Win 8.1 deal

[pjpjpjpj]

Newegg has Win 8.1 64-bit today for $85. I'm thinking about making the leap for my currently-XP Sage server. Good choice? Anyone have issues? I view Sage entirely on extenders so I don't have any codec requirements, does everything else about Win 8.1 work fine?

Also, does Win 8.1 have XP Compatibility mode like Win7 Pro does (in case I might need it for something)?

[JerryB]

I'm running Windows 8.1 x64 on my SageTV server without problems.

Windows 8/8.1 does not include XP compatibility mode. That only existed for Windows 7. The Pro version of Windows 8.1 includes Hyper V and that's what I use to setup virtual machines for backward compatibility and testing purposes. Of course you still need a licensed version of the operating system to install in the virtual machine.

[pjpjpjpj]

Thanks. There is no mention of whether this is "pro" version, it just says "Windows 8.1". I was wondering if they'd done away with the "home" and "pro" versions, since it didn't say either.

[JerryB]

If it doesn't say Windows 8.1 Pro, then it's the non-Pro version. I'm not sure but I don't think the non-Pro version supports Hyper-V.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by JerryB

If it doesn't say Windows 8.1 Pro, then it's the non-Pro version. I'm not sure but I don't think the non-Pro version supports Hyper-V.

Only the pro version supports Hyper-V, in addition your CPU must support SLAT mode otherwise your Hyper-V won't work, your alternative solution is to use the free VMware clone software which will clone your existing XP machine which you will be able to run in Win 8.1 with VMPlayer in case of trouble, this way even if your CPU doesn't have SLAT mode, but supports virtualisation (it should be unless very old) then Win 8.1 standard will do. Note that VMPlayer is able to run your virtual machine even if your CPU doesn't support virtualisation, but it will run slower.


Eddy

[will]

Originally Posted by pjpjpjpj

Newegg has Win 8.1 64-bit today for $85. I'm thinking about making the leap for my currently-XP Sage server. Good choice? Anyone have issues? I view Sage entirely on extenders so I don't have any codec requirements, does everything else about Win 8.1 work fine?

Also, does Win 8.1 have XP Compatibility mode like Win7 Pro does (in case I might need it for something)?

Do you use the system for anything else? I ask, because if this is a dedicated SageTV server and it works I wouldn't make changes. Why add work to your life? I know XP is no longer getting security updates but as long as you aren't surfing the web with it and install a firewall/anti-virus you should be fine. Where I work, we have some server operating systems that are 25 or 30 years old but they are rock solid and work great, there is no business justification for spending the money and time to update them and their applications.

Also, upgrading to a 64bit OS won't give you a performance increase with Sage as it is a 32bit application and you will lose the ability to do firewire channel changing for cable boxes (in case you do or ever want to use this).

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by will

Do you use the system for anything else? I ask, because if this is a dedicated SageTV server and it works I wouldn't make changes. Why add work to your life? I know XP is no longer getting security updates but as long as you aren't surfing the web with it and install a firewall/anti-virus you should be fine. Where I work, we have some server operating systems that are 25 or 30 years old but they are rock solid and work great, there is no business justification for spending the money and time to update them and their applications.

Also, upgrading to a 64bit OS won't give you a performance increase with Sage as it is a 32bit application and you will lose the ability to do firewire channel changing for cable boxes (in case you do or ever want to use this).

This is true and actually a very good point, however I must admit that I've installed Win8.1 on relatively old systems (5/7 years old) and I gained a substantial increase in performance compared to XP, also the benefit of the automatic window frame size in the TCP stack introduced in Windows server first and later in Win 7 makes the access to windows shares a breeze.


Eddy

[will]

Originally Posted by routerunner

This is true and actually a very good point, however I must admit that I've installed Win8.1 on relatively old systems (5/7 years old) and I gained a substantial increase in performance compared to XP, also the benefit of the automatic window frame size in the TCP stack introduced in Windows server first and later in Win 7 makes the access to windows shares a breeze.
Eddy

I am surprised your got a performance increase. Are you/were you using the server as a client? From first hand experience, running a client from XP is not fun; when I upgraded my only client to Windows 7 I saw huge performance increase. But I'm surprised to hear there would be a performance increase for the SageTV service.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by will

I am surprised your got a performance increase. Are you/were you using the server as a client? From first hand experience, running a client from XP is not fun; when I upgraded my only client to Windows 7 I saw huge performance increase. But I'm surprised to hear there would be a performance increase for the SageTV service.

Sorry, I meant to geneal system performance and not strictly to SageTV regardless of client or server mode.


Eddy

[pjpjpjpj]

I'm laughing as I read this because I'm a total noob and don't even know what VM and SLAT mean (well, I know what they stand for, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to use them or what good they would do me).

The PC is mainly the Sage server. However I have PlayOn on the same machine (for use in Sage), DVDFab on there for ripping discs (rather than doing it on another machine and then moving the files to the server drives), Handbrake for MKV transcoding (benefit of 64 bit, Handbrake running while Sage is running?), and a few other small apps. I do sometimes surf the web on there (Chrome) while waiting for a disc to rip. Oh, and I occasionally use it to tabcast to my Chromecast since it's the only PC I have with enough processing power and a hardwired Internet connection. So, all said, I think it's worth the upgrade. Do it once and be done with it.

[MattHelm]

I always buy Pro or better. There are a lot of features that are a PITA to toggle on Home.

[phelme]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

I always buy Pro or better. There are a lot of features that are a PITA to toggle on Home.

Not to mention lack of Remote Desktop hosting in non-Pro versions.

[BobbyDing]

Question about 8.1... I think my clients all use the MS codecs for MPG2 and h.264. Does 8.1 come with these? Or do you need to purchase the MC addon?

Thanks!

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

Question about 8.1... I think my clients all use the MS codecs for MPG2 and h.264. Does 8.1 come with these? Or do you need to purchase the MC addon?

Thanks!

It comes with the Ms Codecs.

[routerunner]

Originally Posted by BobbyDing

Question about 8.1... I think my clients all use the MS codecs for MPG2 and h.264. Does 8.1 come with these? Or do you need to purchase the MC addon?

Thanks!

The codec included in Windows 8.1 are:

- MPEG-2: Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder
- VC-1: WMVideo Decoder DMO

The H.264 decoder is not present by default and I'm currently using CoreAVC Video Decoder which works great on a i5 with the HD4600 on-chip video.

Eddy

[nyplayer]

Originally Posted by routerunner

The codec included in Windows 8.1 are:

- MPEG-2: Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder
- VC-1: WMVideo Decoder DMO

The H.264 decoder is not present by default and I'm currently using CoreAVC Video Decoder which works great on a i5 with the HD4600 on-chip video.

Eddy

H.264 Plays fine on windows 8.1 as long as it is in MP4 format to play in MKV you just need a splitter.