X301 - 1080p under Linux

Hello,

im planing to drop my well overpowered HP for a more portable X301.

Is a X301 with SU9600 and X18-M capable to drive 1080p .mkv to an external Monitor under Ubuntu? Thats the most demanding task it has to handle. I think it shouldn't be a problem. But i just wanted to make things sure.

Regards

 

It won't be a problem. The 4500MHD handles 1080p content with ease, and the Core 2 Duo can keep up well.

 

the 4500MHD was designed to decode blu-ray movie formats without the use of CPU resources, and the Penryn CPU was also optimized for the task of decoding HD movie. So the X301 is fine for the job of movie watching.

 

Very nice, thanks.

 

Sounds good, thanks.

 

I think the x301 will struggle with 1080P video under Linux. Intel Graphics can't accelerate video without DXVA video decoding, a Windows only feature. Linux has it's own version called VDAPAU but it only supports nVidia cards. So the SU9600 will be going it solo on 1080P video and it may or may not have enough power to do that.

 

Sounds possible. Any exeriences/opinions from linux users - maybe a workaround?

 

Tested it today (in lack of an external Screen only on the internal screen). Played a 7.9 GB 1080p mkv file with vlc under Ubuntu 10.04. Playback is flawless - CPU load of the SU9600 was about 20-30 % on the first and about 70-90% on the second core.

Intel said it will offer HD decoding acc in Q3 2010 via libva Intel statement found through thinkwiki.org

 

so is that with driver support under linux?

 

Made the Test with fresh installed 10.04 have only fetched the usual updates and installed vlc.

It looks like the CPU does the whole decoding. With the mentioned Intel driver the GMA4500 should take part in decoding and support the CPU.

 

whoa i guess the sse 4 in penryn cpu really helps with hd movie decoding, it is not a gimmick after all. I would imagine the CPU usage drop significantly when the right driver for the video card comes out.

 

The CPU is definitely doing all the decoding, especially since you're using VLC which doesn't support hardware decoding on any platform (OS or graphics card). IMO pretty impressive that the SU9600 can handle the load.

 

I was testing an old desktop computer I've got and I noticed that when playing a 1080p file through VLC the play is flawed. While when I play the same file with WinDVD or PowerDVD the play is flawless.

As aznguyphan said I think it has to do with hardware decoding/ hardware acceleration.

 

Well differences in software decoders matter as well. But if you're on windows obviously you have a lot more options with actually utilizing the hardware decoding.