get some help, or be of help.
>> >
>> > I have set up a menu selection that runs VirtualBox and fires off
>> > Windows
>> >  XP and Netflix.  I can then stream instant movies.  The problem is they
>> >  jitter so badly nobody will watch them.  The sound is fine (digital),
>> > but
>> >  the picture is jerky like you would expect if the machine lacked CPU
>> >  power.  I am using a AMD 5400+, Mythbuntu 8.04 and Myth 0.21.
>> >  VirtualBox
>> >  version 2.1.2.
>>
>> Wow, that would take a long time to bring up VirtualBox, then XP, then
>> Netflix.
>> I'd be too impatient to put up with that.
>>
>> >
>> > In a recent post, someone said that VirtualBox will run 99% of raw CPU
>> >  power but I would expect my 5400+ to have enough power to stream.  Help
>> >  would be appreciated.
>>
>> I'd have a look at your XP VM and see if it's pegging CPU, or perhaps
>> lacks
>> RAM.
>>
>>
>> You might also want to try Netflix using one of the "approved" methods to
>> see
>> if your network connection is fast and clean enough to provide Netflix
>> well. If
>> that works you can start looking into problems with your VB instance and
>> the
>> VM running XP.
>>
>> Do you have anything controlling CPU speed on your VirtualBox machine?
>>
>> One thing I've discovered running PlayON under VirtualBox: The underlying
>> OS
>> does not ramp up the CPU speed when PlayOn needs it. I get stuttering with
>> Hulu unless I manually speed up the CPUs on the machine running
>> VirtualBox.
>> This is a recent development, I didn't have to do that until recently. I
>> think
>> Hulu and/or PlayOn has done something that ups the CPU requirement.
>>
>> So you might see what happens if you max the CPU speed on the box running
>> VirtualBox manually, or adjust the throttling thresholds.
>
> Thanks for the reply
> It really doesn't take long to come up to the Netflix site as everything is
> automatic up to that point. About 15 seconds I think.  I don't have to do
> anything until I get to the Netflix site except press the button in Myth.
> I have 2G ram.  I can run Netflix in the house on windows machines.  I
> assume that is what you mean by approved apps. My Internet is testing at
> 5.2MB right now, my wife must be slowing it down ;-)
> I do have CPU throttling so that is an interesting point. It should go to
> full speed at some very low threshold. I can't remember exactly but I think
> something like 5%.  In any event, the machine is running at 2.8GHz when
> watching a streaming movie and the CPU reading in TOP is 102%.  The movie I
> picked actually looked OK but at 102% CPU, I am sure I will have trouble if
> I try and watch the entire thing.
> The other issue I have is that I set up VirtualBox for my old TV at 600x800
> and now with my new LCD TV I am getting this little box inside the screen. I
> could work to fix that but I hesitate to put in the time until I solve the
> CPU load issue as I don't think asking for 720x1280 is going to help things.
> Allen

Did you install the VirtualBox Guest Additions?  I know I've seen odd
problems like this until I install the Guest Additions.

Dave


More information about the mythtv-users mailing list