Login at Kodi Home

wedge22 · 2013-02-21, 06:37

I am building a new HTPC after trying out a WD TV Live and not liking certain elements, (lack of metadata from NAS files, no faves on network etc). I will be building this cheap and cheerful and installing XBMC and connecting over a wired network via powerline devices to my DNS-323 NAS.

Parts:

CPU AMD A4 5300 APU
MOTHERBOARD MSi FM2-A55M-E33
RAM AMD MEMORY Entertainment Edition 4GB PC3-12800 CL9 DDR3 SDRAM (1 x 4GB)
SSD Kingston 64GB (already own)
CASE/PSU INWIN IW-BK623 Micro ATX Tiny Tower, Black w/ 300W Power Supply

The total including shipping and taxes was $190.90, I hope that this little machine will work out well, parts were shipped out today.

wedge22 · 2013-02-21, 18:45

I want to clarify that this build will be able to play 1080p HD rips and stream all 5.1 surround sound over HDMI to my Onkyo receiver?

wedge22 · 2013-02-26, 00:10

My parts arrived on Friday and I built the machine Friday evening, installed Windows 7 and XBMC and tested it out, it works well but some files do not play back smoothly, I am sure this is not related to my machine, likely drivers or settings, needs more tweaking.

I followed the steps below after the initial issues with the playback and they are still happening.

My setup is, PC>AVR Onkyo>LCD all using HDMI.1. If you installed Realkek, you can un-install it
2. Make sure to up date the latest AMD driver from here- AMD Driver Autodetect
3. Select AMD High Definition audio output in Windows 7 control panel/hardware and sound/sound/playback
4. If you have AVR, you need to select "Audio output device WASAPI: "AVR brand/model go here" (AMD High Definition......)" in XBMC
5. Enable DXVA2 and select DXVA as Render method and disable everything else in XBMC system/video/playback
6. Enable "Use fullscreen window rather than true fullscreen" in XBMC system/system/vdeo output

sapper6fd · 2013-02-26, 00:15

(2013-02-21, 18:45)wedge22 Wrote: I want to clarify that this build will be able to play 1080p HD rips and stream all 5.1 surround sound over HDMI to my Onkyo receiver?

Is this a question or a statement?

That system seem more than capable of playing HD video and 5.1 surround sound

wedge22 · 2013-02-26, 00:37

At the time it was a question, I had hoped to use OPENELEC XBMC but as ATi drivers are poor for Linux I would not have been able to bitstream 5.1 so I chose to install Windows 7 and XBMC. Now I just have the issue with some of the files playback appearing jerky, but the FPS is showing correctly and CPU utilization is low.

sapper6fd · 2013-02-26, 00:39

Are the files located on the system itself or on another system / external drive?

wedge22 · 2013-02-26, 00:52

My files are stored on a DNS 323 NAS and the network is Powerline Ethernet adaptors, I have three of them setup. I will test with the same files this evening stored on the SSD of the HTPC and see if there is any difference to rule out network. I will also test these same files on my main rig after I have installed XBMC on it, as they work fine using VLC on my main rig over the network.

sapper6fd · 2013-02-26, 01:02

Are you pulling the files through an Ethernet cable or wifi? If its wifi, that's going to cause a bottleneck. If its wired, then I would start looking at the system performance to see where the hang up is (as you said, playing off of the systems SSD).

wedge22 · 2013-02-26, 08:18

Well it was the interlace settings they were off, I turned them onto Auto and problem fixed.