2011 Mac Mini Server Win 7 performance issues

[habe]

I have a 2011 Mini Server with the base factory 4GB memory and an external LG BluRay burner so I can rip and convert my BluRays to MKV.

Using OSX and MakeMKV, I consistently get good rips and can play back the resulting MKV's using VLC (or any other app that plays MKV files) just fine. ZERO stutter during playback. The same applies for MKV's that I compress down using handbrake.

I decided to bootcamp a copy of Win 7 Pro I had laying around thinking that I should get better performance when using handbrake but, I'm not. Where I get around 24fps conversion in Handbrake under OSX, I only get around 19fps or lower in WIN 7(I tested this using the same base MKV under OSX and Win 7). Also, Win 7 VLC playback of MKV's is extremely choppy, both video and audio.

Based on what I've seen other post, I really thought I should see increased performance using Bootcamped Win 7 due to virtulization and hyperthreading. I'd have to do a search but, I'm sure I've seen a post here where the OP said he was getting upwards of 48fps conversion using Win 7 handbrake. Unfortunately, I'm seeing much worse performance. I'm most shocked at how bad MKV play is using VLC under Windows.

I'm sure that everything is set up and installed properly so.....

1. Could it be a RAM issue with WIN 7? Need 8GB?
2. Something not installed properly or overlooked? I'm pretty sure I did everything correct including BootCamp WIN drivers.
3. Can someone verify what fps they are seeing using WIN 7 and Handbrake? Basic test would be; BluRay to MKV using MakeMKV then Handbrake set to to MKV output using a constant RF of 20.
4. Any other ideas?

I'm not dissatisfied with performance under OSX, I was just hoping to squeeze out more performance under Win 7 for this type of operation.

 

[shortcut3d]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A406 Safari/7534.48.3)

The 2011 Mac mini Server averages 19 - 24 fps in handbrake with 1866MHz memory and SSDs with AHCI enabled under Windows 7 x64.

 

[habe]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A406 Safari/7534.48.3)

The 2011 Mac mini Server averages 19 - 24 fps in handbrake with 1866MHz memory and SSDs with AHCI enabled under Windows 7 x64.

Hhhmmm. OK. I'm seeing the low end of your range but again, you have 8GB 1866 ram and an SSD where I'm still stock.

After reading your post, I did some more searching and replies I've just read seem to indicate encoding times that should be faster than the video clip length (test clip was 1080p24); i.e. faster than 24fps.............

I still have to figure out what is causing my poor MKV playback in VLC under WIN 7 x64.

habe

 

[shortcut3d]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A406 Safari/7534.48.3)

Encoding is going vary a lot between movies and settings as well. I should clarify that I'm using the Apple TV 2 preset from a bluray folder main movie with all HD audio.

Playback is likely a driver issue. Try upgrading the Intel drivers. The bootcamp drivers are fairly old. 8GB will increase the shared memory as well, which may help.

 

[shortcut3d]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; CPU iPhone OS 5_0_1 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A406 Safari/7534.48.3)

If you want faster times try DVDfab. They support Intel QuickSync, Nvidia CUDA, and AMD's for encoding. I found in Windows 7 x64 there was artifacts and audio sync issues. I also preferred the handbrake presets. DVDfab does handle Bluray subtitles better than handbrake. I'm too lazy at the moment to play around with trying DVDfab in OSX for encoding. I definitely prefer DVDfab for copying the Bluray folders. So my work flow is DVDfab Main Movie to Handbrake Apple TV 2 preset to Media Center Master for rename and fan art.

 

[habe]

Shortcut3d,

I'll check the all of the Win 7/Intel drivers later to see if they need updated. I'll also be ordering 8GB of Kingston HyperX 1866 memory.

Like you mentioned, I did read elsewhere that even though encode times have been greatly reduced using DVDFab/QuickSync, there have been a lot of artifact issues associated.

 

[habe]

Latest Intel HD2000/3000 drivers fixed the playback issues. Thanks.

Still deciding what Ram to get. May just go for the HyperX 1600......

 

[philipma1957]

Latest Intel HD2000/3000 drivers fixed the playback issues. Thanks.

Still deciding what Ram to get. May just go for the HyperX 1600......

The HyperX 1600 works well for me. I may have a second set . I have one server with elpida 8gb 1333 sticks and one server with 1600 HyperX 4gb sticks. Both have their pluses and minuses

 

[habe]

On Newegg,

What is the difference between these 2 sets of Kingston Hyper X 1600?

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104257

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX - On sale, $59.99 after $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104230

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Update:
hhmmmmm.

I just went to Kingstons site to check the specs between the 2 and noticed that the 8G memory is not listed anymore. Only the 8GX shows up now......

 

[shortcut3d]

If you go with either 1600 or 1866 it needs to be Plug and Play variety. Apple does not give us access to the EFI to manually set the RAM speed and timing, so PnP memory is required for faster than stock speeds.

 

[philipma1957]

On Newegg,

What is the difference between these 2 sets of Kingston Hyper X 1600?

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 HyperX Plug n Play Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3P1K2/8G - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104257

Kingston HyperX 8GB (2 x 4GB) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Laptop Memory Model KHX1600C9S3K2/8GX - On sale, $59.99 after $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104230

----------

Update:
hhmmmmm.

I just went to Kingstons site to check the specs between the 2 and noticed that the 8G memory is not listed anymore. Only the 8GX shows up now......

If you go with either 1600 or 1866 it needs to be Plug and Play variety. Apple does not give us access to the EFI to manually set the RAM speed and timing, so PnP memory is required for faster than stock speeds.

this is true the gx is not plug and play notice the lack of the letter p


KHX1600c9s3k2/8gx vs . KHX1600c9s3p1k2/8G

I THINK THE P1 STANDS FOR PLUG N PLAY.

THEY ARE ON AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-Modu...XAAK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1327987524&sr=8-2

 

[shortcut3d]

Digging up this old thread. Have you attempted the 64-bit nightly builds of Handbrake? I was going through their forums and svn for the first time and noticed that the Handbrake download is not native 64-bit in Windows, but the nightly builds are native 64-bit. This should provide a significant boost ~10%. I'll test tonight and report back.

Has anyone tried DVDfab mkv.remux (original quality) to Handbrake? Specifically, I'm looking for an easy way to add the forced subtitles. If using mkv.remux are the artifacts present when using Intel Quicksync?

 

[shortcut3d]

I started using the latest Handbrake nightly build for Windows 7 x64 and it improves the speed by 10%.

I also confirmed that DVDfab mkv.remux is lightening fast, but you can't get subs to work. It's a shame, I still have to do two pass to get forced subs on Blurays because DVDfab subs work very well, but the resulting MP4 stutters on all my systems. Oddly enough, running Handbrake over the MP4 corrects the problem. This two pass process (1080P mkv forced subs burned-in to Handbrake Apple TV 2 720p m4v) also produces amazingly clear m4v. They are higher quality than using handbrake to go from the bluray folder directly to 720p.