New MK808B owner needing some advice

[DannyCalifornia]

What more should we expect out of an ancient 808B? (everything stock + OC kernels - no cooling or hardware mods - except 3A power supply) 720 ↑ | 1080 ↓

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My stock 2013 nexus 7 scored 20359, is that good?

[noderat]

Re: New MK808B owner needing some advice

Benchmarks don't mean much, I don't use them, won't really comment about it between devices either. I've seen them be so incredibly skewed it was funny.

Sent from my mobile device. Please excuse any typos.

[ididmytime]

I keep seeing benchmarks in Antutu of overclocked mk808b kernels, yet have not seen a single photo of XBMC running at around 60fps in 1080p....

My rk3188-t, despite having nearly double the Antutu score of my mk808 was only running at 45fps before the kernels became unlocked.

[prahjister]

I keep seeing benchmarks in Antutu of overclocked mk808b kernels, yet have not seen a single photo of XBMC running at around 60fps in 1080p....

My rk3188-t, despite having nearly double the Antutu score of my mk808 was only running at 45fps before the kernels became unlocked.

How do you check fps in xbmc?

[noderat]

Re: New MK808B owner needing some advice

How do you check fps in xbmc?

Press O while playing video or turn on debug overlay though settings, system then debugging.

Sent from my mobile device. Please excuse any typos.

[james2k2]

Well, last night I tried again with a 1080p video file and strangely enough it was playing with only a small bit of jitter. It was actually watchable, so if I can just squeeze out a tiny bit more from it, I should be good to go. I might give this MCE ROM a go from MO. As for the XBMC interface, anything 30FPS or higher is fine for me, and as it stands I'm getting around 35.

If anybody is interested, I'm actually running power from my TV's USB port and got the CPU set at 1.2Ghz. I'm incredibly surprised it's doing as well as it is. So for what it's worth, I'm very happy with my purchase.

[noderat]

Re: New MK808B owner needing some advice

Well, last night I tried again with a 1080p video file and strangely enough it was playing with only a small bit of jitter. It was actually watchable, so if I can just squeeze out a tiny bit more from it, I should be good to go. I might give this MCE ROM a go from MO. As for the XBMC interface, anything 30FPS or higher is fine for me, and as it stands I'm getting around 35.

If anybody is interested, I'm actually running power from my TV's USB port and got the CPU set at 1.2Ghz. I'm incredibly surprised it's doing as well as it is. So for what it's worth, I'm very happy with my purchase.

For the most stable xbmc configuration I recommend finless 1.7 and either Beyond XBMC 3.4 or latest Gotham nightly. Using your TVs USB port is just asking for frustrations. It'll act like it's working just fine until you notice it's freezing every 4 minutes in xbmc ui. It may be convenient but it will eventually have problems.

Sent from my mobile device. Please excuse any typos.

[Shomari]

I keep seeing benchmarks in Antutu of overclocked mk808b kernels, yet have not seen a single photo of XBMC running at around 60fps in 1080p....

My rk3188-t, despite having nearly double the Antutu score of my mk808 was only running at 45fps before the kernels became unlocked.

It seems many tend to scoff at benchmarks here, but that's a running benchmark, too. (the XBMC GUI is)

One thing benchmarks can do is aid in removing most of the subjectivity of 'it feels better' or 'it's much snappier'; it quantifies some of what users say they 'feel', but then again what users 'feel' and experience is what matters, benchmarks be damned. Still, I agree that at times I've experienced certain anomalies like the one mentioned above.

I notice there's never really been (expressed) interest in XBMC GUI fps. I've posted some before and got zero comments, everyone focuses on Antutu. Just the way it is on this forum. Then when the scores are not what the forum expects or other systems can replicate, the forum in turn dismisses those off hand, as well. That never fails. If you want higher FPS in XBMC - focus on DDR clock for extra throughput/less bottleneck.

