I just did a real test in my everyday configuration: POWER SAVING MODE:
BetaPlayer: 148%
PocketTV: 98%
And at 624MHz:
BetaPlayer: 191%
PocketTV: 164%
AO2 rom using file:5e-640x480-1.7Mbps MPEG
Files ran from RAM.
I'm quite sure I know why the A02 ROM causes PocketTV performances to be lower. I think it's because they change the way they flip the frames, to avoid tearing. Basically, in the A02 ROM, the 2700G driver "Flip Frame" routine will sleep (in the driver) to wait correctly for the vertical refresh. That's apparently not the case in the A01 ROM. So if the application tries to "grab" the surface that was displayed before the flip, then the application ends up waiting longer, until this frame is available.
By using an extra frame, this apparent performance problem should simply disapear, and the performances with A02 ROM should return to the same level as they are with the A01 ROM. And that's no problem given the large amount of internal (private) video memory available with the 2700G. We'll check if that's the case, but that would be the more logical explanation, from what I heard from well informed Intel and Dell sources.
You might get very different results, since this file has a different structure and only uses 2 consecutive B-frames. The problem that I describe above would affect files that use 3 consecutive B-frames, and that's precisely the case of http://www.pockettv.com/mpg/vga/5e-6...1.7Mbps-v2.mpg !
Last edited by PocketTV Team; 02-08-05 at 04:53 PM.
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Don't Panic!
Bobby
42 Soft-reset is our Friend To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Also, why would you want TWO products that can do the same thing, especially when one does the same task as the other AND MORE?
Also because they don't do exactly the same thing, and they also don't do it the same way.
Betaplayer supports many more formats than PocketTV, but there are a number of things that PocketTV does and that Betaplayer cannot do. This includes http streaming, frame capture (and email captured frame), frame stepping, interactive color/contrast adjustments and automatic use of various color adjustments for various sequences.
PocketTV also does everything differently, it uses a different codec, so in some cases, this may be an advantage, since in most cases when a codec has a proble, another codec will not have the same problem.
Also, PocketTV is more likely to play random MPEG files than Betaplayer, since it has been around for a longer time. There are frequent reports of MPEG files that Betaplayer cannot play, but that PocketTV has no problem playing.
And since PocketTV is also FREE (for personal use), it gives you a choice. Choice and competition is good.
Last edited by PocketTV Team; 02-08-05 at 05:30 PM.
This is a multimedia topic, but still, this thread applies *exclusively* to the x50v (not to any other Axim device), so maybe it should stay in the x50v forum, for the benefit of x50v users?
Last edited by PocketTV Team; 02-08-05 at 09:06 PM.
I got 183% with 1.0.4. It looks like you are nearly there. This is after soft-reset and no other programs except plugins running. I get 187% with Betaplayer.
Something that I will point out is that Betaplayer appears to be better optimized at lower cpu speeds. This is important factor when trying to save battery (which is very significant with X50v). Following are benches runs at 208 mhz:
143% Betaplayer .096 unstable - drop of 44% while at 624 mhz
104% PocketTV 1.0.4 - drop of 79% while at 624 mhz
In a nutshell, Betaplayer is running at 76% of its 624mhz speed while at 208mhz and PocketTV is running 57% of its 624 speed while at 208mhz. Real world this does not mean much because with both we are pretty much able to watch 640x480 1.7 Mbps video at 208 mhz cpu speeds. Pretty amazing really.
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Dell Axim X50v
Kingston 512mb SD card
Sandisk Extreme III 1gb CF card
Extra 1100 mAh battery
Something that I will point out is that Betaplayer appears to be better optimized at lower cpu speeds. This is important factor when trying to save battery (which is very significant with X50v). Following are benches runs at 208 mhz:
143% Betaplayer .096 unstable - drop of 44% while at 624 mhz
104% PocketTV 1.0.4 - drop of 79% while at 624 mhz
In a nutshell, Betaplayer is running at 76% of its 624mhz speed while at 208mhz and PocketTV is running 57% of its 624 speed while at 208mhz. Real world this does not mean much because with both we are pretty much able to watch 640x480 1.7 Mbps video at 208 mhz cpu speeds. Pretty amazing really.
Yes, we know the (most likely) reason and we know how to fix it.
This is (we think) basically because PocketTV does an extra, un-necessary copy of the stream data.
In general, this only accounts for a very small percentage of extra CPU time when decoding is done by software.
But when decoding is done by hardware, and when the bitrate is quite high (e.g. with VGA), then this extra copy does take a significant share of what the processor does, and this probably explains the difference that you see with lower CPU speed.
We'll definitely look into improving this and removing this un-necessary buffer copy.
Anyway, thanks for confirming our benchmark results.
If battery use is a concern, you should keep in mind that Betaplayer will keep the 2700G powered up when it is de-activated in the background (e.g. when you tap (x) in its NavBar or bring another app in front). PocketTV powers-off the 2700G completely as soon as it gets de-activated :)
Last edited by PocketTV Team; 02-09-05 at 09:37 PM.
By the way, flipcody, can you confirm that there is no "tearing" with A02 ROM ?
According to Dell and Intel, the new 2700G driver in the A02 ROM should solve this problem.
Unfortunately we cannot test that: we managed to put our x50v in the infamous "unbootable" state after a botched ROM upgrade, so our device is now a "door stop". We'll get a new one (soon), but until then, we cannot do any more tests...
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