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When Streaming HD To PS3, Is Transcoding Required?

1068 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by whiteboy714, Jul 22, 2009

nullqwerty

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2009

Few "Real Time Transcoding" while streaming questions.

BACKGROUND:

My PC only has a single core non-hyper threading P4 3.06 CPU. It also doesn't have an AGP or PCI-E slot to add in a new video card (current video card is integrated). From what I'm reading, it seems like with this kind of setup (despite the 4gb of ram) on the fly transcoding of 1080p content while streaming will choke because my processor isn't good enough. I have a Gigabit network with Cat6 wired throughout the house.

QUESTIONS:

1) Is it true this type of setup can't handle on the fly transcoding of 1080p content while streaming

2) If true, is there a way I can start the transcoding prior to the streaming so that it can buffer content and I can get a smooth experience

3) If I have 1080p files on my PC that are xvid or divx or straight BluRay rips, H.264, and I stream it to my PS3 (using whatever streaming software), will on the fly transcoding most likely be required, or will the PS3 handle it so that I don't have to worry about my computer not being up to snuff?

4) If I purchased a Popcorn Hour instead of the PS3, would my troubles go away?

Thanks!

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bryansj

· #2 · Jul 22, 2009

1. More than likely yes.

2. No.

3. Depends on the format of the video. You can use MKVtoVOB and other tools to convert your videos to the proper PS3 streaming format.

4. Most of them would go away, but I'm sure there would be other troubles that pop up.

I threw in the towel trying to get the PS3 to do what I wanted. I built a HTPC and now my PS3 hardly gets turned on. Even with enough horsepower to run something like PS3 Media Server you still run into issues of fast forward killing your buffer and resume issues.

I use my HTPC for media as well as file serving and automated nightly backups of my laptop and my wife's laptop. Using it to backup all the family photos and home movies is a good way to get the wife's seal of approval to build a HTPC.

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Suntan

· #3 · Jul 22, 2009

I am in a very similar boat. I keep finding things that the PS3 won't do (it can do it, Sony just won't let it do it.)

However, to complicate things, none of the other options will be able to play FFXIII when it comes out next year

-Suntan

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bryansj

· #4 · Jul 22, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Suntan /forum/post/16869222

I am in a very similar boat. I keep finding things that the PS3 won't do (it can do it, Sony just won't let it do it.)

However, to complicate things, none of the other options will be able to play FFXIII when it comes out next year

-Suntan

A $200 Xbox 360 will.

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Suntan

· #5 · Jul 22, 2009

How well does the Xbox play blu ray discs?

And let’s not forget the fact that the xbox is intentionally crippled in a lot of the ways the PS3 is for handling network media.

-Suntan

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nullqwerty

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 22, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by bryansj /forum/post/16869080

3. Depends on the format of the video. You can use MKVtoVOB and other tools to convert your videos to the proper PS3 streaming format.

Thanks for the response! So, if I use MKVtoVOB on all my files, that should solve my problems? Does that take 2 gb worth of files and turn them into 20 gb though?

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Zinthar

· #7 · Jul 22, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by Suntan /forum/post/16869710

And let's not forget the fact that the xbox is intentionally crippled in a lot of the ways the PS3 is for handling network media.

-Suntan

True. The only advantage the 360 has over the PS3 is the interface isn't quite as clunky when navigating through videos -- both fail to have the codec support necessary to watch lots of videos. Also, both are exceptionally slow at opening any networked media (compared to opening on the PC).

I've decided that instead of trying to find work-arounds to appease the boxes, I'll run a 25' HDMI cable from my PC to my AV receiver and use my Harmony 890 remote to control the front-end.

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whiteboy714

· #8 · Jul 22, 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by nullqwerty /forum/post/16870460

Thanks for the response! So, if I use MKVtoVOB on all my files, that should solve my problems? Does that take 2 gb worth of files and turn them into 20 gb though?

No it should not. In my experience a 4gig file will come out as a 4 gig file.

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