Guide to Get the Best Performace from the GMA 500

[whiteblade]

I had some problems getting vaapi working:

The mplayer from the repo complains about a missing libva-x11-0.31.0.6.so.1. I have libva-x11-0.31.1.1.so.1 installed.

I had to link libva-x11-0.31.1.1.so.1 to libva-x11-0.31.0.6.so.1 and also do the same for libva-glx and libva but it now seems to be working.
However adding -va vaapi sometimes causes lots of stuttery glitchy blocks in video playback (although it's mostly working, I think it might be a double buffering issue or something since they seem to be delayed video of every 2nd frame). Other times -va works fine and allows for 720p videos to be played smoothly, although it has some trouble on videos with lots of stuff happening.

VLC from repo was complaining that it doesn't have decoder for mp4v (The accelerator box in VLC is checked). This doesn't happen on normal VLC (just shows black). It now works ok (maybe it was the libva linking? or perhapse because I uninstalled and reinstalled everything)

Totem also started complaining that it didn't have a xvid decoder. I have the ubuntu-restrited-extras package installed, totem doesn't ask without the nvidiarepo installed, but it of course just shows black. This also start working now (not the video playback thats still black, but it's just not asking about codecs).

The mplayer-vaapi.txt script works, but some of the videos are just garbled. I haven't gotten around to trying the settings other than -vo and -va yet, or the GMA500_WORKAROUND env flag. I didn't try without the -va

EDIT: vlc only seems to work with x11 as the video output :/

I also have your problems

Totem doesn't work (says that xvid codec or divx codec version 5 are not installed).
VLC 1.1 says that it can't read mp4v files and there's no way to solve the problem.
mplayer (installed with kanotix script) shows white screen.

anyone have a solution?

[Amozzz]

A livecd would be brilliant!!! I know you're not promising it, but if you can manage it that would be very helpful!
I work at a college in Vanuatu which has 12 Asus 1101HA laptops. I've read this whole thread and spent hours but I still can't get smooth video playback to work, with 9.10 or 10.4. I am still trying and maybe I am close, but a livecd would be great!!!

[H3g3m0n]

I also have your problems

Totem doesn't work (says that xvid codec or divx codec version 5 are not installed).
VLC 1.1 says that it can't read mp4v files and there's no way to solve the problem.
mplayer (installed with kanotix script) shows white screen.

anyone have a solution?

Did you try linking the libs?

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-x11-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-x11-0.31.0.6.so.1
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-glx-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-glx-0.31.0.6.so.1
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-0.31.0.6.so.1

Otherwise uninstall everything mplayer, mplayer-gui, mplayer-nogui, mplayer-skins related, vlc, vlc-nox vlc-data, vlc-plugin-*.
Then do a:

sudo ppa-purge ppa:nvidia-vdpau/cutting-edge-multimedia

Then re-add the repo, update, upgrade and install vlc and mplayer.

You might also need to set vlc's output to x11 (although this isn't related the the mp4v error).

Totem won't ever work afaik unless XV is fixed or someone rigs gstreamer-vaapi support. It will just stop complaining about missing codecs, and display black instead.

[jlennon]

There is no need to play anymore with xorg.conf options (like composite or shadowfb)

I don't have any lags during video playback. I'm able to watch a 720p without any glitches using mplayer with vaapi backend.

Ok, you're right. I comment also composite option in my xorg.conf and now I can start system normally. But then I don't understand why I got the loop on startup after installation of poulsbu drivers from ppa, then I edit xorg.conf which fixed the loop problem and now when I comment these edited options in xorg.conf (so now with xorg.conf like after installation) I don't have loop anymore.

Anyway this is not my problem now. I'm happy that it is fixed now (although I don't know how).

My problem is that any media playback is choppy. I don't know where is problem.
I have installed
- poulsbo drivers from gma500A/ppa
- vaapi using http://kanotix.com/files/fix/mplayer-vaapi-latest.txt script
- smplayer, audacious (for audio)

And Mplayer log saying: Your system is too SLOW to play this!


