Smallest Client Computer...

[matterw]

Ok, I have a SageTV server (P4 2.8ghz/HT) and a SageTV client (P42.8ghz/HT). Now, I like Sage so much I want to put on in the bedroom to watch Sage there as well.

I am looking for the smallest computer that someone is using *successfully* with the SageTV client for Recordings, DVDs and MP3s. I am looking at the Shuttle computers, but have also see a few people with the mini-ATX board as well.

I would like to hear about your: Motherboard, CPU, and Memory

Thanks!

[heffe2001]

Hadn't ever tested the DVD playing on my EPIA until I saw this thread, and tested it with Friday!. Everything played fine. MP3's will play just fine on it too. You can't use anything but overlay on it (at least I got very bad results trying). You can make a TINY machine out of one of these EPIA boards too...

[matterw]

oh, that's great news (with only 256 as well!) -- I can hide one of those in a humidor or a nice wooden box.

Two quick questions: What kind of powersupply are you using with it? And are you using the s-video out on the machine?

[heffe2001]

Yep Svideo output, and I'm actually using a Minuet case (much bigger than what you'd most likely want though). There are a ton of tiny cases for these machines tho. You'll most likely want a laptop DVD rom for it, for size considerations tho .

If you use WInXP, I'd suggest trimming the fat on it a bunch. Can't remember the program I used, but I took out almost everything .

[nielm]

I use an EPIA M10000 as a sage Server and STB (and as email server, web server)... with 512Mb on board (but only 350Mb used)

The UI runs fine.. Complex screens (TV Guide) take a moment to render -- especially if you are watching TV at the same time, and there is a slight stutter when the OSD is displayed...

MPG/DVD playback is fine, it does have a problem with high bandwidth/full resolution XVID/DIVX's tho -- so any recompressions I do are to half-resolution, and these play back OK.

[nielm]

As a side thought, why not try a second hand laptop? You can pick them up on ebay for a few 100 $/€ (the ones with failed batteries are usually cheaper!).. A 600Mhz P3 would probably be just enough to run Sage (an M10000 is equivatent to a 600MhzP3) but a 1Ghz+ would probably be better, and they fit all the categories: small slient, etc

[Scriber]

Originally Posted by nielm

As a side thought, why not try a second hand laptop? You can pick them up on ebay for a few 100 $/€ (the ones with failed batteries are usually cheaper!).. A 600Mhz P3 would probably be just enough to run Sage (an M10000 is equivatent to a 600MhzP3) but a 1Ghz+ would probably be better, and they fit all the categories: small slient, etc

Per a post in this forum awhile back with the same idea, I tried that with my old laptop p3 750 w/384RAM connected via wireless SuperG and it just lacked the horsepower to handle the mpeg playback via client. It has a high powered S3 VC with a whopping 8MB of memory. Tried various decoders and intervideos worked the best. CPU was really high not to mention that client takes a ton of memory (150MB). Usually would start fine but would eventually grind to a halt.

Tried using my current laptop P -M 1.4G w/512 and it worked fine. In fact, it had the best s-video out PQ I've seen.

[remmy925]

Dont think I would try using a wireless connection to stream video....its pretty bandwidth intensive. Not saying a more powerful laptop wouldnt have been better...but the wireless connection could definatly have been a problem.

[nielm]

Any laptop with a built-in DVD player *should* be able to play DVD's... it may be necessary to enable 'hardware accelleration' in the DVD player's decoder properties...

[mikejaner]

I have an Asus Pundit-R, and it is small and runs very very well. Check it out. Also it has every type of interface you can imagine, including PCMCIA.

http://usa.asus.com/products/desktop...r/overview.HTM

[matterw]

Wow, that looks pretty good for a small client for $163 too!

[jptaz]

Originally Posted by Scriber

Per a post in this forum awhile back with the same idea, I tried that with my old laptop p3 750 w/384RAM connected via wireless SuperG and it just lacked the horsepower to handle the mpeg playback via client. It has a high powered S3 VC with a whopping 8MB of memory. Tried various decoders and intervideos worked the best. CPU was really high not to mention that client takes a ton of memory (150MB). Usually would start fine but would eventually grind to a halt.

Tried using my current laptop P -M 1.4G w/512 and it worked fine. In fact, it had the best s-video out PQ I've seen.

