Revo R3610 - Settings

gwen101 · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:02

I have had the R3610 for a month now and i'm still having problems getting the 'ideal' set up, I seem to get stutter/judder when playing avi files and MKV files.

What operating system are you guys running your media player on?

I'm running on Windows XP with MPC-HC as an external player from XBMC.

I've tried running XBMC on Windows 7 (ultimate edition), but I seem to get judder/stutter when running both .avi and mkv.

On XP it runs a lot better than windows 7, but over time the performance seems to get sluggish - when I mean over time I mean a few days. The only software that I have installed are the drivers and XBMC + MPC-HC - I dont run anythin else other than XBMC.

I would be grateful if you guys can tell me what set up you have - i.e. operating system, XBMC version, TV refresh rate etc.

Would it make a difference if I was to add a further 2 gb ram - I would then have 4 gb.

whitecrook · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:06

I thought the way forward with these was the linux based xbmc install ?

CMatty · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:07

What is the frame rate of the avis and mkvs your playing?

What is the resolution your outputting to your display, also 50hz, 60hz, 24hz?

If the frame rate of the videos does not match the hz your outputting to your display you'll get judder. Try using the internal XBMC video player and enable the "sync framerate to display option" and choose sync audio. This does the same thing as Reclock (google it).

Also enable Vsync in XBMC.

Otherwise it could be your GPU.

neil_g · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:10

i found a resolution to my 3610 playback stutter.. i sold it..

gwen101 · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:16

Thanks for the swift responses guys - much appreciated.

whitecrook said:
I thought the way forward with these was the linux based xbmc install ?

I initially tried XBMC Live but had issues with setting the WLAN and my remote from working.

I then went with Windows 7 to overcome the above issues.

CMatty said:
What is the frame rate of the avis and mkvs your playing?

What is the resolution your outputting to your display, also 50hz, 60hz, 24hz?

If the frame rate of the videos does not match the hz your outputting to your display you'll get judder. Try using the internal XBMC video player and enable the "sync framerate to display option" and choose sync audio. This does the same thing as Reclock (google it).

Also enable Vsync in XBMC.

Otherwise it could be your GPU.

The setting is currently on 50 hz, I set XBMC to adjust the refresh rate based on the source file but the internal XBMC player has issues playing my avi files and MKV files.

neil_g said:
i found a resolution to my 3610 playback stutter.. i sold it..

I read about the issues that you had with your R3610 - I seem to be having similar issues to the ones that you had- what HPTC/MediaPlayer will you be using now?

neil_g · 17 Dec 2010 at 15:21

gwen101 said:
I read about the issues that you had with your R3610 - I seem to be having similar issues to the ones that you had- what HPTC/MediaPlayer will you be using now?

im running a custom build ITX quad core HTPC running W7 and mediabrowser.. theres a build thread in the small formfactor section, called something like "HTPC on a budget".

edit - here in fact.. http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18212491

csmager · 17 Dec 2010 at 17:36

If you're running it in Windows, you need to enable DXVA2 or it ain't going to play properly using CPU alone. If you're using MPC-HC, you also need to find out how to enable hardware acceleration.

I have one and run XBMC Live on it. Everything works fine after a bit of tweaking - including WLAN (though I don't use Wi-Fi, as you can't really stream anything above SD reliably).

There's nothing wrong with the hardware capabilities - it'll play nearly anything you throw at it, including direct bluray rips at 1080p. Struggles a bit with 1080i60 stuff though (I have a few live concert blu-rays)

gwen101 · 18 Dec 2010 at 01:14

It appears that the videos which are 23.976 are the only ones giving issues, I have tried the internal settings in MPC-HC, to change the refresh rate to 24 hz - it plays perfectly, but goes out of sync as the video plays on. There are no sync issues if I run it at 60 hz - but the playback isn't as smooth as 24 hz.

gwen101 · 19 Dec 2010 at 12:40

Update:

I have just done a clean install of Windows 7 with the latest drivers + XBMC, I have added a further 1 GB ram and I have increased the video size in the bios.

The playback is smooth on all videos that I have played, unfortunately after about 1 hour of play I decided to play a different MKV - the playback was extremely choppy.

The choppy playback may be down to buffering issues - as the same file played flawlessly a few hours earlier.

I am now considering to replace the 1 GB RAM and replace it with a 2 GB Ram stick from my laptop (total would be 4 gb).

If I add a RAM (2 GB PC2-5300S) would it cause performance issues as they are different specs.

would Windows 7 be able to take advantage of the 4 GB RAM or would I need to use the 64-bit edition of Windows to take full advantage of 4GB RAM?

csmager · 19 Dec 2010 at 12:43

Are you streaming it over Wi-Fi? Try copying it to the local HDD to rule out any network issues.

I'm using it with 2Gb RAM without any issues on even high bitrate 1080p24 H.264 content.

gwen101 · 19 Dec 2010 at 12:56

csmager said:
Are you streaming it over Wi-Fi? Try copying it to the local HDD to rule out any network issues.

I'm using it with 2Gb RAM without any issues on even high bitrate 1080p24 H.264 content.

Thanks for your input, the files are stored in the internal HD - no streaming.

To be honest I think it may be down to buffering issues, i have decided to increase the RAM to 4 GB.

I have mixed the RAMS (2 GB - 6400S + 2 GB - 5300S) - but its showing as 4 GB but 2.75 GB in use, i'm not sure whether that is correct.

csmager · 19 Dec 2010 at 13:06

gwen101 said:
I will be mixing the RAMS (2 GB - 6400S + 2 GB - 5300S) - I will be experimenting with this to see how it copes.