For me, XBMC GUI runs anywhere from 70-90fps on 1080p using the official nightlies. 12.x was drawing the screen differently and would soar to the triple digits and stay there (115-195). The new Gotham version shows GUI fps at mid thirties for both 720/1080 if on a static screen. It's when you move around the menu it's very smooth and well over 60fps on both resolutions. Moving around with the debug overlay on screen or through library or menus will show the higher fps - where it counts most. That being said, I use GLTools and an OC kernel to ramp up my system. I use mine 99% for XBMC and I do know others have seen great improvement in XBMC/video performance in general with a smart OC.

As far as (Antutu) benchmarks go, I'm not too big a fan of them either in the sense that they're not conclusive due to the infinite amount of variables and dynamics with each system but they do give an indication of overall potential. I favor stability and no benchmark can graph stability better than actual usage can and mine is rock solid; I set it to deep sleep when not in use and never unplug it. Been that way for months as a dedicated XBMC system in one of the bedrooms. It took lots of testing and patience, but for less than $50 it's a bargain no matter what.

[ididmytime]

It seems many tend to scoff at benchmarks here, but that's a running benchmark, too. (the XBMC GUI is)

One thing benchmarks can do is aid in removing most of the subjectivity of 'it feels better' or 'it's much snappier'; it quantifies some of what users say they 'feel', but then again what users 'feel' and experience is what matters, benchmarks be damned. Still, I agree that at times I've experienced certain anomalies like the one mentioned above.

I notice there's never really been (expressed) interest in XBMC GUI fps. I've posted some before and got zero comments, everyone focuses on Antutu. Just the way it is on this forum. Then when the scores are not what the forum expects or other systems can replicate, the forum in turn dismisses those off hand, as well. That never fails. If you want higher FPS in XBMC - focus on DDR clock for extra throughput/less bottleneck.

For me, XBMC GUI runs anywhere from 70-90fps on 1080p using the official nightlies. 12.x was drawing the screen differently and would soar to the triple digits and stay there (115-195). The new Gotham version shows GUI fps at mid thirties for both 720/1080 if on a static screen. It's when you move around the menu it's very smooth and well over 60fps on both resolutions. Moving around with the debug overlay on screen or through library or menus will show the higher fps - where it counts most. That being said, I use GLTools and an OC kernel to ramp up my system. I use mine 99% for XBMC and I do know others have seen great improvement in XBMC/video performance in general with a smart OC.

As far as (Antutu) benchmarks go, I'm not too big a fan of them either in the sense that they're not conclusive due to the infinite amount of variables and dynamics with each system but they do give an indication of overall potential. I favor stability and no benchmark can graph stability better than actual usage can and mine is rock solid; I set it to deep sleep when not in use and never unplug it. Been that way for months as a dedicated XBMC system in one of the bedrooms. It took lots of testing and patience, but for less than $50 it's a bargain no matter what.

115-195 on a Frodo build at 1080p seems a tad high, considering the most I have seen is 90fps from someone using the rk3188 with the GPU and DDR at 800mhz.

I think XBMC Frodo is the best indicator of video playback, if you're getting 35fps (stock) it means you are currently crippled and will need XBMC to optimize for 'decent' playback. When I was playing around with OC kernels I could instantly tell if it was working, as it is a night and day difference.

If i had time I would tell you in a heartbeat from XBMC if prahjister's 1080p kernel is overclocking correctly.

I'm not sure about your kernel, but I believe it needs 3A? which seems insane. I would also like to point out, since we do have a small community, that in the year I have had the mk808 I am already seeing degradation.

Always ran using a stock OEM Samsung 2amp charger.

2 months in - Refused to read the hard drive, cut the cable extremely short and worked fine.
5 months in - Refused to read the hard drive with the short cable, had to run it from an external HUB.
8 months in - Cant power the USB Ethernet anymore, will blue/pink screen, needs to be plugged into USB hub instead.

