Guide for HTPC

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 14:41

Ok thanks oxy

I have one more stupid question

Noticed that monochrome is designed for 1366x768 resolution but my TV will be 1024x768, will I be stuck with the default crappy skin ?

Glaucus · 16 Feb 2009 at 14:50

Oxy said:
http://code.google.com/p/moving-pictures/

Awesome plugin

..

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 14:56

Leodido said:
Ok thanks oxy

I have one more stupid question
Noticed that monochrome is designed for 1366x768 resolution but my TV will be 1024x768, will I be stuck with the default crappy skin ?

no, my plasma is also 1024x768, monochrome fits fine

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 14:57

AcidHell2 said:
Awesome plugin ..

yeh it is

cant believe u didnt find it sooner

u found the TV series one yet?

Glaucus · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:11

Oxy said:
u found the TV series one yet?

Yeh but not installed, still configuring Moving pictures. Just finished all the art work. I like the film strip view. but I don't get the synopsis with it, like the other views. is there a way to enable it?

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:13

Is the quality of the HDMI-DVI cable important or should I go for the cheaper one ?

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:23

Leodido said:
Is the quality of the HDMI-DVI cable important or should I go for the cheaper one ?

I got a £5 one, looks good to me!

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:25

AcidHell2 said:
Yeh but not installed, still configuring Moving pictures. Just finished all the art work. I like the film strip view. but I don't get the synopsis with it, like the other views. is there a way to enable it?

I dont think you do get it untill you click the film. I can't check as I formatted my pc this week and aint re-installed MP yet.

Glaucus · 16 Feb 2009 at 15:45

Oxy said:
I dont think you do get it untill you click the film. I can't check as I formatted my pc this week and aint re-installed MP yet.

I'll stick to list view then.

Can't get tv series working.

I'm using vob/ifo files so straight dvd copy. I have to manually assign them. But then it doesn't show up in media portal.

Does it not work with vob files?

Dingleberry88 · 16 Feb 2009 at 16:03

Leodido said:
One more thing

Does this works for all files type or do I need an alternative for H.264? (CoreAVC?)

It'll work, but I find performance is crap.

If you have any problems CoreAVC is definitely the way to go.

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 16:21

I read on a website the following

CoreAVC does not support hardware acceleration (purely a software decoder, good for less powerful CPUs and those with no GPU hardware acceleration capabilities).

is that true? So in my case, I have a 8800GT, I'd better use another codec?

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 16:26

Leodido said:
I read on a website the following

is that true? So in my case, I have a 8800GT, I'd better use another codec?

yep

acidhell - check the tv plugin guide, Im not sure if it does, all mine are avi. It is also really fuuny aboiut how u name your files.

I name all mine TITLEs01e01.avi it picks everything up that way

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 16:27

which one should I get instead ?

MPC Video Decoder or Haali Media Splitter?

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 16:31

Leodido said:
which one should I get instead ?

MPC Video Decoder or Haali Media Splitter?

Haali Media Splitter is what i use, its free. yay!

marscay · 16 Feb 2009 at 17:16

Leodido said:
I read on a website the following

is that true? So in my case, I have a 8800GT, I'd better use another codec?

the latest CoreAVC codec supports NV acceleration, whether or not your card is included i've no idea but being a 8800GT i'd assume you're good to go.

Dingleberry88 said:
It'll work, but I find performance is crap.

If you have any problems CoreAVC is definitely the way to go.

ffdshow works fine for h264 material, just as good as Core tbh.

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 17:32

I can't find the option to select on which screen media portal starts up.
anyone could help plz?

photoshop · 16 Feb 2009 at 17:44

Hardware acceleration is only really beneficial when you have a weak CPU which cant handle the processing itself. With HA the GPU takes care of things taking the stress off the CPU.

Any descent Core2Duo will happily run 1080p material fine - even if it is working 70-90%.

As an example:

My E2140 @ 2.6Ghz with my onboard X1200 graphics with CoreAVC plays 1080p @24Hz material fine. I get no stuttering or dodgy artifacts. I have AC3filter sending the audio to my AV amp via HDMI aswell. I've never had any problems. It plays all media files brilliantly/flawlessly!

I should however point out that during 1080p HD playback, my CPU is stressed to around 80% load and temps are around 55*C. This is with a Scythe Mini Ninja running at the lowest setting (800rpm) and 1 case fan running at 800rpm also.

For those of you who can enable HA then that's good but for those who cant dont worry as its not the end of the world. The end result is the same. Just means that those with HTPC's without HA are working a little harder

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 19:19

Leodido said:
I can't find the option to select on which screen media portal starts up.
anyone could help plz?

its under general settings at the top, towards to bottom of the big list

Leodido · 16 Feb 2009 at 21:41

yep found it thank you

I managed to set up most of the stuff, just needs a few adjustements.
We could watch a BSG episode hehe ! Gotta say that stuff is awesome, on my crappy TV, can't wait to get the 42PX80.

I just have a question, first I downloaded the monochrome skin 2.5 which is on the website but then when I launch mediaportal I get an error saying that the skin is not working for this version of mediaportal 1.0 ??

Secondly, I did not figure how to launch directly the my tv series plugin and movie from the home screen? I get the option to watch videos but this is for the basic thing provided which I do not use, I'd like to directly launch my plugin how can I do this?

craptakular · 16 Feb 2009 at 23:01

Leodido said:
yep found it thank you

I managed to set up most of the stuff, just needs a few adjustements.
We could watch a BSG episode hehe ! Gotta say that stuff is awesome, on my crappy TV, can't wait to get the 42PX80.

I just have a question, first I downloaded the monochrome skin 2.5 which is on the website but then when I launch mediaportal I get an error saying that the skin is not working for this version of mediaportal 1.0 ??

Secondly, I did not figure how to launch directly the my tv series plugin and movie from the home screen? I get the option to watch videos but this is for the basic thing provided which I do not use, I'd like to directly launch my plugin how can I do this?

ok erm point 1) the not 1.0.0 "error" you need to edit your reference.xml (think it was called that" with notepad. Near the top it will say 9.4.0 or summit change it to 1.0.0 - error goes away then.

Second point, configuration > plugins > click launch in home for movies and TV.

PS: im going from memory, u may have to look but its defo in the plugin section.