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View Full Version : Considering the jump from XP to linux

PantsOnFire
2008-08-31, 03:31
HI all,

I've been considering moving from WinXP to linux (ubuntu) for a while now but have held off.

but i'd really like xbmc to play my 720 and 1080 mkv's, and at the moment there's problems with that under XP. (common knowledge)


I've heard there's a marked improvement using the linux version.

Can anyone with experience tell me, if my system specs would be able to play 720 or 1080 mkv's under linux xbmc?

(i know this its more complicated than just specs, but im just looking for a rough idea, i know there's varying bitrate and things like that which aren't so easy to quantify).


Core Duo 1.66GHz (does linux recognise dual core?)
1GB ram
Nvidia GeForce Go! 7400


Any opinions welcome.
thanks
MonkeyRoach
2008-08-31, 04:20
you might be a little underpowered sinse there is no gpu acceleration for mkv files.
gnaunited
2008-08-31, 08:05
(does linux recognise dual core?)

I think downloading this live version and trying it out first might be your best option based on that one line. It might be a little more involved than you realize.
blittan
2008-08-31, 08:54
you can boot the ubuntu-cd and run it "live" then try things out before you install.
Gamester17
2008-08-31, 22:36
Core Duo 1.66GHz"Core Duo" or "Core 2 Duo"?, in any case it is going to be underpowered for most 1080p H.264 videos.
Jezz_X
2008-08-31, 22:58
Linux version sees and uses dual core fine also I have a 7100gs nvidia and it plays 1080p fine at (1360x768) but lags a little on projectm viz at times, currently cpu is more needed than gpu but a nvidia gpu is best because they have better drivers than intel and ATI so work better in opengl that xbmc needs

btw my cpu is a core2 6600
obergeru
2008-09-01, 11:34
There is no gpu accelration in windows or linux, so installing linux wont make it worse.

Linux generaly needs less CPU power to decode .mkv files.
I would recomend a lightweight linux distro like xubuntu.
demox
2008-09-01, 21:50
There is no gpu accelration in windows or linux, so installing linux wont make it worse.

Linux generaly needs less CPU power to decode .mkv files.
I would recomend a lightweight linux distro like xubuntu.

Are you sure about that?

http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideao_HD.html
http://ati.amd.com/technology/Avivo/index.html
o_dog
2008-09-02, 10:57
XBMC does not support any form of gpu acceleration.
Gamester17
2008-09-02, 13:52
XBMC does not support any form of gpu acceleration.That is correct, ...not yet anyway, see:
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=Hardware_Accelerated_Video_Decoding
http://xbmc.org/wiki/?title=GSoC_-_GPU_Assisted_Video_Decoding