Pixellation under heavy load

[JoshInKC]

So I use my desktop as a sort of htpc. It's where I store the media files which I then use PS3 Media Server (http://www.ps3mediaserver.org/) to stream wirelessly to my ps3. Now, PS3MS does all the transcoding and stuff, typically without any problem - but occasionally, when there's a lot of movement on screen like the static-y HBO logo, or a scene in the woods where wind is blowing leaves all over the place, it falls on its face, and for the duration of the movement pixellates badly and everything (including audio) slows down noticeably.

So, I have identified two possible "solutions" to this situation -
1.) Maybe this is a matter of wifi congestion, therefore if I string about 60 feet of cat5 through my basement and walls, it might be better.
2.) The transcoding is having trouble keeping up with busy hi-def scenes. Now, I don't know jack about how video processing on a pc works, but I believe that transcoding is the domain of the cpu and therefore about the only way to improve this situation would be to upgrade the processor, or maybe(?) pump up the the cooling capacity.

Now I'm inclined towards the second option, if nothing else it should improve the lifespan of my cpu and also make it run a bit more quietly. Plus, if I were to pick up something like this (http://www.microcenter.com/product/404942/Hydro_Series_H60_High_Performance_Liquid_CPU_Coole r), I could probably go to the store and buy/install it in like an hour. The network wiring would be more of a pain in the ass for a variety of reasons.

So, am I correct in all my thinking or is there an angle I'm not seeing? Would a video card have any effect on this? Am I completely screwed and need to go buy a hot new pc to make this work?

[Yw-slayer]

It's probably a bit of both? Maybe your hard disk is also doing random stuff while transferring data.

[thesameguy]

Yeah, you'd need to do some troubleshooting. I'd start with that Ethernet cable because it's easy, but it very could well be insufficient CPU. More cooling likely won't help unless you also plan on overclocking the CPU; it would be very unusual in a modern CPU (anything post-'05 for sure) to throttle itself based on temperature. Modern CPUs can really hot and be totally ok. FWIW, my brief experimentation with PS3MS wasn't terribly great, with similar results. Having no way to run Ethernet cable and zero desire to upgrade the CPU in the server I figured that was that and dumped it.

[Rare White Ape]

Are you transcoding because you're watching mkv files etc that the PS3 doesn't read? I used to convert them to mp4 and then watch them off a USB drive rather than trying to transcode and stream simultaneously.

But I gave up on all that when I bought a laptop that has an HDMI output which I connect directly to my amplifier. I even have a 3 meter cable dedicated to the task.

[JoshInKC]

Yeah, primarily .mkv files. I used to do the Download>Convert>USB Drive>Plug in to ps3 thing. Streaming with ps3 media server allows me to shave enough steps off and have access to my entire catalogue whenever I want that it's like having an htpc without needing to buy and build one. It just so happens that with certain files it "stutters" if you will.
It occurs to me that my uncle might very well have a giant cat5. Maybe I'll give him a call and see if he does and I can use it for testing purposes without needing to wriggle into my crawlspace.

[thesameguy]

You can order cheap cat5 from various places. Monoprice has 100' cables for $13.

[Random]

Will streaming a movie really saturate a 54Mbit wireless connection?

[thesameguy]

Depends on the movie, but in a perfect situation, no, 54mbps is adequate for streaming pretty much anything up to and including a bluray (which is up to 50mbps). The problem is that wireless bandwidth isn't reliable, is half-duplex, and your "connected at" speed and "maximum theoretical speed" rarely work as advertised. I wouldn't consider anything short of a *solid* N network for streaming HD video, and solid N networks are surprisingly rare. AC should make a big difference here - bigger antennas, more airspace, better signal alignment, and better interference resistance.

[Yw-slayer]

Or just put CAT6 in every room LIKE A REAL MAN

[thesameguy]

A real make makes his woman get a flash drive. And a sandwich while she's up.

[Yw-slayer]

That too, along with CAT6.

[mk]

HDTV data rate for 1080p is ~2Mpix/frame.
That's 360MB/s for 60Hz and 8bit colors.

Don't decode too early.

[Yw-slayer]

Wait, are you sure you're not just "accidentally" watching Japanese porn?

[JoshInKC]

Okay, I figured it out.
A few weeks ago I swapped operating systems on my desktop - In the process, I had to reinstall ps3 media server, which I discovered yesterday lost/forgot my settings and preferences (unlike pretty much every other program). Therefore it had a very crappy transcoding engine set as the default. I hadn't even thought to check since it "worked" out of the box, and the first time I set it up it required some fiddling to get functional - subsequently, I assumed it kept the settings.
Checked out a bunch of stuff yesterday, and it didn't so much as hiccup. So- problem solved, and I didn't even have to get into my crawlspace, so thats a win.

[thesameguy]

I'll bet your crawlspace misses you.:(

[Yw-slayer]

But the Japanese porn actresses don't. KAMATEI AMIRITE

[JoshInKC]

AWESOME VALUE!


...am I doing this right?

[Yw-slayer]

Not really, but it's the thought that counts.