The definitive working HD playback configuration thread!

[mikesm]

Folks, given all the issues people are having in getting HD playback to work, I am starting this central thread where people can report their successes as a guide to others going down the path.

If you are having success in getting solid high quality HD playback for both recordings AND live tv in Sage, please post your working config in the following format:

OS: XP or Vista (or MacOS) and version (which SP's have been loaded)
Graphics hardware: Vendor and Model
Driver used: Version and origin (in case of modified drivers)
Codec used: (Sage, Cyberlink, MSFT, etc...) and version of codec
CPU: type and clockspeed
RAM:
Motherboard Chipset:
Audio hardware:
Audio driver:
Sage configuration: (overlay vs VMR9, FSE or no FSE, 3D acceleration enabled)
Sage Video Codec selection:
Sage Audio Codec selection:
Display resolution: (1080i,11080p,720p, etc...)
Display connection: (DVI, HDMI, component, etc...)

Anything I missed?

I hope this will enable working configs to be used as a guide for others. This is way too hard to get right now, and pooling our debugging experience should reduce everyone's pain level.

Thanks,
mike

[GKusnick]

This is certainly not the first and probably not the last "definitive" HD playback thread, so rather than retype, I'll just link to the system specs I posted last time around:

http://forums.sagetv.com/forums/show...44&postcount=5

[camus]

OS: XP SP2
Graphics hardware: EVGA 7600GS
Driver used: 84.21
Codec used: Purevideo 1.02-185
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000 Venice 1.8 Ghz
RAM: 1 Gb
Motherboard Chipset: ASUS A8N-SLI
Audio hardware:Onboard using SPDIF out
Audio driver: Realtek
Sage configuration: VMR9 with FSE enabled
Sage Video Codec selection: Default
Sage Audio Codec selection: Default

This is my main HTPC and media server, I run it with service mode enabled.
DVI to HD LCD at 720p


Works great.

[Razillian]

OS: XP pro SP2
Graphics hardware: eVGA 6600GT
Driver used: nVidia 93.71
Codec used: NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder 1.02-223
CPU: INTEL P4 3.0E 800MHz
RAM: 2 x 512MB Kingston PC3200 RAM
Motherboard Chipset: ASUS P4S800D-X 655FX
Audio hardware: Turtlebeach Montego
Audio driver: CMedia's driver
Sage configuration: VMR9, FSE, 3D acceleration enabled, service mode
Sage Video Codec selection: Default (purevideo through windows config)
Sage Audio Codec selection: Default (AC3Filter through windows config)

Everything else, most of of the above, see signature. I only ever have slight stuttering at the very beginning of an HD recording, I would guess this is buffering time while the harddrive catches up. This includes playback during recording.

[weeber]

Mike,

I wanted to say thanks and give this thread a little bump so it hopefully gets more responses. As someone who's used Sage for SD only, but is picking up their first HDTV today (46" Samsung 4665 ), I have to say that all these problems I'm seeing with Sage and HD concerns me.

However, from what I gather the issue seems to be with the Vista, Nvidia, Sage combo. It seems that the success comes in running XP, which is too bad because I was looking forward to trying Vista and EVR, but I think I'm going to hold off.

I also saw that you posted in the AVS ATI 2XXX HD thread. Don't worry, I'm not virtual stalking you Like you, I'm just trying to get as much info as I can. I would be willing to try a Vista, Sage, ATI 2600XT combo, but it doesn't look like there's a fanless 2600XT yet.

In other words, thanks for getting on this. I wish there was more definitive info out there, but I think I need to pull the trigger on my new HTPC sooner rather than later, and unless I hear something more I'll be going Sage, Nvidia 8600gt, and Windows XP.

[mkanet]

Hi Mike, I have never had any issues with playing back HD under WinXP no matter what hardware I've used or software. I think it's pretty hard NOT to get it to work under WinXP using popular hardware and software. Unfortunately, as you know, the complete opposite is true under Windows Vista... at least for me.

