PS3 Media player issues

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djpaubes

394 posts

Ultimate Geek

#74877 9-Jan-2011 13:22

Hi guys,

I've been playing around for awhile now trying to get the mix right. I have a windows 7 PC 1.8gz dual core with 1gb of RAM running ps3 media server.

I've got alot of 720p and 1080p content that I've tried to stream to the PS3. Some works fine others stuttered stop/start etc. At first I blammed the poor PC specs so starting using my macbook pro.. same issues but the macbook wasnt even stressed. So then I thought network and limited the bandwidth as it says in the help file... still no love. I've tried wireless and cabled connections.

I checked the PC performance while streaming at the memory was almost maxed but the CPU was only about 20%. So I'm wondering if its just the codec of the content I have?

Some files I can stream via DLNA that run fine such as AC3 etc etc but I have alot of MKV. I have also converted some content using mtsmuxer but that takes alot of mucking around..

Need some fresh ideas lads. I sometimes watch stuff straight of the TV via the vga cable but I only get stereo sound and its a waste when I have a PS3 with HDMI and optical sound to my amp.

This was a new years resolution to get this sorted :). I love the coverflow that windows media center provides but no hdmi.... and I'm cheap I dont want to pour money into a new PC.

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dontpanic42

1574 posts

Uber Geek

#425450 9-Jan-2011 15:34

Are there any specific files that play fine consistently?
If so, what is the codec and bitrate of that file.
What is the codec and bitrate of the other files that don't play well.

I stream Apple trailers to my PS3 using PS3 Media Server.
When they have the file extension '.mov', they play very choppy.
When they are renamed to '.hdmov' (as suggested by the QTLite Firefox plug-in) they play perfectly.
That suggests to me that it may have something to do with the Directshow filters. Well, at least on the Windows machine. For the Mac, I'm not sure.

thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#425454 9-Jan-2011 15:56

What does the encoding buffer look like when you when you play said troublesome files? if it is low then that would indicate that you need some grunt behind it, ie offload the processing to a suitable graphics card.

what gpu do you have ?

Actually the creator of PS3 Media Server reccomends CoreAVC.

djpaubes

394 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425480 9-Jan-2011 17:05

thanks for the reply. Its just on board graphics. I've noticed when transcoding some 1080p content I get absolutely no picture but the transcoding buffer is ok. It does seem to handle some 1080 files differently. I have some stuff that doesnt need transcoding at all. I'll keep playing around and will swap in the macbook should I think there is a performance issue. Just installed XMBC on the PC man love the cover flow! Wish we have something like that for the ps3

thorax

75 posts

Master Geek

#425495 9-Jan-2011 17:53

Hopefully sony will get the ps3 Divx HD Plus certified which means it will play mkv directly without converting.

Ragnor

8223 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#425593 10-Jan-2011 01:11

Are the PS3 and PC doing the streaming connected to a gigabit switch? 100Mbit is not enough for high bit rate media.

timmmay

20589 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#425719 10-Jan-2011 12:30

Are you using the PS3 Media Server software? I use it on my XP PC over a 100Mbit network and everything works perfectly. 720p streams perfectly, 1080p samples (that's all the 1080p content I have) work fine too.

djpaubes

394 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425732 10-Jan-2011 13:03

yeah I'm on a 100mb switch. Some 1080p content trasncodes no worries. It must be the content. Java is also chewing up about 500mb of RAM so I will chuck some more in the old beast.

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timmmay

20589 posts

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#425741 10-Jan-2011 13:24

Make sure you're on the latest version of Java. The PS3 media server on my PC is taking up 80MB of RAM right now, but it's not playing anything.

Oblivian

7303 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#425762 10-Jan-2011 14:43

Possibly unrelated, But audio issues with the WDlive around MKV containers indicate issues with the audio headers being compressed in the container.

Usually when encoded with mkvmerge of particular version.

Re-muxing them without compression apparently fixes it. Something to try. But it does whiff of codec decode issues during transcode.

No SPDIF out on board? (orange RCA) you can utilise for multichan audio?

djpaubes

394 posts

Ultimate Geek

#425787 10-Jan-2011 15:30

Nar its just got an on-board sound card with a vga cable to the TV. Was just looking at a sound card that does optical to my amp. There are heaps of cheap ones but not sure if they will do AC3/dobly etc etc. Any of you guys know?

Talkiet

4793 posts

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#425798 10-Jan-2011 16:01

Ragnor: Are the PS3 and PC doing the streaming connected to a gigabit switch? 100Mbit is not enough for high bit rate media.

Sorry - have to disagree here... I used to have my PS3 on a 100mbit network and watch a lot of 1080p stuff... I played with the PS media Player settings including the crazy bandwidth option and never managed to get the BW above about 66mbit (as shown by the PS3 while playing)...

Since then I have upgraded to gig (as simple as plugging the PS3 into a different switch actually) and there's no noticable change in behaviour, with the _POSSIBLE_ exception that it's slightly more reliable at rewinding HD content... It still sucks, but it's perhaps not quite as bad... Could be my imagination though...

Cheers -- N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

Ragnor

8223 posts

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#425976 11-Jan-2011 04:10

Talkiet:
Ragnor: Are the PS3 and PC doing the streaming connected to a gigabit switch? 100Mbit is not enough for high bit rate media.

Sorry - have to disagree here... I used to have my PS3 on a 100mbit network and watch a lot of 1080p stuff... I played with the PS media Player settings including the crazy bandwidth option and never managed to get the BW above about 66mbit (as shown by the PS3 while playing)...

Since then I have upgraded to gig (as simple as plugging the PS3 into a different switch actually) and there's no noticable change in behaviour, with the _POSSIBLE_ exception that it's slightly more reliable at rewinding HD content... It still sucks, but it's perhaps not quite as bad... Could be my imagination though...

Cheers -- N

Fair point, I just double checked here with 1080p to the PS3 I'm not seeing more than 50-60ish Mbit either.

Should have qualified my earlier post with the word "possibly".