Messages

1

Developers / Re: Ruby GSD codes help

« on: December 16, 2008, 03:11:23 am »

Just wondering how your HAI control is getting along ...

2

Users / iPhone

« on: October 27, 2008, 04:03:42 am »

Has anybody tested an iPhone as an orbiter? Would like to know any pitfalls etc.

3

Developers / Re: Multi core processing

« on: October 02, 2008, 04:36:03 am »

Sounds interesting! BTW, tho the 9 series nVidia chipset will be way too new, so you will definitely have graphics problems right from the install/setup phase. You will need to install the latest drivers from nVidia - you can find a pretty good guide to this in the wiki.

Thanks Colin. We did that with nVidia driver patch earlier and it works OK, only issue being when you update the OS it breaks the OS. So, the solution was to write a work around into fooling MCE that the drivers are 6 or 7 series - seemed to work but still had issues with tearing in Alpha Blending mode.

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Developers / Re: Multi core processing

« on: October 02, 2008, 04:20:28 am »

if you mean when running under Windows this is what you see, then I would suggest that the progressive points 1-4 are more likely closer to the mark...

In any case, it is possible to multithread graphics decoding so that load is shared, but requires a lot more coding sophistication - typically dividing up the screen into 2 or 4 pieces, and dispatching the load to each of the cores. I suspect that xinelib does not do this, which is a shame, but I'm sure it will be addressed in future releases, especially given the drive to multiple cores/CPUs and the graphics driver issues...

Thanks Colin you have been very  helpful and on reviewing your points 1 - 4 I now better understand what is happening. I also understand what you mean by multithread graphics, it is what I meant to say but did not know the right terminology. My background is in IT sales and marketing, before that I was in Commercial Automation systems  so you need to excuse my dumbness in this arena.

FYI, I am getting a  HP Touchsmart loaner  to test with MCE - I have a Linux expert at hand who is going to do this. I will post the findings in due course including CPU use. The HP Touchsmart is one sexy piece of kit and would make an incredible hybrid or media director I reckon. Interestingly it runs a 9 series Nvidia, a good start &  I think it should work - fingers crossed.

Cheers mate.

5

Developers / Re: Multi core processing

« on: October 02, 2008, 03:41:56 am »

OK, I'm probably not the best person to explain this as there are a few points that I have not been certain of myself in this area. However, some comments:

1) I have assumed (although not certain) that the per process CPU usage shown in top actually adds up to 100% x # of cores. So for a dual box, this would be 200%. The top manual page entry is a little ambiguous on this point, however I have often noticed that my sum CPU usage for the top few processes displayed in top is far more than 100%. The top manual page seems to me to imply that this is the reason why.

2) If you have a process that the bulk of the work is done by a single thread, and it is maxing out the core it happens to be on, and your box is a dual core machine, then I would expect top to show 100%, being all computing resources available for that core, and thus effective 50% of the overall machine's resources.

3) In your case, that would seem to suggest that that it is consuming 100% of one core from 4, being a quarter of the total 400% CPU available to you.... in other words 25% of the total available to the machine.....

4) The above point is highly suggestive, but not definitive - could just be a coincidence, but it is important to note that Windows definitely does not calculate CPU like this. 100% means 100%. If a CPU bound process is sucking up all CPU resources for a single thread on a single core of four, then Windows would report that as 25%. It would also look like the waveform is unnaturally "clipped" around that 25% mark rather than the more normal "spikey" look.

5) Note that Windows always has significant advantages in decompressing various video codecs as they can hand off a lot of these to the video card rather than sucking up CPU. In many cases, Linux has to do the heavy lifting directly on the CPU because of the stranglehold that M$ has on hardware manufacturers, limiting how much of the hardware we buy from them is exposed for our use!

Thanks again Colin, I think your point #5 hits the nail on the head. I am actually getting 100% CPU use on ONE core of a quad core AMD Pheneom 2.2Ghz CPU. So it appears there is no sharing of load amongst the balance of the cores.

Cheers.

6

Developers / Re: Multi core processing

« on: October 02, 2008, 02:50:52 am »

Here is a really stupid question. Linux MCE does NOT support multi core processing - am I right?

Thanks Colin,

I am led to believe that Windows supports simultaneous multi core processing - I thouight this may also be the case with Linux MCE - Yes / No? It's just that  when playing back a recorded HD program (in 1080p) my CPU is at 100% - I am running an AMD Quad core 2.2Ghz Phenom CPU. When  playing back the same thing with the same CPU on a Windows machine it results  in just over 25% CPU useage (same video card / memory etc) -  just wondering how come? Someone told me I need to install the H.264 codecs from CorCodec - is this true?  I thought these codecs were alread present.  I am confused.

Cheers.

7

Developers / Re: Ruby GSD codes help

« on: October 01, 2008, 06:47:47 am »

I really wish I could help you technically, but I am a real dumb nut when it comes to code. However, I do resell HAI gear and would be VERY excited to test out the RUBY code once you have it finalised - PLEASE - Cheers.

8

Developers / Multi core processing

« on: October 01, 2008, 05:56:11 am »

Here is a really stupid question. Linux MCE does NOT support multi core processing - am I right?

9

Users / Re: Change WIKI hardware section on motherboards?

« on: September 18, 2008, 05:35:26 am »

The Wiki hardware section on motherboards is useful as a "yes it works"/"no it doesn't".

It is not useful at all from the point of view of figuring out if a new motherboard or variant of an existing one will work, or how much of it will work.

I'd propose that the motherboard section takes each motherboard and breaks it down into the chipsets on it, then there are just pointers to info about that chipset.

For example,

Motherboard A
- Sound: ALC889A -> (points to separate page about this chip)
             working on this motherboard? Y/N

Or maybe this just means a separate set of hardware entries for chipsets?