WinXP (anything I've ever had as worked)

Dell Dimention 4600
CPU: Intel PIV 2.4GHz
Intel PIV 3.2GHz

OS: Windows XP

Display Adapters:
ATI 9600AIW
Nvidia 6600GT
Nvidia 7950GT

Mpeg Decoders with hardware acceleration
PowerDVD (all versions)
Nvidia Purevideo (all versions)
WinDVD (all versions)
Sonic (all versions)

Resolutions: (all resolutions work with DVI and VGA).

Too bad there arent enough people who use Vista to get a survey of who can actually make SageTV work correctly in Vista. I tried that in the last thread I started and got 2 people to said they made it work out of the hundreds of people on this forum.

[ToxMox]

Don't forget display resolution (1080i, 1080p, 720p etc) and how the video card is connected to the TV (VGA, Component, HDMI-DVI etc.)

[hemicuda]

I can say that so far an AMD 3400+ and an nvidia 5900 series card w/ purevideo from pcalchemy doesn't do HD 'live' or pre-recorded on my 17" monitor. at least not for me. so that may be the cutoff for "no matter what hardware."

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by ToxMox

Don't forget display resolution (1080i, 1080p, 720p etc) and how the video card is connected to the TV (VGA, Component, HDMI-DVI etc.)

Great point. I'll mod the original post. Perhaps those who have already posted configs could edit to add these fields as well.

thanks,
mike

[mikesm]

Originally Posted by weeber

Mike,

I wanted to say thanks and give this thread a little bump so it hopefully gets more responses. As someone who's used Sage for SD only, but is picking up their first HDTV today (46" Samsung 4665 ), I have to say that all these problems I'm seeing with Sage and HD concerns me.

However, from what I gather the issue seems to be with the Vista, Nvidia, Sage combo. It seems that the success comes in running XP, which is too bad because I was looking forward to trying Vista and EVR, but I think I'm going to hold off.

I also saw that you posted in the AVS ATI 2XXX HD thread. Don't worry, I'm not virtual stalking you Like you, I'm just trying to get as much info as I can. I would be willing to try a Vista, Sage, ATI 2600XT combo, but it doesn't look like there's a fanless 2600XT yet.

In other words, thanks for getting on this. I wish there was more definitive info out there, but I think I need to pull the trigger on my new HTPC sooner rather than later, and unless I hear something more I'll be going Sage, Nvidia 8600gt, and Windows XP.

You're welcome. I wish Sage as a company would take greater ownership of this issue. Their lack of involvement is costing many individual users literally dozens of hours of time, if not more.

Despite the fact that most new OEM systems come with Vista, and Sage at least on paper officially supports Vista, one would think there would be a few configs that would work. It looks like now the official Sage policy SHOULD be to not support Vista and tell folks to load XP on their systems. But maybe we'll see some Vista posts in this thread that will change this point of view.

Thanks,
mike

[Vinylvision]

I am seriously considering Sage with multiple client pc's, multiple Dish Vip622 R5000-HD receiver, and HDHomeRun OTA network tuner. BUT I have become very confused after reading this forum about what works and does not work. This thread offers potential for issue clarification and saving lots of time. It sure is reassuring to read that something works.

Please consider adding (if relevant):

-HD Source (OTA tuner, cable, satellite, other)
-HD Source Device and firmware level (HDHomeRun firmware level, Dish Vip211 R5000 firmware level, etc)
-Types of HD content known to work (live HDTV, 1080i HD Movies, 720p HD Movies, etc)
-HD Viewing Method (recorded or live)
-Computer type used for Display (Server or Client)

One other idea: Make available some recorded HD content files that are known to work (if that can be done legally). Sage might include different types of test content with their software that could be used for this purpose.

[mangriotis]

This info is for my server.

