[mythtv-users] HDTV Woes

[Jarod Wilson]

On Tuesday 05 April 2005 10:30, Brandon Beattie wrote:
> On Sat, Apr 02, 2005 at 02:48:46PM -0500, Donavan Stanley wrote:
> > On Apr 1, 2005 2:10 PM, Tom E. Craddock Jr. <sigtom at sigtom.com> wrote:
> > >  >Mat Kyne wrote:
> > > >
> > > > So my question that I lay before the all-knowing Mythtv guru's is
> > > > this, What am I doing wrong. Do I just need a faster processor (I
> > > > currently have a 2.4 Ghz Celeron that I bought just for this)? Or are
> > > > there other things that I can try first. Any help would be
> > > > appreciated. Thanks -Mat
> > >
> > > Yes, you need a faster processor. A 2.4 celery wont cut it.  I just
> > > barely got by with a AMD XP2100+.
> >
> > ummm no.  My 2.5 celeron does just fine using libmpeg2 for playback,
> > and no XvMC enabled.
>
> Libmpeg2 does decode mpeg2 faster than the built in decoder.

Except not on at least three Athlon 64 systems (see thread "Optimizing MythTV 
for AMD64").

> There are 
> also some cons to libmpeg2.  The most noticible is any corruption of
> streams, even minor will create large green bars across the screen.  The
> built in decoder only gets small blockiness, no green, and barely
> noticible.

Ah, didn't know that was the case. I've seen that a time or two on my slower 
frontend. I may have to see if that box can handle the internal decode after 
the processor upgrade...

> Libmpeg2 does not produce the same quality of picture.  Motion 
> smoothness isn't as good either.

I've noticed slightly less-smooth video on my secondary box, will have to pay 
attention to smoothness if I can use the internal decoder now...

> For the same reason an athlon 64bit 3400 
> doesn't produce a more smooth motion than a P4 2.8Ghz, I doubt the
> celeron would be as good either, but that may be fine depending on how
> important perfection (or as close as can get) is for you.  You also
> don't really notice unless you put two systems side by side, so some
> people won't care, but let the truth be known.. :)  I would never
> recommend anything that you have to reply on libmpeg2 only for decoding,
> or XvMC.

+1. :-)

The output on my main HD playback box using the internal decoder and Xv output 
is most definitely better, though it helps that its actually hooked to an 
HDTV. My other box is certainly passable though.

-- 
Jarod Wilson
jarod at wilsonet.com

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