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[LINUX] HOW-TO use VAAPI HW Acceleration on AMD Zacate (Fusion) platform - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: [LINUX] HOW-TO use VAAPI HW Acceleration on AMD Zacate (Fusion) platform (/showthread.php?tid=99154)



ZBOX-HD-AD02 with Natty/VAAPI works but low performance. - zbox_ad02 - 2011-08-04

toehser Wrote:FWIW, I'm able to get vaapi video acceleration to work on Natty on AD02 with many less steps...

- Install Natty ("alternate" "64" image, regular default install)
- Change apt / synaptic to include proposed and backports repositories
- Do a full upgrade
- Install the 11.7 driver
- Add the PPA: from rexbron (Andrew Hunder) to make xvba-va-driver work
- Install all the vaapi and valib and xvba stuff
- And the video acceleration is working.

I didn't install the 3 kernel or anything from splitted-desktop, and yet, it is working.

Sweet, VA worked on ZBOX AD02 finally. but the performance is really bad.
Steps:
- Install Natty from usb unetbootin "ubuntu" "11.04_NetInstall_x64" with default Unity Desktop.
- Add "proposed" and "backports" repositories.
- Full update with Update manager.
- Install 11.7 driver from this post
- Add PPA from rexbron to install xvba-va-driver from Synaptic. (this post)
- Install vaapi xvba etc from this post again.
- Install VLC
Code:
sudo apt-get install vlc
- Open a file without va (it stopped, the cpu just can't handle it):
Code:
vlc killa-sample.mvk
- Open a file with va (it works smoothly, but the picture is really messed up):
Code:
vlc --ffmpeg-hw killa-sample.mvk
- Open 720p file taken by my mobile camera .mp4 (works ok but image tearing is obvious):
Code:
vlc --ffmpeg-hw video-2011-08-03.mp4

So with VA all I got is either messed up image or image with tearing. is that all what ZBOX HD-AD02 can do, or did I do something wrong?

I appreciate your help Toesher and Chessplayer, I managed to get va to at least work.


- cRaZy-bisCuiT - 2011-08-04

Robotica Wrote:Optional alternative step: Bluray navigation support
(that is handy if you have m2ts files with index files and you want to navigate to certain chapters on the bluray disc)
First compile libbluray:

So there's BluRay Support now? Many people do not know this! I think it would be a good idea to make this kind of thing more public!


- Robotica - 2011-08-04

cRaZy-bisCuiT Wrote:So there's BluRay Support now? Many people do not know this! I think it would be a good idea to make this kind of thing more public!

haha... You're really funny. I think it is a good idea to do some more reading.


- toehser - 2011-08-04

zbox_ad02 Wrote:By the way, my friend says the ZBOX AD02 outperforms the ND02, according to your benchmarking, it shouldn't.
ND02 is older technology but it is better for 1080p.
Is that correct?
No. The correct answer: ND22 != ND02. My review: ND22. Your friend's comment: ND02. Performance of non-GPU tasks: ND22 > AD02 > ND02.

The ND22 is based on an SU2300, not an Atom.

chessplayer Wrote:I think the point is
I think he was just confusing ND22 (Celeron CULV SU2300 sort-of like a Core 2 Duo) with ND02 (Atom sort-of like a 6502).


- cRaZy-bisCuiT - 2011-08-04

Robotica Wrote:haha... You're really funny. I think it is a good idea to do some more reading.

I think you are right, BUT...

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=67420&highlight=bluray


- zbox_ad02 - 2011-08-04

toehser Wrote:No. The correct answer: ND22 != ND02. My review: ND22. Your friend's comment: ND02. Performance of non-GPU tasks: ND22 > AD02 > ND02.

The ND22 is based on an SU2300, not an Atom.


I think he was just confusing ND22 (Celeron CULV SU2300 sort-of like a Core 2 Duo) with ND02 (Atom sort-of like a 6502).

Sorry, you are right, I meant ND22 according to your review.
The ND22 looks superior to AD02 from your review. But I couldn't guess why.
Is it the GPU used in ND or the software maturity of its drivers because it was there for longer time than AD?

for Ubuntu+vlc+1080p, which one is smoother play back and why?
I mean if it is a vaapi library issue that puts the AD back, would there be a hope for it to beat ND in GPU tasks performance later?


- toehser - 2011-08-04

zbox_ad02 Wrote:The ND22 looks superior to AD02 from your review. But I couldn't guess why.
Is it the GPU used in ND or the software maturity of its drivers because it was there for longer time than AD?

for Ubuntu+vlc+1080p, which one is smoother play back and why?
I mean if it is a vaapi library issue that puts the AD back, would there be a hope for it to beat ND in GPU tasks performance later?

For me, the overriding issue for any 1080p is that the NVidia proprietary driver with VDPAU seems to in practice be more maturely supported at this time than the AMD proprietary driver with XVBA. Note that I did NOT test with vlc, I'm using xbmc for 1080p playback.

The CPU in the ND22 is significantly faster, but also has higher power draw and heat - for an HTPC, probably I would rather have the lower heat allowing a quieter fan, if all other things were equal, personally.

