I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices. I found plenty of motherboards with combinations of 2x or 3x pci and 3x pci-express. I can simply convert those pci-e to pci with an adapter so that is not a problem. The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The end result should be a machine that is good for vdr as a frontend and a backend, that is fast enough to be able to do transcoding on the fly for those mobile devices that don't accept mpeg2 natively. (I have been doing some transcoding using vlc + mediatomb on a core2 duo 1.8GHz). I'm trying to get rid of the core2 duo and the p3 (currently hosting the dvb-s cards)
I don't see intel atom machines with at least 5+ expansion slots.
You suggestions are most welcome.
Thanks, Theunis
I think your puzzle might become easier to solve if you consider using PCIe SAT cards with dual tuners. That will ease the expansion slot requirements.
I have just ordered a batch of Tevii S480 http://tevii.com/Products_S480_1.asp and I can let you know how they work once I receive them.
Sorry, I cannot help with VDPAU etc.
Regards Thomas
On 03.11.2010 10:06, Theunis Potgieter wrote:
I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices. I found plenty of motherboards with combinations of 2x or 3x pci and 3x pci-express. I can simply convert those pci-e to pci with an adapter so that is not a problem. The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The end result should be a machine that is good for vdr as a frontend and a backend, that is fast enough to be able to do transcoding on the fly for those mobile devices that don't accept mpeg2 natively. (I have been doing some transcoding using vlc + mediatomb on a core2 duo 1.8GHz). I'm trying to get rid of the core2 duo and the p3 (currently hosting the dvb-s cards)
I don't see intel atom machines with at least 5+ expansion slots.
You suggestions are most welcome.
Thanks, Theunis
vdr mailing list vdr@linuxtv.org http://www.linuxtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/vdr
FWIW, I've been using vdpau for HD htpc's for quite some time now and my experience has been great. I think this is the case for most people as well. However, xine-lib (especially vdpau) development seems to be dead at the moment. There are known bugs and as far as I can tell nobody is working on resolving them. You may want to look more into that before making your purchase. I have no experience using vaapi so I can't speak to that. I also have no comment about your transcoding requirement other then if whatever hardware you have works now, I can't see why something faster wouldn't be able to manage as well.
My current systems are all low power Zotac ION boxes, and 'normal' pc's using GT220 video cards.
Am 03.11.2010 10:06, schrieb Theunis Potgieter:
I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices.
The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The alternatives for HD output are still not very satisfying.
The best - and most common - chances currently are NVidia / vdpau, though you're stuck on a heavyweight graphics card solution based on closed source drivers. Plus, NVidia is starting to fade away for onboard graphics, limiting the future to separate graphics cards.
Intel graphis and vaapi (Core i3 or GMA X4500HD) is looking very promising, however its currently more of a proof-of-concept. I think the best implementation is currenly as mplayer frontend.
AMD also supports vaapi, but progress is very slow, and its still very buggy. Also, its limited to closed source drivers.
Hardware decoder cards exist, but have their own issues. Extension HD works, but seems already to be a dying solution. The Broadcom Crystal decoder works, but has no own output and no de-interlacer. The Technotrend 6400 FF HD card would be a nice simply-works solution, but is fighting delays over delays. (Current release plan is Feb 2011, further delays would surprise no one any more)
I am facing the same problem, and decided not to rush anything, esp. since I still don't have an HD capable TV anyway.
Cheers,
Udo
On 6 November 2010 14:14, Udo Richter udo_richter@gmx.de wrote:
Am 03.11.2010 10:06, schrieb Theunis Potgieter:
I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices.
The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The alternatives for HD output are still not very satisfying.
The best - and most common - chances currently are NVidia / vdpau, though you're stuck on a heavyweight graphics card solution based on closed source drivers. Plus, NVidia is starting to fade away for onboard graphics, limiting the future to separate graphics cards.
Intel graphis and vaapi (Core i3 or GMA X4500HD) is looking very promising, however its currently more of a proof-of-concept. I think the best implementation is currenly as mplayer frontend.
I was hoping for this for intel solution (less heat and power usage), but their media boards only comes out with hdmi and no onboard(back board) optical SPDIF out (you need a casing/enclosure with the optical module that plugs into the board).
AMD also supports vaapi, but progress is very slow, and its still very buggy. Also, its limited to closed source drivers.
Sounds similar to what nvidia went through.
Hardware decoder cards exist, but have their own issues. Extension HD works, but seems already to be a dying solution. The Broadcom Crystal decoder works, but has no own output and no de-interlacer. The Technotrend 6400 FF HD card would be a nice simply-works solution, but is fighting delays over delays. (Current release plan is Feb 2011, further delays would surprise no one any more)
Trying to avoid transcoding other media files back to mpeg2 for the FF HD card.
I am facing the same problem, and decided not to rush anything, esp. since I still don't have an HD capable TV anyway.
Maybe I need to wait for other manufacturers to provide intel (SoC) hdmi solutions with optical SPDIF out on the backpanel, reason being I require optical as my receiver/amplifier (NAD T761) is from the older generation that is not hdmi compliant. Trying to avoid this upgrade too.
The best board that that I can see so far is this one but requires external graphics card and is still a desktop (price comparison) http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=prodmbspec&maincat_no=1&cat2_no=&a...
I just need to buy 2x (pci-e to pci) converters for my current 4x pci dvb-s cards in the pentium 3.
And I would still have some pci-e slots free for future use.
I have this card already: nVidia Geforce 8400GS, Architecture: G98 A2 and it works great currently with vdr + streamdev as a client + xineliboutput.vdpau, power usage is still a bit high though.
The goal is to consolidate the two machines to one machine which runs 24/7.
My current power usage for vdr in the home is 330W. I know this by using a power/electricity monitor device.
Thanks, Theunis
Cheers,
Udo
On 2010-11-08 at 12:54 +0200, Theunis Potgieter wrote:
On 6 November 2010 14:14, Udo Richter udo_richter@gmx.de wrote:
AMD also supports vaapi, but progress is very slow, and its still very buggy. Also, its limited to closed source drivers.
Sounds similar to what nvidia went through.
AMD's progress has been snail-paced. I think they have actually gone backwards for at least a year now. Most (All?) of the XvBA interfacing work has been done by Gwenole Beauchesne, who is working for a third party.
Nvidia's VDPAU is at least supported and it works rather well compared to every other similar attempt on Linux so far.
-- Niko
Приветствую, Theunis
you can try http://crystalhd.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/crystalhd/branches/xine-lib-1.2...
I'm considering to upgrade my current p3 system to a hdmi/optical SPDIF and enough expansion slots to fill in dvb-s devices. I found plenty of motherboards with combinations of 2x or 3x pci and 3x pci-express. I can simply convert those pci-e to pci with an adapter so that is not a problem. The unkown factor for me is, should I consider a motherboard where the Core i3 (System on Chip) has got a built in hdmi interface? Or would I be better off with nvidia's vdpau, of consider to go ati/amd and what power usage are we looking at? Should I then rely on vaapi support again?
The end result should be a machine that is good for vdr as a frontend and a backend, that is fast enough to be able to do transcoding on the fly for those mobile devices that don't accept mpeg2 natively. (I have been doing some transcoding using vlc + mediatomb on a core2 duo 1.8GHz). I'm trying to get rid of the core2 duo and the p3 (currently hosting the dvb-s cards)
I don't see intel atom machines with at least 5+ expansion slots.
You suggestions are most welcome.
-
Goga777 -
Niko Mikkilä -
Theunis Potgieter -
Thomas Netousek -
Udo Richter -
VDR User