[james2k2]

It seems many tend to scoff at benchmarks here, but that's a running benchmark, too. (the XBMC GUI is)

One thing benchmarks can do is aid in removing most of the subjectivity of 'it feels better' or 'it's much snappier'; it quantifies some of what users say they 'feel', but then again what users 'feel' and experience is what matters, benchmarks be damned. Still, I agree that at times I've experienced certain anomalies like the one mentioned above.

I notice there's never really been (expressed) interest in XBMC GUI fps. I've posted some before and got zero comments, everyone focuses on Antutu. Just the way it is on this forum. Then when the scores are not what the forum expects or other systems can replicate, the forum in turn dismisses those off hand, as well. That never fails. If you want higher FPS in XBMC - focus on DDR clock for extra throughput/less bottleneck.

For me, XBMC GUI runs anywhere from 70-90fps on 1080p using the official nightlies. 12.x was drawing the screen differently and would soar to the triple digits and stay there (115-195). The new Gotham version shows GUI fps at mid thirties for both 720/1080 if on a static screen. It's when you move around the menu it's very smooth and well over 60fps on both resolutions. Moving around with the debug overlay on screen or through library or menus will show the higher fps - where it counts most. That being said, I use GLTools and an OC kernel to ramp up my system. I use mine 99% for XBMC and I do know others have seen great improvement in XBMC/video performance in general with a smart OC.

As far as (Antutu) benchmarks go, I'm not too big a fan of them either in the sense that they're not conclusive due to the infinite amount of variables and dynamics with each system but they do give an indication of overall potential. I favor stability and no benchmark can graph stability better than actual usage can and mine is rock solid; I set it to deep sleep when not in use and never unplug it. Been that way for months as a dedicated XBMC system in one of the bedrooms. It took lots of testing and patience, but for less than $50 it's a bargain no matter what.

That's an excellent post! Thanks very much. It gives me confidence that I will be able to achieve what I want most - 1080p Video Playback in XBMC. I have done some more accurate testing today:

XBMC GUI - ~41FPS and 'feels' smooth.
XBMC 1080p - dropped 22 frames using this clip: http://www.hd-trailers.net/yahoo-red...esolution=1080

Android UI - Not sure on FPS. It's 'smooth', but laggy. It's hard to describe. But it's like where the GPU is pre-rendering and then displaying as opposed to real-time.

Going back to the 1080p Video Test above; Although it dropped very few frames, what I found inconsistent was the FPS. At parts it would drop briefly to say 21FPS, and then counteract that by quickly going to 26FPS to stay in sync.

Could you tell me more specifically what ROM you're using and configuration please? Also, you say the XBMC GUI run well, but what about 1080p content?

Many thanks!

[noderat]

Re: New MK808B owner needing some advice

That's an excellent post! Thanks very much. It gives me confidence that I will be able to achieve what I want most - 1080p Video Playback in XBMC. I have done some more accurate testing today:

XBMC GUI - ~41FPS and 'feels' smooth.
XBMC 1080p - dropped 22 frames using this clip: http://www.hd-trailers.net/yahoo-red...esolution=1080

Android UI - Not sure on FPS. It's 'smooth', but laggy. It's hard to describe. But it's like where the GPU is pre-rendering and then displaying as opposed to real-time.

Going back to the 1080p Video Test above; Although it dropped very few frames, what I found inconsistent was the FPS. At parts it would drop briefly to say 21FPS, and then counteract that by quickly going to 26FPS to stay in sync.

Could you tell me more specifically what ROM you're using and configuration please? Also, you say the XBMC GUI run well, but what about 1080p content?

Many thanks!

24+ is what I consider watchable so those sound like pretty good numbers

Sent from my mobile device. Please excuse any typos.

[Shomari]

115-195 on a Frodo build at 1080p seems a tad high, considering the most I have seen is 90fps from someone using the rk3188 with the GPU and DDR at 800mhz.

