[mythtv-users] HD playback without XvMC

[Support [ Ian Ward ]]

Mark Lehrer wrote:
>> I'm going to build a new frontend soon, specifically for HD playback.
>> While XvMC works, it still seems to have its share of problems and I'm
>> wondering what it would take to not deal with it.  Is anyone able to
>> play 1080i HD without using XvMC?  If so, what CPU adn GPU are you
>> using, and how well does it work at various timestretch settings?
>>     
>
> After spending WAY too much time trying to make my old cpus work, I
> finally got a 3800 x2 over the weekend - and this is the first time
> I have had perfect 1080i playback (2x deinterlaced & scaled to 720p).
> I had a P4 3.2 and an Athlon 3500+ before, and neither could keep up
> unless I used one of the inferior deinterlacing methods like Discard
> or Blend.
>
> As it turned out, Xorg and vlc (my preferred playback utility) were
> each trying to use as much CPU as possible, so the dual core makes
> all the difference.
>
> Mark
>   
Thanks for the feedback.
I am in exactly the same situation.  I am about to hit the "checkout" to 
order a new MB for a new frontend.
It looks to me like XvMC can be too much of a problem.  XvMC does not 
address the performance issues you would have with any MPEG4 HD content 
as that must be software rendered anyway.

Regarding the processor, you are talking about THIS one right? An Athlon 
64 3800
http://www.amdcompare.com/us-en/desktop/details.aspx?opn=ADA3800DAA4BP

My mythsetup is running in Standard Defiinition at the moment ( In 
Australia that is 720 x 576i )

Regarding your software de-interlace, you say "2x deinterlaced" , are 
you referring to "BOB (2 x framerate)?
I also have "Use libmpeg2" checked ( the current frontend is Athlon 2800 )