I know the process I go through to select a motherboard is quite involved.  I am happy to start the ball rolling and document the process and the chipsets.

PS is there a way to invoke some sort of script to automatically get motherboard info from other web sites and past it into the Wiki.  Not that there is such a script, am just after ideas on *how* this could be done

Toytally agreed - I have waisted SO much time on motherboards that appear to be as per recommended but just will NOT work!

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Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 18, 2008, 05:10:26 am »

Wrong again. This system is a smart home platform. Media only comprises 20% of the entire system. With that said, We can only do what we can do from within the context of the legal system. If someone outside the USA wants to implement enhanced BD functionality, then they can. Nothing stopping them. But those of us in the US can neither develop nor legally use such implements.

-Thom

Well, you are partially right. Of all new homes built in Australia (145,000 per annum) only 1.9% have any smart home enhancments at all - a pitiful penetration.  Stateside may be higher - dunno. Putting it this way the Media takes the stage. People want to be entertained first, then they worry about lighting control & security cams. Enhancing BD fucntionality outside of the USA I believe is also illegal as the Intel / MSTF machine reigns with a big stick and soft voice everywhere - but you may be right, someone,  somewhere in China, Moscow, Taiwan or Timbucktoo will up the anti. We can only pray.

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Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 18, 2008, 05:00:07 am »

I can only hope that a large influential company or group takes this up and gets the fair use laws changed to force companies to allow people to copy their own stuff.  Unlikely I know, but as media centers become more and more popular, more and more people are going to demand the ability to put the movies and such they pay for on their media center.

Everyone knows protection doesn't stop piracy, yet these companies continue to use DRM to prevent honest people for accessing what they pay for.  The music industry has gone this way, we just need movies and cable companies to follow suit.  I know, preaching to the choir.

Fully agreed mate. There MUST be a civil law action circumventing what these multinational greed mongers are doing. If enough people boycot and make the movie and BD industry suffer (as they did with the music industry) they will listen intently.  It is only when the lining of their pockets wears thin of our money that they will listen. I suggest they stop paying lousy actors $15M ($5M is not enough?) a movie and focus more on fair trade to keep their thus far  sheep like mentality consumers loyal. Wake up world,  HDCP is corporate disctatoriship and will NOT stop piracy.

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Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 18, 2008, 04:35:41 am »

This seems to be a hot topic. I agree with colin jones. This is not an issue of playing back 1080p HD content (I am doing that now - recorded HD content from a FTA digital TV station plays back nicley - but am experiencing 100% CPU usage which is a worry on a Quad Core AMD 2.2Ghz Phenom / 2GB 1066 RAM). It is a matter of playing back 1080p HD content from a HDCP complint blu ray disc. Whilst I appreciate  what Indulis is saying and it sounds logical re DVI or VGA,  I do not believe this will achieve 1080p playback from an encrypted HDCP compliant blu ray disc. Prove me wrong please!

Ripping to HDD and stripping away the encryption is a very cummbersome and tiring effort, not worth considering really. As someone stated "In the land of the free" - we are not "free" to back up a $40 BD disc - huh? Says who? - Says a consortium of greedy multinationals grouping together to monopoloize an indusrty. Also, if you cannot legally rip the disc to a media center (Linux or whatever) what in the name of pete is the use of a media center?

Recall the anti trust issues with explorer - it reeks of this stench. Legal issues aside & personal feelings put to rest, I do not believe that at present Linux MCE as it stands will play back a HDCP compliant Blu Ray disc from a blu Ray ROM player. I have tried it and it does not work. The link http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=942&num=1 has nothing to do with BD playback and HDCP.

Whilst BD uptake here (Ausralia) is feeble at present - no doubt it will be hit hard within the next 6 months 'coz it's getting a LOT of attention via the press etc and as such if MCE does not address it, the MCE  will be second best in this regard - after all it's all about the media!

 

13

Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 16, 2008, 07:24:34 am »

Skeptic,

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. The Intel M$ alliance is trying to do the latter. Was Abe Lincoln Wrong - histrory proves NOT!

Soldier on and we will triumph!

14

Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 16, 2008, 03:45:39 am »

Thanks Guru / Colinjones rodercot & all ... from what I understand then, 8010 is not a 'near future release' but is planned for October all going well. Seems as though not all is going so well, but it is still a planned release later than sooner I gather.

Re BD playcak. I agree with Colin Jones. Blue Ray playback is stymied by DRM and who is behind DRM? Paranoia reigns supreme in every multinational mega corporation. But not having Blue Ray playback places the open source world in the bleaches to a degree vs the box seat and if it is not Blue Ray it will be something else later down the track to have the same effect. Ripping Blue Ray for playback is not the solution. First up it is illegal. Secondlt it is clumnsy to do so at present from what I read.

I agreen with Cloinjones. We pay for the damn hardware so what is the issue with  having Linux HDCP or whetever decrytion is necessary to effect BD playback? I believe that this must go against trust laws in that one standard adversely and deliberately supresses the growth of its competitors in orer to monopolise the market. What baffles me is that Sony invented BD, are in direct competition with X-Box and yet did not make any moves to support open source software but rather are cutting deals with MSFT.

Frustrating.

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Users / Re: MCE 0810 / Blu Ray

« on: September 12, 2008, 03:02:16 am »

Thanks ..  I will hunt the forums re the blu ray / HD issue - I think it is a matter of implementing the H.264 codecs but I am certainly no guru - everyone I know  wants a media center with blu ray playback and whilst MSFT is capable MCE is not so I reckon this is needs to be addressed.

In your reply you stated "NO" I assume it's "NO" to both the blu ray question &  my 0810 query.

Cheers