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The 11.6" MBA and 1080p MKV
- Thread starter ImperialX
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So i did an elaborate test. running 1080p MKV's with a 11.6 inch macbook air/4GB/128GB setup. It runs okay UNTIL you reach high bitrate moments.
This was found during IRON MAN 2 (first action sequence in monaco)
This was found in Avatar.
To really know if your computer can handle 1080p, pick an action movie and watch the WHOLE MOVIE.
Overal iron man 2 is smooth for every sequence except high bitrate action sequences.
I'm using VLC to run my tests.
This was found during IRON MAN 2 (first action sequence in monaco)
This was found in Avatar.
To really know if your computer can handle 1080p, pick an action movie and watch the WHOLE MOVIE.
Overal iron man 2 is smooth for every sequence except high bitrate action sequences.
I'm using VLC to run my tests.
I found a solution to play the above mkv file smoothly as silk - PLEX. It's not the most user friendly app, but it does work very well. Now I remember the Nvidia ION netbook I had (hp mini 311) also needed PLEX to play mkv files well. 
Wrong, VLC does support hardware acceleration as of VLC 1.1...
I am confused though, the first guy says no problems with 1080p mkv on 1.4/4gb even connected to external display
Dammit Cubs do you have the 1.4? Make sure this is set right: http://www.chipmunkninja.com/1080p-MKV-playback-on-Mac-1r@
Also, I would suggest using Perian codecs and make sure you have the latest 1.1.3 VLC. If not try MPlayer OS X Extended, I've had great luck with that on 1080p mkvs.
I was just about to make my purchase of the 1.4/4gb but now I'm worried it won't be able to handle 1080p mkvs...
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I have the 1.6ghz ultimate. and I tried the link and it still didn't make a difference. The only thing that helped was plex. Plex = smooth. and I'm using VLC 1.1.3
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Once you figure it out though, it's actually quite awesome.
Gen said:Plex is better, though a pain to figure out how to use at first
Once you figure it out though, it's actually quite awesome.
Everyone who has plex needs to download the "re-focus" pack. I love the fact that plex parses through your title to find the right movie and metadata. AMAZING!!!
I'm going to quote myself because it's a shame if none of you use this. So much better than Plex.
No, it doesn't. That has been a hoax going around and it simply is not true. There are a million threads about this on the VLC forums.
And yes, it does on Windows. But we are talking about Mac OS X here.
These all don't support hardware acceleration either.
What is the point of playing 1080p when you are disabling the loop filter and thus making it look like an over encoded XVID from 10 years ago?
Yes with the programs you suggested it won't work smoothly for sure.
I don't use that because it doesn't support acceleration either.
One thing that MPlayer Extended (and VLC) does is multithreaded decoding. Even if it's not as great as it could be it helps to split the work load a bit onto both cores. It's not a great win, because FFMPEG isn't great at doing that, but it is the small edge that you need on a 1.8GHz CPU to play back 1080p. That is why it works on the 1.86GHz, but it won't be enough for the 1.4...
If you are worried about 1080p playback use Plex and everything will be fine. Plex is the ONLY player on Mac OS that plays back x264 encoded MKVs with hardware acceleration at the moment.
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Is this just a newer version or something different -
http://code.google.com/p/mplayerx/downloads/list
I have a 13", but 1080p MKV files run best with VLC (64-bit version).
Normally I use MplayerX, which has a much better coded interface, more Mac-like, but it didn't run 1080p MKV 'King of Fighters' (B-movie) smooth, VLC 64-bit did.
MplayerX is 64-bit also by the way.
Normally I use MplayerX, which has a much better coded interface, more Mac-like, but it didn't run 1080p MKV 'King of Fighters' (B-movie) smooth, VLC 64-bit did.
MplayerX is 64-bit also by the way.
no problem.
Let's put it this way. PLEX is the reason why i'm content with the lower power MBA 11 and the reason why i purchased a mini to be hooked to my TV and I dumbed my WDTV LIVE.
The metadata streaming is just freaking awesome.
meh, plex sucks tbh, its just a rip off of my favorite program XBMC, much more support, skins etc
Plex also lacks to many features, but i guess most of them arent to important for the average person. Still, for HTPC lovers as myself, plex is a no go.
Boxee is good to, if you like more internett stuff (hulu. netflix etc). But there is no customization
Heres a picture i took recently of my setup
Plex also lacks to many features, but i guess most of them arent to important for the average person. Still, for HTPC lovers as myself, plex is a no go.
Boxee is good to, if you like more internett stuff (hulu. netflix etc). But there is no customization
Heres a picture i took recently of my setup
My experience...YMMV.
I've got the 13" MBA and the 11" netbook model sitting side by side this morning.
I'm running a Blue-Ray rip in MKV container. 1920x1080 h264 w/AC3 sound. File size is almost 9 gigs, but its running off the SSD on both units. Its a Pixar release so high color.
Using VLC, its stutter city on the 11", mainly between scene changes with abrupt background changes and/or high action sequences. On the 13" it runs without a glitch. In both cases I'm running it full screen, although even in a window I get the same results.
So I switch to Plex as recommended in this thread. Let me start by saying this is the most un-intuitive UI I've ever seen. What were they smoking?
But it DOES play this video full screen with no stutter on both the 11" and 13" models. I dug around for quite awhile in the app trying to find the "hardware acceleration" preference setting, but couldn't locate it. However, when playing the file, if I tried to change any settings on the 11", even volume, Plex would lock up and I'd have to re-start it. On the 13" it worked fine.
I wonder if the size of the file is choking the app?
I've got the 13" MBA and the 11" netbook model sitting side by side this morning.
I'm running a Blue-Ray rip in MKV container. 1920x1080 h264 w/AC3 sound. File size is almost 9 gigs, but its running off the SSD on both units. Its a Pixar release so high color.
Using VLC, its stutter city on the 11", mainly between scene changes with abrupt background changes and/or high action sequences. On the 13" it runs without a glitch. In both cases I'm running it full screen, although even in a window I get the same results.
So I switch to Plex as recommended in this thread. Let me start by saying this is the most un-intuitive UI I've ever seen. What were they smoking?
But it DOES play this video full screen with no stutter on both the 11" and 13" models. I dug around for quite awhile in the app trying to find the "hardware acceleration" preference setting, but couldn't locate it. However, when playing the file, if I tried to change any settings on the 11", even volume, Plex would lock up and I'd have to re-start it. On the 13" it worked fine.
I wonder if the size of the file is choking the app?
Wow this is disappointing, looks like I am going to pass on the air then. I mean my $400 Thinkpad x100e cant play any MKV over 1.1Gb decently, but then again its $400. I can't understand why a laptop with a core 2 duo cpu, dedicated nvidia graphics chip, and an SSD, cant smoothly play HD content. I mean even hearing anything about stuttering makes me think to pass on it.
EDIT: I should add that I am die hard VLC fan, would never give it up. Tried Plex, it felt wrong.
EDIT: I should add that I am die hard VLC fan, would never give it up. Tried Plex, it felt wrong.
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Sorry, pass on the Air? Do you meen the 11" Air? Read back and there is no 13" which has any problem in that area.