Via epia M10000

[PVR(SWE)]

GBPVR is so much more then en/de-coding mpeg files. So if I would build me a new "PVR-box" I would use a better motherboard whit more CPU power. /Jonas

[amoeba]

Its a real shame that GB-PVR doesnt have a low-power cpu mode, as it looks like I will have to use something else then - I really want/plan to use a via M6000 (only 600mhz! coupled with a PVR 350.

I recall sub saying in another thread he had previously supported a 'low cpu mode', but ripped the code out because it was too messy.

Sub - anychance of changing your mind and putting it back in?

[joche]

Quote[/b] ]Its a real shame that GB-PVR doesnt have a low-power cpu mode

Well, I wouldn't say it's a shame. (I haven't seen any faster ones so far)

But for sure it would be very nice to have a faster GUI with less wissles and bells, I have around 1-2 seconds between action and display on my VIA M10000 1ghz EZRA. I can however show any movie on it without stuttering, thats even mpeg4 with ac3 encoding.

So a request would be a faster GUI for menu navigation, and perhaps also some visual indication that the system has recieved the IR signal and now processes it. But that might make the GUI even slower, which ofcourse is not very attractive.

So, to Mr Developer, shall we call you Sub? Do you have any comments on how we (or you) can improve the speed when navigating the menus?

[sub]

To be honest, I dont think the GUI is going to get any quicker. The libraries I've used for doing all the graphics just dont work well on slow machines. It's too late in the project, with too many dependencies on these libraries to think about replacing them.

It works we'll on modern PCs, but the EPIAs are just too slow. The 1ghz EZRA is the equivalent of a P600 with half speed floating unit (which is used alot in graphics). The 1ghz Nehemiah fairs slightly better, being about the equivalent of a P600 with full speed floating point unit. Either way, they're both two slow. A good minimum spec PC for GB-PVR is about a PentiumIII 1.2 ghz class CPU.

In hindsight, it would have been good to pick and alternative technology for doing all the graphics. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

[joche]

Quote[/b] (sub @ Jan. 01 2005,19:44)]To be honest, I dont think the GUI is going to get any quicker.

A big eloge for you to say that upfront.

It feels ofcourse a bit strange that it aint the movie playing but to get it playing that eats CPU, but if it is as it is it is as it is <- (That sounds better in Swedish :-))

I have built in my EPIA card into an old DVD-case and it's very nice actually, so it's not that easy to just upgrade. But I guess I have to do it sooner or later.

At what point will extra CPU not effect anymore in your opinion? For me it's enough if the menu reacts when I press the button, is that the case for a 1.2Ghz or shall I go above that?


BONUS QUESTION TO THE COMMUNITY: What would you do with a spare M10000 card?

[sub]

Quote[/b] ]BONUS QUESTION TO THE COMMUNITY: What would you do with a spare M10000 card?

Mines sitting in the closet acting as a web/file server.

[SimonP]

I have the 1ghz Nehemiah and I must say, my opinion is that it's just too slow to make a decent HTPC box. It's surprisingly good for what it is but it is slow to respond and I can't get MCE running on it properly so I'm a bit disappointed.

However, if you want to go for one, I'd definitely recommend spending the little bit extra and going for the newer 1.2GHz version, apparently it makes a significant difference.

[hasso]

I think it really depends on what you all mean by slow. You do not get "instant gratification/response" with the M10000 Nehemiah, but I find it quite adequate for running GBPVR video recording/playback. There is only a slight pause between menu changes, and the recording and playback through a PVR350 is without any problems. Given its small form factor, and using a half decent case with an external power supply, it does not look out of place (or overwhelming) beside the living-room tv set... and it's quiet.

[Dai]

I must say, I agree with hasso, I use a M1000 Nehamiah and PVR 350 and find it perfectly usable. It plays and records prefectly but the menus are a bit slower than I would like. To anyone thinking about using one, I would say don't write it off but consider what is most important for your situation. For me having a small quiet box under the TV is more important than blistering fast menus. I think if I was buying again though I would buy the M1200 now.

[ecamacho]

Amoeba,

I am using a P3 750 with 256MB Ram, with a 120GB drive, with a PVR-350 output is great using the S-video out. As for processor I do have a lot of fluxuation but I have never been completely pegged since the En/De coding is doen through the card. All though the associated appications an OS (XP-PRO) suck up a lot of memory so I plan on moving up to at least 512MB of RAM. In an half an hour recording I jumped up to using about 246MB of RAM.