OS: Vista 32-bit, latest updates (seem to get new ones every week)
Graphics hardware: Gigabyte 8500GT (fanless)
Driver used: 106.03 GeForce (might try new ones soon)
Codec used: Cyberlink (PowerDVD), used PureVideo but couldn't get rid of stutter on HDHR recorded material
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E4300, overclocked to 2.4GHz (266 FSB 9x mult)
RAM: 2x1GB, DDR2 667MHz (PC2 5300)
Motherboard Chipset: Gigabyte P965-DS3 (rev 1.1)
Audio hardware: on board S/PDIF out
Audio driver: Vista HD audio driver (AC3Filter)
Sage configuration: VMR9 with 3D Acceleration ON
Sage Video Codec selection: Cyberlink
Sage Audio Codec selection: Default
Display resolution: 720p (Actually 1024x768 on widescreen plasma, windows is stretched but Sage video is great, due to nVidia drivers)
Display connection: VGA analog to Plasma
Sources: 1 PVR-250 (SD cable), 1 HDR-1600 (w/ SD cable and S-Video input from DCT-6200), 1 HDHR using QAM from Comcast digital cable on both tuners (looks like new firmware was released yesterday, time for upgrade)

There are 2 issues I am currently experiencing:

1. nVidia drivers for GeForce 8xxx do not allow screen adjustment or custom resolutions (previously I had 1365x768, which resulted in the right aspect ratio). Still hoping this will be corrected on future drivers.

2. Commercial skip (using SA and Dirmon2) seems to happen a couple seconds earlier than it should, and I get lockups on resuming playback after about 2 seconds (only on HDHR recorded material). The screen will freeze but the audio and counter keeps going. A quick skip back 5 seconds restores this to normal. If I manually skip forward or back, I can get the lockup to recur on every other skip command. It seems like the commercial timestamps are exactly correct, but the automatic skip just goes early.

[bialio]

Two computers (Server and client) both with great HD perfomance now. Differences between the two in bold below.

OS: Vista 32-bit Business, AERO on
Graphics hardware: Gigabyte 8500GT (fanless) / Gigabyte 8400GS (fanless)
Driver used: 158.24
Codec used: Nvidia PureVideo (DVD-BRONZE)
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E4400, overclocked to 2.65GHz
CPU : AMD X2 3600+, overclocked to 2.7 GHz
RAM: 2x1GB, DDR2 800MHz
Motherboard : Foxconn G9657MA-8EKRS2H
Motherboard : BIOSTAR TForce TF7050-M2
Sage configuration: VMR9 with 3D Acceleration ON, FSE off
Sage Video Codec selection: NVidia Purevideo
Sage Audio Codec selection: AC3Filter
Display resolution: 720p
Display connection: DVI -> HDMI input on my TV
SD Source: 1 PVR-500 Timewarner Cable
HD Source: 1 HDHR (QAM) Timewarner Cable

Interestingly enough if I turn AERO off on these machines, I loose the smooth playback of HD. With AERO on it is rock solid.

[Taddeusz]

I have my SageTV client working in HD fine on Vista 32-bit. My SageTV server is a dedicated machine running XP. I have yet to get an HDTV though. I've just been watching all my HD content on my client PC. I also have an MVP hooked to my SDTV.

My SageTV server:

SageTV 6.2.4 Beta
OS: Windows XP Pro SP2
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800
RAM: 2GB DDR 400
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-K8U-939
HD: Maxtor 300GB SATA + Seagate 500GB SATA
Tuners: PVR 250 and PVR 150 on Cox Cable OKC, HDHR OTA
NIC: Intel Gigabit PCI Card

My SageTV Client:

SageTV Client 6.2.4 Beta
OS: Windows Vista 32-bit
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200
RAM: 2GB DDR 400
Motherboard: Asus A8N-E
Video: Sapphire X1950XT 256MB, 7.6 Catalyst Driver
Sound: SB X-Fi Fatal1ty Pro Gamer 5.1ch analog out
Resolution 1680x1050
MPEG Decoder: Cyberlink
Audio Decoder: AC3Filter
Sage config: VMR9, 3D on, FSE off

[mangriotis]

Why do you guys have FSE off? Mine is on, and I thought that was a good thing...

