[mythtv-users] split-second freezing on HD channels

[Brian Wood]

On Friday, December 03, 2010 01:14:19 am rawgarlic at gmail.com wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 10:49 PM, Raymond Wagner
> <raymond at wagnerrp.com> wrote:
> 
> The Atom processor really insufficient for decoding HD MPEG2 on its
> own.  You are just barely on the edge of not having enough power for
> your content, and occasionally the bitrate spikes up too high,
> causing playback to temporarily freeze.  Most people who use Atoms
> for frontends are using them in combination with an nVidia 9400M or
> GT218M, which is known as an ION.  The nVidia graphics chip allows
> full offloading of decoding of supported content, making up for the
> deficiencies of the Atom.
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------
> 
> I am looking at the nVidia cards but they all appear to be PCI
> Express cards. This mini-ITX case has only 1 PCI slot and it will
> take a low-profile (half-height) PCI card.
> It will not take a PCI Express card.
> Any recommendations?

There are standard PCI cards that support VDPAU, but I've not seen any 
low profile ones (not to say there aren't any, just that I have not run 
across them).

Do you have a mini PCIExpress slot? Many small boards have them to use 
for WiFi radios. This would allow you to use a Broadcom CrystalHD 
module, not as well supported as VDPAU, but such support is coming.