MECOOL M8S Pro + TV Box Amlogic S905X Android 7.1 2/16GB Fast Lan, WiFi 802.11b/g/n

[Jancales]

From the Magendanz ATV thread



Hi Jancales,

You use a 40x40x11 HS
Is it this one (or similar) ?
https://www.****.co.uk/itm/40x40x11m...wAAOSwFyhZ7ibB
?? (replace **** with a noted bay e)

Any opinion on whether a 40x40x13 HS like this one would be significantly better ? Costs more and probably not very different at a guess !
http://uk.farnell.com/malico/mbh4000...3mm/dp/1373253

Pete

I didn't buy from this seller, but the product is identical.

I paid $8.40 for 12 piece with free shipping.

The other one looks pretty professional. Logic tells me that the more total surface you have the more heat can be dissipated.

Not sure though if it is worth 10 times the money.

I have now set display resolution at 1080p 50Hz, since we have PAL anyway, and that makes about 20% less CPU usage in Kodi, and at least 6-7 degrees less heat.

If you set "auto switch to best resolution " it automatically switch to 60Hz, not sure why that happens.

I also noticed that every box I had tried the Amlogic tool ( 3 boxes with the same build ) unknown sources was disabled in Kodi.

Maybe a coincidence, but you may want to check on your box.

Edit : I set display resolution in the Android settings, as i have removed Amlogic tool from all my boxes.

[P.X]

From the Magendanz ATV thread

That are dreamers.

First of all the Mecool boxes don't come with thermal pad, the heat sinks are installed with paste.

I have replaced probably 100 heat sinks in the past 6 months on S905X and S912 processors.

For the Mecool boxes I use 40x40x11 heat sinks, as that is about the biggest size that fits without issues, and I'm happy if I can get them in the lower seventies with Kodi running a 1080p stream for 90 minutes at least.

Of course I can also let it run for 15 minutes, just to get a good result, but I prefer not to lie to myself.

If you want to do a real heat test download StressCPU apk, and let it run for 30 minutes, then you know how much you reduced the temperature.

FYI with the heat sinks replaced I haven't had a single Mecool S905X or S912 box that didn't reach 80°C before it start to reduce the CPU speed to stabilize the temperature.

The good news is that with the factory heat sink it doesn't stop at 80°C, but goes easily 5 degrees higher in Kodi at which point the frame rate will drop significantly or the box will stop working completely.

Usually most of the current boxes with stock firmware crash at 85°C

I also have Beelink M18 boxes with a S905 processor, and factory heat sinks which are 25x25x5 and even running a 1080p stream in Kodi for half a day will not get them above 65°C. That should tell you something.

Hi Jancales,

You use a 40x40x11 HS
Is it this one (or similar) ?
https://www.****.co.uk/itm/40x40x11m...wAAOSwFyhZ7ibB
?? (replace **** with a noted bay e)

Any opinion on whether a 40x40x13 HS like this one would be significantly better ? Costs more and probably not very different at a guess !
http://uk.farnell.com/malico/mbh4000...3mm/dp/1373253

Pete

[P.X]

Some more wrinkles with Auto Frame Rate Switching and the + Box

I tried it on a box with V06xx ATV FW
- 24p was running at about 10-12 and jerky
- Did NOT Reset to Best HDMI on re-boot - stayed at 24p so lost picture because of my AV Amp - Had to do a blind Display Reset to Best HDMI
(Down x many -OK - Down x6 -OK -OK -UP x Many -OK -Right -OK or something like that !!!)

Installed V09xx ATV FW
- 23p running at 23-24 and smooth
- Resets to Best HDMI on re-boot (Phew!)

Seems V09xx has a few advantages ...

[Bllq21]

Anyone knows how to "hide" root for some apps
I have access to several apps for watching TV that my Cable Provider gives me but some don't allow rooted devices
I have the Nano ROM on my box installed via OTA
Can I installed Xposed or MAgisk ?