Now that's what I will no longer do, at all. Especially with my experiences here on this forum. If you don't believe it, there's nothing I can do to 'prove it' to you. I don't have Frodo and won't install it for just this simple purpose, and I'm confident if I did and posted a screenshot it would be refuted just as well. I only mentioned Frodo, in fact, to point out that the GUI screen rendering is indeed different between Frodo based XBMC such as Beyond XBMC and the official Gotham releases. I apologize if it's a bit confusing. It's still very smooth and well over 60fps, I don't even bother with Beyond XBMC since the Gotham nightlies will even run the 'Birds Test MKV' just fine. That's more than anything I need performance wise but it's a good test file nonetheless.

I'm beyond the testing phase with my device. 99% of my forum interactions now happen in private, and it's a shame that's the way it is but that's the only way I can comfortably participate here. My attempts to chart tests in the public side of the forum resulted in a terrible experience and multiple poor interactions, so I don't exactly blame anyone for making a double take when seeing benchmarks and reading the results of my extensive testing (it seems like a HUGE jump), but it took a lot of methodical prodding and tweaking to get there, it wasn't overnight and I didn't do it on my own.

...and yes, 3A seems like a lot of juice. Actually, it is a lot of juice, but that's what is working for me so I just kept it that way.

[Shomari]

Could you tell me more specifically what ROM you're using and configuration please? Also, you say the XBMC GUI run well, but what about 1080p content?

Many thanks!

That's where I'd lose you. This is my own custom ROM that I've considered releasing here for quite a while. I've made many changes and finally stopped modifying system files a few months ago. Many of those changes had to do with enabling deep sleep, fixing audio and some other things not related to video. Deep sleep is another thing users in this forum will swear up and down does not exist, some even claim it doesn't exist on any of our RK devices. It was a must because plugging and unplugging my device just wasn't going to cut it for me, and definitely not my wife.

1080p playback works fine, but I must tell you I use mine at 720p. I've only ever used a 1080p kernel to test the common 1080p test files just for kicks (and for some benchmarking), and it runs 1080p content very well in XBMC Gotham nightlies. Others here have used OC kernels and perhaps even XDA's GLTools in combination on a 1080p ROM consistently so they can better provide a real world assessment. Hopefully if they read this, they'll chime in and report some of the feedback they've provided me, which seems to be much better than what most posters here are reporting.

[mowgli]

This is my own custom ROM that I've considered releasing here for quite a while....

Hi Shomari,
Please, post it !

[ididmytime]

Now that's what I will no longer do, at all. Especially with my experiences here on this forum. If you don't believe it, there's nothing I can do to 'prove it' to you. I don't have Frodo and won't install it for just this simple purpose, and I'm confident if I did and posted a screenshot it would be refuted just as well. I only mentioned Frodo, in fact, to point out that the GUI screen rendering is indeed different between Frodo based XBMC such as Beyond XBMC and the official Gotham releases. I apologize if it's a bit confusing. It's still very smooth and well over 60fps, I don't even bother with Beyond XBMC since the Gotham nightlies will even run the 'Birds Test MKV' just fine. That's more than anything I need performance wise but it's a good test file nonetheless.

I'm beyond the testing phase with my device. 99% of my forum interactions now happen in private, and it's a shame that's the way it is but that's the only way I can comfortably participate here. My attempts to chart tests in the public side of the forum resulted in a terrible experience and multiple poor interactions, so I don't exactly blame anyone for making a double take when seeing benchmarks and reading the results of my extensive testing (it seems like a HUGE jump), but it took a lot of methodical prodding and tweaking to get there, it wasn't overnight and I didn't do it on my own.

...and yes, 3A seems like a lot of juice. Actually, it is a lot of juice, but that's what is working for me so I just kept it that way.

I'm just very skeptical about things due to the flood of OC kernels being made with rkpatchomatic claiming to work when they don't, which I'm sure you can understand. Mo123 was very guilty of this keeping them up when they clearly didn't work, even making roms with them included, with a placebo effect kicking in with users saying they actually work.

I would love nothing more then a true user friendly OC for the mk808b to get them on par with an OC mk808, considering most people get them due to being the same price or cheaper then the mk808.

As a XBMC machine, the mk808 is still one of the best cheap devices you can get, but needs the OC.