If you get everything configured right and all the drivers and libraries happy with each other, they BOTH will play MOST 1080p smoothly enough. But, (1) the driver / library maturity issue is more painful still on AMD; (2) _some_ 1080p files play much better on the ND22; and (3) I did run into more sound and system stability issues on the AD02.

I don't know the history of the difference between the NVidia and AMD drivers and library support and such, I just know that the end result is that there is WAY more opportunity for frustration with the AMD graphics for _right now_. My "executive summary" is that in general the ND22 "just works" and the AD02 "can be made to work almost as well after you tear your hair out".

That doesn't mean the ND22 is a better choice for all users - the AD02 is cheaper, and uses less power (=heat). And it looks better. And is apparently fine under some other operating systems, I _only_ use Linux.

As far as the future - sure, the fglrx+xvba+vaapi might support uvd3 and bake cookies and run rings around NVidia - but - I wouldn't actually make any decisions based on what MIGHT happen...


- Krautmaster - 2011-08-05

any solutions on the 24p problem right now? 24p + vsync and xbmc still stutters =(

I tested yesterday Ubuntu minimal x64 + Kernel 3.0 and catalyst 11.7 + newest xvba and xbmc 11pre from lars.

60hz looks fine so far, even if vsync is on. Performance is good too. Load slightly better than in older versions, 15-25% @ 1080p.


- AlexeyIst - 2011-08-05

Somebody can give the link to a ready image of system? For testing.
I can't build full-function xbmc yet (: Something wrong with vaapi........
mobo ASUS E35M1-M mem 4G hdd sata 160G
Thanks.


- sraue - 2011-08-05

AlexeyIst Wrote:Somebody can give the link to a ready image of system? For testing.
I can't build full-function xbmc yet (: Something wrong with vaapi........
mobo ASUS E35M1-M mem 4G hdd sata 160G
Thanks.

Website:
http://openelec.tv/

some News:
http://openelec.tv/component/k2/item/188-working-vaapi-xvba-for-amd-fusion-devices-added
http://openelec.tv/component/k2/item/192-ati-fusion-and-progression

Downloads (devel):
http://sources.openelec.tv/tmp/image/

Howtos/FAQs:
http://openelec.tv/find-help/documentation/installation
http://openelec.tv/find-help/documentation/howtos


- AlexeyIst - 2011-08-05

Thanx, sraue. I try it.
But I hope to see real image xbmc, builded from PPA. 2 weeks I do not sleep Wink all OP from topic starter and others => nothing...
deb from lars looks fine, but any movie crushed my builds.
Now i finished with another question: crush-log stops on "ERROR: Initialize - pcm_open_lconf, alsa error: -2.."
New installation = new problems Smile I like it!


- cRaZy-bisCuiT - 2011-08-05

Is it possible to add TV support to OpenElec, too?


- sraue - 2011-08-05

cRaZy-bisCuiT Wrote:Is it possible to add TV support to OpenElec, too?

OpenELEC has initial TV support in our normal images, also there are experimental images with XBMC's PVR branch.


- zbox_ad02 - 2011-08-05

toehser Wrote:For me, the overriding issue for any 1080p is that the NVidia proprietary driver with VDPAU seems to in practice be more maturely supported at this time than the AMD proprietary driver with XVBA. Note that I did NOT test with vlc, I'm using xbmc for 1080p playback............


Toesher, Thank you, very thorough answer.
The AD02 hardware is built to run HD videos, there must be something wrong I'm doing.
Today I'll try:

Option 1:
- Install Ubuntu.
- Install fglrx driver.
- Install VAAPI stuff (xvba and libva..)
- Compile ffmpeg with vaapi enabled.
- Compile VLC with VAAPI enabled.

Option 2:
- Compile MPlayer with VAAPI enabled instead of VLC.

Option 3:
Before that, I'll try the live XBMC image from Nemek to play the killa-sample.
If it runs smooth, then I'm definitly doing something wrong.

Get back to you with the results.

Thanks Robotica for this awesome topic.

Update Results:

I have done all the options above, actually Toesher was right, it is very simple to install.
Using Toesher method, or option 1,2,3 above. All gave same results.
The ZBOX AD02 with Linux sucks with "killa-sample.mkv", other 1080p videos run smoothly with tolerable tearing.
With VLC the both cores takes 50%.
With Mplayer both cores takes 20%
Both XBMC, VLC, MPlayer all have same playback performance mentioned above.
The driver really need more developement....

Thank you all for the great topic and advises.


- WytRaven - 2011-08-05

Krautmaster Wrote:any solutions on the 24p problem right now? 24p + vsync and xbmc still stutters =(

I tested yesterday Ubuntu minimal x64 + Kernel 3.0 and catalyst 11.7 + newest xvba and xbmc 11pre from lars.

60hz looks fine so far, even if vsync is on. Performance is good too. Load slightly better than in older versions, 15-25% @ 1080p.

1080p + 60Hz + vsync + resample audio = sweet. I have shit loads of music videos and the constant video mode changing gets really annoying. To be honest at this point I really don't see any need to be concerned with 24hz. Even if they fix it I doubt I will use it...