Never mind
I managed to install Xposed and Rootcloak and it works great!

[Bllq21]

Anyone knows how to "hide" root for some apps
I have access to several apps for watching TV that my Cable Provider gives me but some don't allow rooted devices
I have the Nano ROM on my box installed via OTA
Can I installed Xposed or MAgisk

[zabba]

Does anyone have issues with this box playing 4k video on kodi/spmc? On my box it struggles to play at all. Is the mecool m8s pro plus just not powerful enough to play video over a certain quality/size on kodi? Thanks

Also my box has restarted itself a few times today. Its never done that before. I have the latest stock firmware and have a cooling fan underneath so i dont think its overheating issues.

[P.X]

Kodi playing a 60Fps file seems to randomly decide to only display at 40Fps at a whim ? according to Log display.
I'll have to turn it off or I shall go ga-ga

[P.X]

Checked with the Logging thing

My 60Hz TV file reports ~60Fps (EDIT: First showing ~40Fps but changed after restarting Kodi ?)
4K 24Fps reports ~18Fps

No idea how all that works and still looks smooth !?!

Idle screen shows ~8Fps (variable)

[P.X]

I can't see a setting where I can select the frame rates.

The overlay you get is system / system / logging / debug logging.

When reboot box auto frame rate is disabled, so you need to enable every restart

Thanks for info.

Just noted same re-enable after restart in edit above - also false Fps reporting of some files ...

[Jancales]

I can't ?
Check your TV panel Info - Mine shows 24P
I think the actual output has to be 24/30/50/60 fixed rates.
How do you get the Kodi Info overlay ?

Some expert may have a proper explanation ..........

I can't see a setting where I can select the frame rates.

The overlay you get is system / system / logging / debug logging.

When reboot box auto frame rate is disabled, so you need to enable every restart

[P.X]

The only minor issue with this Auto Switch is it doesn't revert when you exit Kodi, so you have to switch Settings>Display>Screen Resolution> Best Mode OFF-ON and confirm to get back to 60Hz

And ...

Have to re-enable after Power cycle.

Also ...
Some files seem to be erroneous in there meta info !
File (TV prog) declares 24Fps but stutters badly and plays smoothly at 60Hz
so you have to switch off Auto for such files (or not enable)

[P.X]

I did install your tool on a M8S Pro+ and indeed it does wonders.

What I don't understand however, on my 60" full HD plasma, the same 1080p movie I was running earlier today, is now running at an average of 16Fps.

I have to admit, I'm a noob regarding frame rates, but I thought 16Fps would be slow motion, however the movie plays normal.

Can you explain to me please?

I can't ?
Check your TV panel Info - Mine shows 24P
I think the actual output has to be 24/30/50/60 fixed rates.
How do you get the Kodi Info overlay ?

Some expert may have a proper explanation ..........

[Jancales]

Auto frame rate fix needs for spmc/ftmc but there an other function in the app: auto frame rate enable/disable. As I know it's working with kodi/mxplayer other 3rd party apps.

I did install your tool on a M8S Pro+ and indeed it does wonders.

What I don't understand however, on my 60" full HD plasma, the same 1080p movie I was running earlier today, is now running at an average of 16Fps.

I have to admit, I'm a noob regarding frame rates, but I thought 16Fps would be slow motion, however the movie plays normal.

Can you explain to me please?

[P.X]

Thanks for the clarification, will definitely try it out then.

Definitely worth a look as I had tried manual setting of 24P and my AV Amp always rejected it (?) and black screened for some reason.
The Amlogic Tool auto function seems to work though, and Amp seems happy - Blanks when you Skip Fwd/Back, but not a big issue compared with getting smooth playback and a cooler box

[Jancales]

Auto frame rate fix needs for spmc/ftmc but there an other function in the app: auto frame rate enable/disable. As I know it's working with kodi/mxplayer other 3rd party apps.

Thanks for the clarification, will definitely try it out then.