AOpen MiniPC as media director - cpu usage 100% on mpeg2

[archived]

Hi,

I'm testing Aopen MiniPC as Pluto MD. It seems really nice candidate, but do have problems with graphics. On Orbiter's screen saver onscreen notices ("10 secs") accumulate on screen in weird manner. Also when playing mpeg2 file (DVD rip) cpu eats up to 100% (76%Xine and 23% XFree).

Anyone with more experience and advice ? I guess this has to do with graphics drivers (it has Intel 915GM OnDie graphics).

Specs are here:  http://minipc.aopen.com/Global/spec.htm

BTW: AOpen claims no SPDIF out, but have read somewhere that spdif is on MB. Weird thing, but have read also that AOpen is close to Asus support and that fact isn't surprise....

Thanks in advance,

regards,

Rob.

[archived]

Rob,

The accumulation of "10 seconds" on the screen sounds like a buffer overflow.  How much RAM do you have in this?

Regarding the cpu usage of 100% when playing back mpeg2 files, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Are there any problems with the video while playing back?  Does it stall/skip/pixelate?  If not, then it's ok for 100% usage because you want the cpu to use all it processing power while doing any task because it should finish that task sooner, such as decoding mpeg.  If you are having video output problems with 100% usage, then it could be a few things that need to be considered such as:
1. Is the processor powerful enough to handle it?
2. Is the driver efficient?  Is it software mpeg decoding (yes with that cpu usage!)
3. Does the board have hardware mpeg decoding?  Is it turned on?  (probably not with 100% cpu usage.)

For example, the Epia mb that you're also familiar with has the hardware mpeg decoding which should relieve the cpu.  But a typical installation doesn't have that activated and you need the unichrome drivers for it.  Maybe there's something similar with the Aopen MiniPC?  I'm not familiar with that.

Kindest regards,
Sevak

[archived]

Rob,

The accumulation of "10 seconds" on the screen sounds like a buffer overflow.  How much RAM do you have in this?

Regarding the cpu usage of 100% when playing back mpeg2 files, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Are there any problems with the video while playing back?  Does it stall/skip/pixelate?  If not, then it's ok for 100% usage because you want the cpu to use all it processing power while doing any task because it should finish that task sooner, such as decoding mpeg.  If you are having video output problems with 100% usage, then it could be a few things that need to be considered such as:
1. Is the processor powerful enough to handle it?
2. Is the driver efficient?  Is it software mpeg decoding (yes with that cpu usage!)
3. Does the board have hardware mpeg decoding?  Is it turned on?  (probably not with 100% cpu usage.)

For example, the Epia mb that you're also familiar with has the hardware mpeg decoding which should relieve the cpu.  But a typical installation doesn't have that activated and you need the unichrome drivers for it.  Maybe there's something similar with the Aopen MiniPC?  I'm not familiar with that.

Kindest regards,
Sevak

Hi,

I have P4-M 1.7G in it. Video freezes - so I guess this is something to do with other cause....

I wonder how well is Graphics chip supported in Linux ....

About buffer overflow : I'm not at machine, but think there is plenty of RAM. How to check what goes wrong with those accumulated "10 seconds" on screensaver ?

Regards,

Rob.

[archived]

Hi all

just my 0,2 cents ...

I also have the "10 seconds" accumulations problem on my VIA hybrid, and it  showed just after moving from Xfree86 to Xorg.

So I think that also with Aopen the issue may be related to drivers.

I also have hig CPU usage with video playback, but I know that hw acceleration isn't used and as far as video output is ok this is normal.

Note that I'm not using the Pluto version of Xine (1.0.3) but the 1.1.0 that I compiled on my box.
This is simple when dealing with core/hybrid, may be a little more tricky when dealing with MD.

Regards
Marco

[archived]

This link has some info on the 915 chipset that the minipc uses.
Seem that the intel graphics drivers only work with certain kernel releases.


http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=223241&page=2


I might be getting my hands on one of these minipc in the next few weeks, so we'll see what i can do. We're in talks with the UK importer of aopen systems and have a meeting with them soon, i'll try and get to talk with someone from technical about linux support.

update--
Also here
http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Intel_Graphics_Media_Accelerator_900

[archived]

Hi guys,

aOpen seems really good candidate to use it as Media Director. But how about its noise level? Is it quiet enough for living room?