Mac Mini/Plex problems. Please help!

[Treq]

I think I know what your problem is. I had the same kind of problems on my last (hopefully for ever) PC. Virus protection. You are using an HP media server. I believe those use some kind of windows os and some kind of virus software. When I first bought that last PC I tried watching videos. Every few seconds or so it would skip. It drove me nuts. I brought it back to the store and convinced the store manager to exchange it. I had the same problem. What caused it? The Anti-virus software kept checking for viruses. every few seconds. I uninstalled it and the problem went away. I'll bet your HP mediaserver is checking for viruses and messing up the video which your mac is reading from it's hard drive.
Try disabling the anti-virus and, if you haven't already, upgrade the ram on the mini to at least 2GB.

 

[63worf]

I found the same solution as misterredman independently. I only wish I'd found this thread a little earlier. Would have saved me a few hours of frustration. Just to recap I was having problems with video_TS files stuttering on playback, especially on slow pans. I was using 1080p 50hz setting via HDMI from my mac mini (new model)to my plasma. This all went away after changing to 1080p 60hz. BTW if you're wanting to rip your dvd's to plex give Fairmount a try. It's free and easy to use (not affiliated, just a user).

 

[hcolon]

I've been monitoring the CPU usage while using Plex, and it rarely jumps over 5%. At any given time, there will be a 90%+ idle CPU, so I don't think I'm running out of power. I've also been monitoring the ram. During Plex, I have about 130-140 mb free, so I don't think that's it.



That's a good question. I'll check as soon as I get home and report on the results. I do know my TV has a "Noise Reduction" feature, though it's usually turned off. However, I have been switching around my components lately, so the settings may have reverted when I unplugged it a few times.

Also, I've been playing around with a variety of settings combinations. I've found that the video seems less choppy when I'm using one of the windowed Plex modes, like 1080i Windowed. However, the improvement could very well be my imagination.

I've also installed Plex on my SR MBP (in my sig), which has comparable specs to the mini, and the videos appear to be smooth. It could be that it's a smaller screen, though, which makes the choppiness less noticeable. Not too sure.

What shocks me is that there is very little mention of these kinds of problems on the Net. I feel like I'm the only one experiencing these.

Ok, I am new here, and have a Mini 2.26 with 4gb ram installed, connected to a high end processor(DVDO VP50) which can deinterlace and scale anything to 1080p, have a seagate 1TB HD connected on firewire port with a bunch of standard def TS ripped from mac the ripper, same problem, either dropped frames, video is choppy, driving me crazy, tried every cable combination and same thing. By the way the monitor is a Pioneer Kuru 1080P plasma, if i find anything that works will repost....
Herbie

 

[brentsg]

Ok, I am new here, and have a Mini 2.26 with 4gb ram installed, connected to a high end processor(DVDO VP50) which can deinterlace and scale anything to 1080p, have a seagate 1TB HD connected on firewire port with a bunch of standard def TS ripped from mac the ripper, same problem, either dropped frames, video is choppy, driving me crazy, tried every cable combination and same thing. By the way the monitor is a Pioneer Kuru 1080P plasma, if i find anything that works will repost....
Herbie

Does it work ok if you bypass the DVDO?

What size is the display? I'm using a 50" Kuro and it's just fine.

 

[hcolon]

Does it work ok if you bypass the DVDO?

What size is the display? I'm using a 50" Kuro and it's just fine.

Mine is the FHD1, 50 also.
Tried that, mini dvi to hdmi straight to the plasma, turned off the scaling(pro adjust), and same thing. Just to mention, it is some videos only, particularly concert videos that are live from Montreux, strange. It seems that there is a sync problem, not sure. I have tried 3:2, 2:2, and even 1080p24 at 72 HZ, 3:3 cadence etc. It will only play at 1080p/60, but still choppy. These same dvd's play fine on my blu-ray. My setup is:

Marantz AV8003
Dvdo VP50
Pioneer 50 FHD-1

I have tried all possible combinations with exception of the mini display port to hdmi.....any suggestions??
herbie

 

[justin7576]

Possible solution to Plex issue

Try this...

I have the same issue with my Mac Mini (early 2009, not the new version) with 4G RAM. I belive the issue is with Plex and the larger the display the more you will see the problem, so if they are testing it on a monitor that's smaller than ~40" then it's hard to notice it the problem.

What version of Plex are you running ? Try switching to 7.13 Any versions 7.14, 7.15, 8.0, and 8.1 all have the same issue. Some are worse than others. I think they are working on this issue, but the problem has come from another section of the code that's not under the control of the guys who are working on Plex. Please try it and report back. I was frustrated like you guys after spending 1000's getting the Mac Mini with a high speed NAS only to see issues like this.

 

[hcolon]

Try this...

I have the same issue with my Mac Mini (early 2009, not the new version) with 4G RAM. I belive the issue is with Plex and the larger the display the more you will see the problem, so if they are testing it on a monitor that's smaller than ~40" then it's hard to notice it the problem.

What version of Plex are you running ? Try switching to 7.13 Any versions 7.14, 7.15, 8.0, and 8.1 all have the same issue. Some are worse than others. I think they are working on this issue, but the problem has come from another section of the code that's not under the control of the guys who are working on Plex. Please try it and report back. I was frustrated like you guys after spending 1000's getting the Mac Mini with a high speed NAS only to see issues like this.

Ok, will revert and report back....thanks for the tip!
herbie

 

[justin7576]

Update....

Can you guys please post your updates.

I like to know if what I suggest has worked for you folks (switching back to 7.13 Version of Plex).

Best Regards

 

[hcolon]

Can you guys please post your updates.

I like to know if what I suggest has worked for you folks (switching back to 7.13 Version of Plex).

Best Regards

Justin, sorry I did not reply in awhile, but here is what did it. I in fact reverted, same thing, tried different cables, no help. This is what did it, I hooked up the mini with mini dvi to hdmi adaptor, set it to output 1080i to dvdo, set dvdo with 1080p output@60hz LOCKED, and no more choppy frames!! I also set the pioneer in dot by dot and no processing/deinterlacing, I called Josh at dvdo, who instructed me, and also some info from avs forums members. I was told that the since both the display and the dvdo where detecting 3:2 with 1080i, hence the mismatch in frames. Hope this helps someone out....
Later
herb