Thanks

[jbernardo]

Are you passing the "-va vaapi -vo vaapi" options to mplayer? Do you have the "export GMA500_WORKAROUND=yes" line in your ~/.bashrc?

[lucazade]

I've made a customized livecd of Ubuntu 10.04 with Intel GMA500 support out of the box!


Features:
* gma500 drivers (ppa repository)
- 2D support (native resolution and hw rendering)
- 3D support (openGL, Composite)

* mplayer with vaapi backend (original script)
- video playback (also HD)


Dowload from Torrent or Megaupload


Tested on:
Acer 751h, Asus 1101HA, Asus 1201HA, Asus 91MT, Dell Mini 10, Dell Mini 12, Fujitsu u820, Clarion Mind, Sony Vaio X and P (*), FitPC2 (*)


Changelog:
July 14 2010 - first release (psb1)


Known problems:
full list here: http://code.google.com/p/gma500/issues/list
* XV video broken (black screen on totem and webcam)
* Compiz broken (due to OpenGL extensions)
* Thunderbird shows artefacts (workaround here)


Video Playback fix:
Use mplayer either via command line:

mplayer -vo vaapi -va vaapi filename.avi

or follow this tutorial.

Vlc fix here


Function keys fix:
Function keys are broken on some netbooks. Use this workaround.


Leds fix:
Some leds doesn't work properly (wireless, bluetooth). Upgrade to maverick kernel to fix them.


Suspend fix:
Remove the package vbetool, install uswsusp and suspend using the command:

sudo s2ram --force

(*) Sony Vaio black screen/low performances fix:
When booting livecd on Sony Vaio you can get a blank screen.
Hit ESC when you see first purple screen during livecd boot
Hit F6 - Other options
append this option to the end of kernel entry:

mem=1900MB nohz=off

then ctrl-x to start livecd

Once installed fix permanently using this workaround.


(*) FitPC2 fix
Replace generic /etc/X11/xorg.conf with the file
Compulab wiki here


Notes:
This iso image has been created with UCK and customized using this script
Other info about GMA500 Poulsbo are available in the wiki

Feedback and comments are appreciated!

[jlennon]

Are you passing the "-va vaapi -vo vaapi" options to mplayer? Do you have the "export GMA500_WORKAROUND=yes" line in your ~/.bashrc?

Thanks for tips.
I'm using smplayer. In options I have video output vaapi and in "options for mplayer" -va vaapi.
Also when I use 'mplayer -vo vaapi -va vaapi ./video.avi' it is the same.
But I'm experiencing lags in audio playback too, when I'm listening to some music (in audacious).

Yes, I have. I used command 'echo "export GMA500_WORKAROUND=yes" | tee -a ~/.bashrc'. I have checked the file now and it is there.

Any other suggestions, please?
I'm desperate from it. I can't watch or listen to anything

[whiteblade]

Did you try linking the libs?

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-x11-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-x11-0.31.0.6.so.1
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-glx-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-glx-0.31.0.6.so.1
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libva-0.31.1.1.so.1.0.3 /usr/lib/libva-0.31.0.6.so.1

Ok, adding these and setting X11 as the video output, vlc shows me the video, but in a wrong resolution (too close and flat on the left).
mplayer and totem as before.

I have an eeePC 1101HA and I'm trying with a .avi files (not HD).

thank you for your response

[zehjotkah]

I've done a customized Lucid livecd with poulsbo support out-of-the-box

* gma500 drivers installed (gma500 ppa repo)
- 2D support (native resolution and hw rendering)
- 3D support (openGL, Composite but no compiz)

* mplayer with vaapi backend enabled
- video playback HD

it's a first try, it works well on my Acer 751h.. i need some feedback!

any suggestion where to upload the iso image (683Mb)?
any freehost?

(a link will appear here when uploaded)

Luca

do it via torrent, so others can seed it, too.
or rapidshare

how can I check if my 3D is working? I've extreme supertux installed and it works but very choppy on my Booklet 3G

[jbernardo]

@jlennon: what is the output of vainfo?

And have you tried to play the films in full screen (-fs option)? That usually solves it for me.