[mikesm]

here's my new client:

Sage 6.1.9

OS: XP SP2
Graphics hardware: Integrated Intel GMA3000
Driver used: 14.29
Codec used: Cyberlink (PowerDVD 7) OEM version (not Ultra)
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E6300 (Dell optiplex 745 ultra small form factor system)
RAM: 2x1GB, DDR2 800 Mhz
Motherboard Chipset: Intel 965G
Audio hardware: Soundmax integrated (stereo out)
Audio driver: Dell Soundmax driver from CD
Sage configuration: VMR9 with 3D Acceleration ON, FSE ON
Sage Video Codec selection: Default
Sage Audio Codec selection: Default
Display resolution: 1366x768 (native panel resolution)
Display connection: VGA analog to LCD panel (Vizio VX37L)

Works great for SD and HD (from clear QAM and R5000-HD MPEG2). Power DVD 7 OEM software, not ultra version. Haven't tried H.264 on it, but it knows how to use Intel clearvideo hardware acceleration. Playback is very smooth.

This Intel stuff was way easier to get good output than any Nvidia card I've used.

This same config did not work well under Vista (came with the system). Playback was great in PowerDVD and WMP, but blew chunks in Sage.

PS I got this as a refurb from the Dell outlet for $400. They have great bargains there if you want a factory SFF system.

Thanks,
Mike

[weeber]

Wohoo, I just built my HD HTPC this weekend. I'm still tweaking, but it looks like HD is working.

OS: XP, MCE 2005
Video: MSI 8600GTS (fanless)
Driver: Latest Nvidia WHQL (can't remember the version)
Codec: Nvidia Purevideo
CPU: AMD X2 4400+ Brisbane
RAM: 2GB DDR2 533 (Corsair ValueSelect)
MB: Asus M2N-SLI (Nvidia 570SLI)
Audio Hardware: Onboard using SPDIF Out
Sage version: 6 - latest retail
Sage Config: VMR9, FSE, 3D accel on
Video Codec: Default [Nvidia]
Audio Codec: Default [AC3]
Display Resolution: 1080p
Display Connection: DVI to HDMI

Right now I'm recording via firewire from my cable box. Still some issues, but things appear to going fairly well [knock on wood].

[mikesm]

Here's my 2nd client

Sage 6.1.9

OS: XP SP2
Graphics hardware: ATI 2600pro (MSI fanless model)
Driver used: Catalyst 7.7
Codec used: Cyberlink (PowerDVD 7) OEM version (not Ultra)
CPU: Opteron 165
RAM: 2x512GB, DDR 400 Mhz
Motherboard Chipset: ATI 580 (Abit AT8 32X motherboard)
Audio hardware: ALC 883
Audio driver: Realtek 1.29
Sage configuration: VMR9 with 3D Acceleration ON, FSE ON
Sage Video Codec selection: Default
Sage Audio Codec selection: Default
Display resolution: 1920x1080 (native panel resolution)
Display connection: HDMI via HDMI-DVI adapater (Sony SXRD)

I just replaced a Nvidia card that I never could get to work well. The ATI is MUCH better. Very smooth HD and excellent SD scaling as well.

Will set the client up for Vista Dual-boot and try the same hardware under vista soon.

Thx
Mike

[fyodor]

Let us know how it works, particularly compared to an EVR type program (windows media player). I'll start to think that the overlay setup I have works OK and then I'll watch something with WMP and be saddened by how much better it is.

Originally Posted by mikesm

Here's my 2nd client



Will set the client up for Vista Dual-boot and try the same hardware under vista soon.

Thx
Mike

[weeber]

Originally Posted by mangriotis

Why do you guys have FSE off? Mine is on, and I thought that was a good thing...

Yeah, I just experimented with this yesterday. With FSE off, I got micro-stutters when playing back HD content. FSE on clears everything up. My setup is listed in one of the posts above.