[mythtv-users] Basic requirements (hardware)

[Craig Longman]

Jeff C wrote:

> At 11:09 AM 5/31/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>
>> Jeff C wrote:
>>
>>> # Turn down the sample rate for smaller files - about 2GB/hour
>>> ~jac/ivtv/ivtv/utils/test_ioctl -c bitrate=4000000,bitrate_peak=10000000
>>
>> jeff, in another thread you talk about jerky video, particularly 
>> during transition points.  i have noticed that if i set my bitrate 
>> anything below about 4.5Mb/s, then i start getting jerky audio.  if i 
>> set it to 2.5Mb/s, then it is almost always skipping.
>
> What speed disk are you using?  I'm on a 5400RPM disk with only a 2MB 
> cache, and I am wondering if that might also be contributing?  I 
> intend to go to a 120 or 160 GB drive at 7200RPM with an 8MB cache in 
> a month or so, but until then I'm curious to know what you are using. 

i think its a 5400, but i forget what i've got where now.

the thing i don't understand though, is LOWERing the bitrate shouldn't 
expose bad disk performance problems.  it /might/ expose insufficient 
cpu, but then i would think that my proc usage should go up.  having it 
not go up, maybe indicates bus performance problems, but i'm not sure. 
 i think the most likely candidate is timing problems, but thats what i 
need to investigate.

one thing i thought though, if you're going away, you might not want to 
screw around with it.  if lowering it further does cause problems on 
your system, then it will be un-usable for you wife.  i know mine 
doesn't really care for all the experimenting i'm doing with our main tv 
source... especially if it interferes with things like ER...;-)

cheers,

    CraigL->Thx();