Atom+ION+Linux = HTPC?

[costi]

Okay, so I'm building myself a HTPC/torrentbox based on the nVidia ION platform (Asus AT3IONT-I DELUXE to be exact). Since I want to keep the cost low, I'm considering using Linux.
I need some info, however:
- what distro would be best?
- Decoding by the video card is absolutely essential, because the Atom itself will not manage smooth 1080p, even if it's dualcore. Is it possible, preferably without too much hassle (I'm not a linux guy)?
- is there a torrent client with a web interface?
- I'm planning to use XBMC as my interface. Any known issues with this + GPU decoding?

Oh, and one last thing: I don't want to use pirated software, so please don't give me advice like "just torrent Windows 7". If Linux doesn't cut it, I'll have to shell out some cash, but only if it's unavoidable.

[fohfoh]

- what distro would be best?

- I'm planning to use XBMC as my interface. Any known issues with this + GPU decoding?

So... why not just jump on an HTPC OS? AFAIK, there's infinityOS thread somewhere with the BeOS and other stuff discussion.

- Decoding by the video card is absolutely essential, because the Atom itself will not manage smooth 1080p, even if it's dualcore. Is it possible, preferably without too much hassle (I'm not a linux guy)?

Why buy atom based laptop? For that price, you should have a plethora of options.

Oh, and one last thing: I don't want to use pirated software, so please don't give me advice like "just torrent Windows 7". If Linux doesn't cut it, I'll have to shell out some cash, but only if it's unavoidable.

So your laptop doesn't come with a 7 OS preinstalled or at least the key?

- is there a torrent client with a web interface?

Somehow I'm thinking transmission. Dunno if it's what you want.

Okay, so I'm building myself a HTPC/torrentbox based on the nVidia ION platform (Asus AT3IONT-I DELUXE to be exact). Since I want to keep the cost low, I'm considering using Linux.
- Decoding by the video card is absolutely essential, because the Atom itself will not manage smooth 1080p, even if it's dualcore. Is it possible, preferably without too much hassle (I'm not a linux guy)?
Any known issues with this + GPU decoding?

Try the other thread about this netbook. Might answer some basic questions.

[kemlo]

as far as xbmc goes it doesnt support GPU decoding without some tweaking i believe (could be wrong ofc)....you need to know how to edit an XML according to their wiki (tried it myself but failed horribly)

[costi]

@fohfoh - please tell me where I have used the word "laptop"? Or "netbook", for that matter?

I chose Atom because it'll be running 24/7, and you can't beat the low power consumption of an Atom.

[fohfoh]

@fohfoh - please tell me where I have used the word "laptop"? Or "netbook", for that matter?

I chose Atom because it'll be running 24/7, and you can't beat the low power consumption of an Atom.

Either way, should you not have the same thing?

I can't really see it not having an OS unless you're building from scratch. And the other netbook thread is still worth the look for the information.

True, misread. so are you building from scratch?

[costi]

Yup, I am. The mobo has everything, including a PSU. so I just add memory (2x1GB), a HDD (1.5 TB) and a case. And an OS, of course, Asus Express Gate is way too limited.

I read the netbook thread - some useful info, tho not really anything I didn't know. Still, MPC setting might be handy.

[Mcgreag]

I have a HTPC with that hardware except I went with a ready built ASRock ION 330. Infact I got two now, one at home and one for the anime club.
But I run windows 7 on both so I can't really help you with linux and XBMC.

What I can say is that if you want a good anime library feature then XBMC will not cut it, at least if it's anywhere close to the windows version. You will need Mediaportal with the My Anime2 plugin and it's windows only. If it's for general movies and non anime tv-series then it will probably do just fine.

[costi]

What does Mediaportal+MyAnime2 have that XBMC doesn't?

I'll probably have a mix of both on the HDD.

[fohfoh]

Is there not an older version of XP available for use just in case? Dual booting might be fun. AFAIK, your video card might not be extremely useful in comparison to a proper processor. You might get some extra performance vs DVDs or something, but maybe not 1080p files. At least that's what I recall reading.

[costi]

You recall wrong ION, which is basically a GeForce 9400, has full hardware decoding of MPEG2, MPEG4, h264 and VC-1 (and probably others, but these are the most important). This is not a crappy Intel GPU, but a DXVA- and CUDA-capable one. During a BD movie playback CPU use is around 20%.

Dual booting is pointless - the HTPC will not have a monitor, keyboard or mouse of its own, it will just be hooked up to the TV and operated via the included remote. Torrents will be managed via a web interface from my main machine, and if I need to access is directly, I'll use VNC.

XP might be fine (I don't need 64 bit anyways) so if the Linux approach doesn't work I'll use that. But if I'm going to buy the OS, I might as well go with Win7.

[Mcgreag]

What does Mediaportal+MyAnime2 have that XBMC doesn't?

