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 Post subject: Nvidia ION Media center?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:01 pm 
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I just ordered a new Zotec Nvidia ION pc, has anyone had experience with windows based media centers that take advantage of the CUDA support? I was going to use XBMC because i pretty much grew up with the program dating back to the original xbox, but i recently found out that the linux version is the only version that will work and support CUDA. I was looking at Media portal and meedio, they both list hardware based video acceleration.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 1:37 pm 
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klamath wrote:
I just ordered a new Zotec Nvidia ION pc, has anyone had experience with windows based media centers that take advantage of the CUDA support? I was going to use XBMC because i pretty much grew up with the program dating back to the original xbox, but i recently found out that the linux version is the only version that will work and support CUDA. I was looking at Media portal and meedio, they both list hardware based video acceleration.


You should still be able to get hardware acceleration with WMC. What O/S are you going with, W7?

Very interested to hear about your experience with the ION platform, what CPU are you pairing it up with (The single core or dual core atom)?

EDIT - is this the platform you got?

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klamath
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:17 pm 
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I have movie files in mkv, mp4 avi, mpg. I love the fact that xbmc will play any file format i throw at it. So i will not be using wmc at all. This is the thread i posted at xbmc (http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54194). Right now, its looking like xbmc in linux may be a way to go.


The PC i went with was the Zotac with N330 (http://www.pugetsystems.com/store/item. ... otec%20ion) with a M350 case (http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal- ... -enclosure)


I have been waiting for months for nvidia to get off their butt and release their reference pc, but watching movies on the ps3 has become unbearable. So im going the do it yourself route.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:19 pm 
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klamath wrote:
I have movie files in mkv, mp4 avi, mpg. I love the fact that xbmc will play any file format i throw at it. So i will not be using wmc at all. This is the thread i posted at xbmc (http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54194). Right now, its looking like xbmc in linux may be a way to go.


The PC i went with was the Zotac with N330 (http://www.pugetsystems.com/store/item. ... otec%20ion) with a M350 case (http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal- ... -enclosure)


I have been waiting for months for nvidia to get off their butt and release their reference pc, but watching movies on the ps3 has become unbearable. So im going the do it yourself route.


Sounds good, definitely give an update when you get the Zotac board up and running. I have XBMC on my HTPCs as well but prefer using Windows 7 Media Center (plays all my files, including my 1080p Blu Ray mkvs with hardware acceleration). Benefit of Linux is that it is free, so one less cost which is always a good thing. I think I like the MediaStream skin best out of all the skins (never really got on board with the new Aeon skin). I am pretty sure that XBMC does not utilize hardware acceleration for Windows (unless you use a 3rd party player like MPC) which is another reason why I have moved away from it on my Windows systems.

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PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 4:23 pm 
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dbone1026 wrote:
klamath wrote:
I have movie files in mkv, mp4 avi, mpg. I love the fact that xbmc will play any file format i throw at it. So i will not be using wmc at all. This is the thread i posted at xbmc (http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.php?t=54194). Right now, its looking like xbmc in linux may be a way to go.


The PC i went with was the Zotac with N330 (http://www.pugetsystems.com/store/item. ... otec%20ion) with a M350 case (http://www.mini-box.com/M350-universal- ... -enclosure)


I have been waiting for months for nvidia to get off their butt and release their reference pc, but watching movies on the ps3 has become unbearable. So im going the do it yourself route.


Sounds good, definitely give an update when you get the Zotac board up and running. I have XBMC on my HTPCs as well but prefer using Windows 7 Media Center (plays all my files, including my 1080p Blu Ray mkvs with hardware acceleration). Benefit of Linux is that it is free, so one less cost which is always a good thing. I think I like the MediaStream skin best out of all the skins (never really got on board with the new Aeon skin). I am pretty sure that XBMC does not utilize hardware acceleration for Windows (unless you use a 3rd party player like MPC) which is another reason why I have moved away from it on my Windows systems.



I will throw windows 7 on instead of windows xp. will give updates this weekend... so excited!


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:48 pm 
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have any suggestions on a cheap IR usb reciver? I have a logitec harmony 880 to program, and spending $50 on a IR blaster seems a little expensive.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:02 pm 
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klamath wrote:
have any suggestions on a cheap IR usb reciver? I have a logitec harmony 880 to program, and spending $50 on a IR blaster seems a little expensive.


Here is what I use with my HTPCs (just throw the actual remote in a drawer as a backup):

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6880121001

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PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:15 pm 
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Also just saw a company selling an Ion based PC with BR drive - http://www.polywell.com/us/oem/ITX-9400 ... 5QodGz_2Bg

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:54 pm 
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So far the board has been excellent, windows 7 installed in about 20 minutes from start to finish, and ubuntu installed in about 10. Dual booting the machine now, its a race between wmc and xbmc. Right now xbmc isnt outputting sound via hdmi but im working on it. Plays 1080P movies without any hiccups. Will get back to you after this weekend!