I use a P3 733Mhz with 256MB. I have a hard wired 100MB connection, but I think it should be managable even using wireless. Couple key things you need to do. Even after increasing the MPEG2 Data buffers from 2Mb to 32MB I still have a few MBs to spare in the config.

1. Make sure that you have turned off all non essential Windows Services and tasks. Black Viper is a good source for Windows XP and 2000 Service Tweaking. http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

2. Make sure that with the Intervideo Decoders you have enabled DXVA (Not sure the S3 Mobile chipset has aceleration, but should not be an issue). My 733 wihtout any acceleration turned was usable and I outputting 1280x720. Also make sure that you are using Overlay. Nothing else will be managable on the class processor.

3. Edit the registry and increase the Number of Buffers that SageTV uses to buffer the MPEG2 data from the Server. See my FAQ on the SageTV Community site. http://www.sage-community.org/index....-do-i-fix-this

4. Try the Sonic Decoder Pack. They are supposed to be the most CPU efficient Decoders, especially without hardware acceleration.

I would think that with all this you should be able to use the laptop.

John

[Scriber]

Originally Posted by remmy925

Dont think I would try using a wireless connection to stream video....its pretty bandwidth intensive. Not saying a more powerful laptop wouldnt have been better...but the wireless connection could definatly have been a problem.

I thought that too but no issues with the P-M using SuperG. Did try wired too on the P3 and same result.

Originally Posted by nielm

Any laptop with a built-in DVD player *should* be able to play DVD's... it may be necessary to enable 'hardware accelleration' in the DVD player's decoder properties...

Again, thought that too... WMP 10 played mpegs worse than client as did the intervideo SW itself. Not quite apples to apples I guess.

Originally Posted by jptaz

I use a P3 733Mhz with 256MB. I have a hard wired 100MB connection, but I think it should be managable even using wireless. Couple key things you need to do. Even after increasing the MPEG2 Data buffers from 2Mb to 32MB I still have a few MBs to spare in the config.

1. Make sure that you have turned off all non essential Windows Services and tasks. Black Viper is a good source for Windows XP and 2000 Service Tweaking. http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

2. Make sure that with the Intervideo Decoders you have enabled DXVA (Not sure the S3 Mobile chipset has aceleration, but should not be an issue). My 733 wihtout any acceleration turned was usable and I outputting 1280x720. Also make sure that you are using Overlay. Nothing else will be managable on the class processor.

3. Edit the registry and increase the Number of Buffers that SageTV uses to buffer the MPEG2 data from the Server. See my FAQ on the SageTV Community site. http://www.sage-community.org/index....-do-i-fix-this

4. Try the Sonic Decoder Pack. They are supposed to be the most CPU efficient Decoders, especially without hardware acceleration.

I would think that with all this you should be able to use the laptop.

John

I will poke and prod around as you suggest. Did not try Sonic. I was kinda bummed with my P-M worked fine "out of the box" (a kinda expensive Client box!) so I haven't messed with it since thinking I needed to go a different direction. Too bad it has such a crappy VC.

The oddest thing about this was that the longer playback the worse things became. At the start it actually functoned OK but it would literallly start to grind to halt (PQ would start to deteriorrate then massive skipping then motion would stop and I'd only get sound).

[Scriber]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

I have an Asus Pundit-R, and it is small and runs very very well. Check it out. Also it has every type of interface you can imagine, including PCMCIA.

http://usa.asus.com/products/desktop...r/overview.HTM

Except AGP.

Using SDTV and w/o DVI, VGA, or HDMI-in would PQ be acceptable using SVideo? My SDTV does have component in but I'd need a component transcoder I suppose...

[mikejaner]

Yes, I was using the Svideo out for a couple of months on my SDTV, before I got my HDTV. With the Nvidia drivers, I couldn't tell the difference between with the PVR 350 output.

[Scriber]

Originally Posted by mikejaner

Yes, I was using the Svideo out for a couple of months on my SDTV, before I got my HDTV. With the Nvidia drivers, I couldn't tell the difference between with the PVR 350 output.

Wow - that's great PQ. Nvidia drivers? You mean ATI --or were you using a Nvidia PCI VC?

[mikejaner]

Sorry, I meant NVDVD for Mpeg Decoding.

[SHS]

You want small how about EPIA-N8000
What I ready dig was VIA displayed a prototype of the Dual processor Mini-ITX and there picture of a Quad processor sbeing showing at http://www.mini-itx.com/