I'll probably have a mix of both on the HDD.

Well maybe something have been added since I looked a few months ago but it doesn't look like it.
With MyAnime2 it will check the checksum of the file and compare that with anidb checksums and get info from there using the api + fan art from thetvdb/moviedb. With XBMC you are stuck with trying to identify by filename, but anime subgroups doesn't follow a strict naming scheme that's the same for all which means it's more or less impossible to write a regexp that will work on everything. So if you want it to actually identify the majority of your things you need to rename more or less every file.

Then if we assume you managed to get the actual name of something you need to link that with info about an actual anime, but most anime database sites doesn't allow http scraping so there are (or at least where a few months ago) no good anime specific scrapers. You are stuck with using something like thetvdb. But thetvdb is worthless for any anime that isn't new/popular. For most thing there will be either no entry at all or there will be an empty entry.

Short version: The difference between myanime2 and xbmc is the difference between having 99.9% of you anime identified and getting poster, ratings etc for it all and having (depending on what anime you have and how much work you are willing to do renaming stuff) 30-70% of you anime identified with poster and stuff for 30-70% of the things it actually managed to identify.

[Lupin]

I chose Atom because it'll be running 24/7, and you can't beat the low power consumption of an Atom.

If power consumption is a concern, I'd take one of VIA's offerings instead. Even Atom pales in comparison.

[vuzedome]

Hey, don't make fun of Intel's IGPs, the latest ones are able to decode H264 1080p much better than the 9400 ION.
The ION you plan on using can definitely decode 1080p BDs, but BDs still mostly use MPEG,
quality 1080p H264 is an entirely different story, don't just compare the numbers(bitrates).

[costi]

I know, I deal with MPEG4 compression on a daily basis at work
As for Intel, as far as I know the only GPU that's really good at video decoding is the one integrated in Clarkdale CPUs. And that's definitely out of the question due to cost.

Here's a link to a test of the board: http://pctimes.pl/generator.php?str=art&id=5646-5
The first two charts show CPU use during BD and DVD playback, the movie parameters are just above the charts.

And here's a screenshot from my friend who has a similar Zotac board: http://img145.imageshack.us/f/bigbuckbunny1080pionn33.jpg/

@Lupin - please read the whole thread. A VIA is useless for what I want, unless I don't know something and it can do smooth 1080p decoding.

@Mcgreag - thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind.

[Lupin]

@Lupin - please read the whole thread. A VIA is useless for what I want, unless I don't know something and it can do smooth 1080p decoding.

Of course you don't know anything. VIA has some ITX boards that are capable of 1080p playback. I'll post the specific board when I find the link. One of it's very few issues are HD playback over wi-fi, since it only supports 802.11b/g; and lack of good audio outputs (no digital audio output, crappy analog audio).

[vuzedome]

That bigbuckbunny screen shot is nothing.
It does not show the more important technical stuff, what you want to see is the stats for the playback, real-time fps, frame drops and jitters and stuff.
The real shit comes in when you're doing videos with soft subs.
Yes, the ION is capable of decoding 1080p H264 with high bitrates, but.... we're on an anime tracker forums after all, so, soft subs, they're the real test, rendering at real time and not pre-buffered.

[costi]

@Lupin: I did some googling and you're right: VIA has the EPIA P720, advertised as being capable of smooth 1080p playback.
Link: http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/embedded/ProductDetail.jsp?productLine=1&id=950&tabs=1

It's an interesting concept, but I wonder how's the software support for this thing. Being able to decode 1080p is one thing, but getting the software to actually use that power is another. Also, audio support is a mystery, VIA only mentions DTS, but there is no list of what codecs are supported and which aren't.

Still, you just got me thinking.

@vuzedome - do you know of a clip I could use to test the ION setup? I could probably ask owners of similar boards from another forum for a test, but I'd need something relatively short for that, I don't want to ask people to download multiple gigabytes.

[Lupin]

I'm referring to this btw: http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/embedded/artigo/a1100/index.jsp

It supports windows xp, 7 as well as linux. And it's freakin small.

[vuzedome]

Just go download Thora's K-on!'s (first season) OP2.
And maybe Ef - tale of Melodies, err.... any of the OP?!(unsure, will get back to this later after checking).

[costi]

I'm referring to this btw: http://www.via.com.tw/en/products/embedded/artigo/a1100/index.jsp

It supports windows xp, 7 as well as linux. And it's freakin small.

Nice, tho I'd rather buy the board itself, since I already have a 3.5" HDD that I want to use.

From the specs it seems the Artigo A1100 uses the Epia P820 board. I checked the only document on VIA's site that mentions supported video formats of their graphics chip and it doesn't look too great: http://www.via.com.tw/servlet/downloadSvl?id=1050&download_file_id=7221
The manual says that HDMI is 1.3 compatible, but still no word on audio formats that the board can decode.