Fair enough if you've already got it to experiment with. It really shouldn't need 4Gb RAM to play anything, though - there's no way it can't read the file off a hard disc quick enough to cause buffering issues. I don't even get them over 100Mbps network - because even the highest quality stuff I have doesn't get much past 30Mbps.

What's the file? Is it something that supports the DXVA2 (hardware accelerated) decoding like XviD or x264? If you load anything half decent directly on the CPU, it won't cope.

gwen101 · 19 Dec 2010 at 13:16

The file format is an MKV - x264, I have DXVA2 enabled - when I run the file on XBMC, a message appears stating that it is buffering. To be honest the 2 GB RAM is a spare that I have, if it does improve the playback of my movies then I would be more than happy.

I may need to upgrade to a 64 bit edition as Windows 32 bit is only detecting 2.75 as useable.

csmager · 19 Dec 2010 at 13:25

I'd be tempted to go and ask this over at the XBMC forums.

Loads of people have these boxes, running either Windows 7 or XBMC Live/Linux. Most will be streaming over a 100Mbps network and don't have buffering issues - it seems bizarre that it's even possible to get 'buffering' messsages when reading directly of a hard disc. It doesn't make any sense. Unless the file's encoded badly and/or with mental settings.

And I've seen plenty of advice there that there's no point increasing the 2Gb RAM - it's certainly not a problem for me.

gwen101 · 19 Dec 2010 at 20:58

The 'buffering' message only appears if DXVA2 is enabled - when disabled the message doesn't appear.

I have noticed that if I play a x264 file for more than 2 hours and then attempt to play a different x264 file I get jerky playback. This is rectified if I restart my machine, this leads me to believe that it may be the RAM/XBMC cache or Nvidia GPU/DXVA2 that needs to be cleared?

Snax · 21 Dec 2010 at 15:39

I have a 3610 and love it

One thing to note is that the way these things are set up is that they are a 32bit machine and can't utilise 4gb ram properly. A quick google will show the issues people have.

I have left mine standard and it is great. I use iTunes and vlc to play files from my other pc. Everything is smooth as butter

I used stock drivers in win7 and didn't bother installing nvidia drivers. I ticked use dvxa in vlc and voila. Job done!

vidda · 21 Dec 2010 at 16:14

1) Install XBMC Live
2) Plug into your TV if you haven't already
3) Run this script: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=70068 (Look under Automatic Installation).
4) Enjoy!

gwen101 · 21 Dec 2010 at 20:07

Snax said:
I have a 3610 and love it

One thing to note is that the way these things are set up is that they are a 32bit machine and can't utilise 4gb ram properly. A quick google will show the issues people have.

I have left mine standard and it is great. I use iTunes and vlc to play files from my other pc. Everything is smooth as butter

I used stock drivers in win7 and didn't bother installing nvidia drivers. I ticked use dvxa in vlc and voila. Job done!

yes, as the 32 bit doesn't utilise majority of the 4 gb ram, I removed the second 2 gb stick and replaced it with a 1gb stick instead.

vidda said:
1) Install XBMC Live
2) Plug into your TV if you haven't already
3) Run this script: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=70068 (Look under Automatic Installation).
4) Enjoy!

I actually installed XBMC Live on my revo yesterday.

It has improved the video performance without a doubt.

The only issue I have now is that I get a crackling/hissing sound every so often, from what i've read it may be down to the ralink wifi device (although I haven't installed wifi on my revo for xbmc live as i'm running a wired connection?).

I didn't run the script that you mentioned in step 3 - I will try this shortly to see how this improves the performance.

XBMC Live has rectified a number of issues that I had previously (its nice to actually watch a movie without having wait for the next judder to occur).

I've even managed to pair my PS3 remote with my revo!

If I can fix the audio issue then I would be more than happy with the revo.

csmager · 21 Dec 2010 at 22:07

gwen101 said:
I actually installed XBMC Live on my revo yesterday. It has improved the video performance without a doubt.

Aha! Welcome to the dark side. I found the Revo very impressive with XBMC Live... which I was trying to put across earlier in the thread!

If I can fix the audio issue then I would be more than happy with the revo.

Are you using the analog audio? The Wi-Fi will still be installed by the live installation. I'd assume you can disable it in the BIOS, but I've not checked.

Venares · 22 Dec 2010 at 13:33

gwen101 said:
yes, as the 32 bit doesn't utilise majority of the 4 gb ram, I removed the second 2 gb stick and replaced it with a 1gb stick instead.

I actually installed XBMC Live on my revo yesterday. It has improved the video performance without a doubt.

The only issue I have now is that I get a crackling/hissing sound every so often, from what i've read it may be down to the ralink wifi device (although I haven't installed wifi on my revo for xbmc live as i'm running a wired connection?).

I didn't run the script that you mentioned in step 3 - I will try this shortly to see how this improves the performance.

XBMC Live has rectified a number of issues that I had previously (its nice to actually watch a movie without having wait for the next judder to occur).

I've even managed to pair my PS3 remote with my revo!

If I can fix the audio issue then I would be more than happy with the revo.

I'd advise you do the following to update the Nvidia drivers and fix the LPCM sound mapping issue (may fix your crackling too).

Code:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-current-modaliases nvidia-settings
sudo wget http://pastebin.com/download.php?i=f5f9654bb -O /etc/asound.conf
sudo wget http://pastebin.com/download.php?i=f2e38265 -O /usr/share/alsa/cards/HDA-Intel.conf

Been running XBMC on my Revo for over a year and would NEVER want to use anything else.
Slap the Aeon Skin on there and its a thing of beauty.

If you need further help I'm more than happy to oblige.