Tim


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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:51 pm 
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No sound via HDMI?

Check your BIOS settings, I hade some problems vith no sound via HDMI with another mobo.
And the solution was to enable that in BIOS :mrgreen:
(Selecting HDMI as primary video output... it will include the sound as well)

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PostPosted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:12 pm 
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BullHead wrote:
No sound via HDMI?

Check your BIOS settings, I hade some problems vith no sound via HDMI with another mobo.
And the solution was to enable that in BIOS :mrgreen:
(Selecting HDMI as primary video output... it will include the sound as well)


Sorry, no HDMI audio in linux, windows 7 works like a champ. windows 7 on this little guy is very impressive. linux however, more so xbmc not such an easy time.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:58 am 
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So my report over the weekend.

Windows 7 RC

Fantastic OS, installed in about 15 minutes and is quite responsive. System had 2gb of ram and 512 dedicated to GPU. WMC on the other hand was a let down so far. After some great advise from dbone on WMC customization i installed mediabrowser. First thing is the wait time for movie information to first generate. Seemed to take longer then expected, libraries of 1400 files. Browsing movie directories seems cumbersome to navigate through at times and HDD has higher then expected access while browsing media files. Not too terribly bad, asking a lot out of the system, cover art and media fan art is turned on. Playback on the system is awesome! 1080p movies play without issue over 100mbit network, fast forward works well with minimal shutter.


Ubuntu 9.04 w/ XBMC


Ok ok i may be biased when i review xbmc, one because i love xbmc, another because i dislike Linux. Im not trying to start a OS war, it is my personal choice, i use linux on a daily basis at work, in a server environment, which it works great.

It took about 10 minutes to install ubuntu from usb drive and another 4 hours to get everything working lol. I used the following how-to: http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.ph ... nvidia+ion

Everything was spot on until i couldn't get audio over hdmi. Turns out the very very very last audio controller was muted, and apparently the chip number followed by -1 is the designation for the HDMI audio (should have known that apparently).

Im very impressed so far with xbmc and linux, it does boot quicker then windows 7, and it doesn't seem to choke when displaying cover art where wmc did have issues. Im waiting for my m350 case to get in so it can have its spot up on the tv stand, right now its enclosed in a huge ugly case i had laying around.

Will post back more results once i get a IR blaster and use my remote instead of a keyboard/mouse.


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:22 am 
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klamath wrote:
So my report over the weekend.

Windows 7 RC

Fantastic OS, installed in about 15 minutes and is quite responsive. System had 2gb of ram and 512 dedicated to GPU. WMC on the other hand was a let down so far. After some great advise from dbone on WMC customization i installed mediabrowser. First thing is the wait time for movie information to first generate. Seemed to take longer then expected, libraries of 1400 files. Browsing movie directories seems cumbersome to navigate through at times and HDD has higher then expected access while browsing media files. Not too terribly bad, asking a lot out of the system, cover art and media fan art is turned on. Playback on the system is awesome! 1080p movies play without issue over 100mbit network, fast forward works well with minimal shutter.


Ubuntu 9.04 w/ XBMC


Ok ok i may be biased when i review xbmc, one because i love xbmc, another because i dislike Linux. Im not trying to start a OS war, it is my personal choice, i use linux on a daily basis at work, in a server environment, which it works great.

It took about 10 minutes to install ubuntu from usb drive and another 4 hours to get everything working lol. I used the following how-to: http://www.xbmc.org/forum/showthread.ph ... nvidia+ion

Everything was spot on until i couldn't get audio over hdmi. Turns out the very very very last audio controller was muted, and apparently the chip number followed by -1 is the designation for the HDMI audio (should have known that apparently).

Im very impressed so far with xbmc and linux, it does boot quicker then windows 7, and it doesn't seem to choke when displaying cover art where wmc did have issues. Im waiting for my m350 case to get in so it can have its spot up on the tv stand, right now its enclosed in a huge ugly case i had laying around.

Will post back more results once i get a IR blaster and use my remote instead of a keyboard/mouse.


Thanks for the update. Very interesting, I would not have thought about issues rendering coverart, etc... in WMC.

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PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 11:52 am 
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Im also seeing about getting this IR unit, http://www.compusa.com/applications/sea ... eviewStart


I like it because compusa is local for me, and nothing beats instant gratification. Any experiences?


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PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 12:07 pm 
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klamath wrote:
Im also seeing about getting this IR unit, http://www.compusa.com/applications/sea ... eviewStart


I like it because compusa is local for me, and nothing beats instant gratification. Any experiences?


It looks the same as most other IRs so you shouldn't have any problems (that exact remote came with my Hauppauge TV Tuner card). You are just using the IR to pair up with your 880, correct? The reason I ask is because the MCE remote does not work 100% out of the box with XBMC (unless XBMC has made any changes to this), so you need to use a program like event ghost to program all the buttons. If you are just using the 880 then it should be as easy as setting up with the Logitech interface.

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