T428 kernels with video fix and overclocks

[phjanderson]

Hi guys,

I've created a few T428 kernels with sam321's video fix (with a small modification from my side to prevent errors in dmesg):

https://www.dropbox.com/s/sefhqita1ua74wb/kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428.zip

In the zip you'll find kernels with 720p / 1080p and several different CPU and DDR frequencies ranging from stock to 1920mhz.

Overclocking the DDR gives a huge performance boost, esp. on 1080p.

It should be safe to run 1800mhz (or even 1920mhz) without extra cooling, but you probably do need a good PSU. The stock PSU that was bundled with my T428 really can't handle the extra current, which will result in a crash when running Antutu for example. If you are hesitant to overclock your T428, try looking on the original box of the T428, it actually says 1.8ghz, not 1.6ghz

These kernels can be used as a drop in replacement with custom roms distributed as separate images files (such a the Finless roms). Just flash only the kernel (uncheck all others) with the kernel of your preference.

If the zip doesn't contain the exact configuration you're looking for, then just build one yourself using Marvin:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?6701-Marvin-automated-multi-device-kernel-build-tool

Have fun!

Peter

[Molle]

Hi guys,

I've created a few T428 kernels with sam321's video fix (with a small modification from my side to prevent errors in dmesg)

This is definitely the best bunch of kernels you have released yet! If there haven't been any major changes to the kernel sources themselves between 20130822_160805 and today, then some config setting between then and now has caused some jerkiness to video playback.

Even without any further tweaks, these kernels pass all my video playback tests with flying colours.

However, I have been playing with 'Pimp My Rom' recently and the following settings seem to offer still some extra boost to performance without any visibly negative side effects. With these settings the Planet Earth 1080p video clip (140MB) played with zero dropped frames in XBMC with h/w acceleration.

1. Pimp My CPU
- Governor: Ondemand
- I/O Scheduler: Noop

2. Kernel Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ondemand
- Disable I/O Stats
- Scheduler Sysctl Tweaks
- Disable Vsync

3. Enable/Disable Android Features (everything set to 'on', except)
- Surface Dithering=off
- Lock launcher to memory=off

4. Miscellaneous Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ext4 File System Tweaks
- Internal SD-Card I/O Tweaks
- External SD-Card I/O Tweaks

5. Reboot when done

AnTuTu score: 18400

[phjanderson]

This is definitely the best bunch of kernels you have released yet! If there haven't been any major changes to the kernel sources themselves between 20130822_160805 and today, then some config setting between then and now has caused some jerkiness to video playback.

Even without any further tweaks, these kernels pass all my video playback tests with flying colours.

However, I have been playing with 'Pimp My Rom' recently and the following settings seem to offer still some extra boost to performance without any visibly negative side effects. With these settings the Planet Earth 1080p video clip (140MB) played with zero dropped frames in XBMC with h/w acceleration.

1. Pimp My CPU
- Governor: Ondemand
- I/O Scheduler: Noop

2. Kernel Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ondemand
- Disable I/O Stats
- Scheduler Sysctl Tweaks
- Disable Vsync

3. Enable/Disable Android Features (everything set to 'on', except)
- Surface Dithering=off
- Lock launcher to memory=off

4. Miscellaneous Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ext4 File System Tweaks
- Internal SD-Card I/O Tweaks
- External SD-Card I/O Tweaks

5. Reboot when done

AnTuTu score: 18400

The difference between these kernels and the previous is that I modified sam321's video fix to always return a success code instead of an error code. The error code was causing dmesg to fill up and slow the system down.

Those tweaks look interesting. Perhaps the rom builders around here such as Bob can incorporate some of these in their roms?

[Molle]

The difference between these kernels and the previous is that I modified sam321's video fix to always return a success code instead of an error code. The error code was causing dmesg to fill up and slow the system down.

Yep. Logcat output looks much neater now. Maybe stopping this message flood also helped boost up the performance somewhat. (But not by itself alone. The last kernel set before this had some video stutter even though the error/success code fix was already in place.)

[tocaazul]

phjanderson, good morning.

Please am to buy the MK908, this will also serve Overclocking Kernel for him? I appreciate all your attention to the community ANDROID MINI PC and congratulate you for the great job done. Hugs coming from Brazil.
I await your response.

tocaazul

[paradoxman]

hi phjanderson,
today i tried all you last kenels for mk908 posted over there inthe kernel thread but i must say that none of the overclocked 1080 kernels are working for my v1 stick; however the 720 kernel at 1.8 ghz is running great ... but i also haven't found any 720p kernel in that package which has the posibility of the 1.92 ghz cpu clock; i wonder if the 1080p kernels don't work fo me because of the stock psu? the fact is that it won't even boot with any of the 1080p ones so i don't even see the screen with the applications. could you also build up this package posted in the firstt post for the mk908? there are a lots of us around here with this hadware willing to test your wonderful work. many thanks

[Trhuster]

This is definitely the best bunch of kernels you have released yet! If there haven't been any major changes to the kernel sources themselves between 20130822_160805 and today, then some config setting between then and now has caused some jerkiness to video playback.

Even without any further tweaks, these kernels pass all my video playback tests with flying colours.

However, I have been playing with 'Pimp My Rom' recently and the following settings seem to offer still some extra boost to performance without any visibly negative side effects. With these settings the Planet Earth 1080p video clip (140MB) played with zero dropped frames in XBMC with h/w acceleration.

1. Pimp My CPU
- Governor: Ondemand
- I/O Scheduler: Noop

2. Kernel Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ondemand
- Disable I/O Stats
- Scheduler Sysctl Tweaks
- Disable Vsync

3. Enable/Disable Android Features (everything set to 'on', except)
- Surface Dithering=off
- Lock launcher to memory=off

4. Miscellaneous Tweaks (tick the following)
- Ext4 File System Tweaks
- Internal SD-Card I/O Tweaks
- External SD-Card I/O Tweaks

5. Reboot when done

AnTuTu score: 18400

I tested this but i could not see any improvment in my video test at all. But a nice app indeed!

[phjanderson]

hi phjanderson,
today i tried all you last kenels for mk908 posted over there inthe kernel thread but i must say that none of the overclocked 1080 kernels are working for my v1 stick; however the 720 kernel at 1.8 ghz is running great ... but i also haven't found any 720p kernel in that package which has the posibility of the 1.92 ghz cpu clock; i wonder if the 1080p kernels don't work fo me because of the stock psu? the fact is that it won't even boot with any of the 1080p ones so i don't even see the screen with the applications. could you also build up this package posted in the firstt post for the mk908? there are a lots of us around here with this hadware willing to test your wonderful work. many thanks

I do not own a MK908, so you'd better ask someone with a MK908 to do it for you. I made a tool that anyone can use:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?6701-Marvin-automated-multi-device-kernel-build-tool

I hope others many people can build kernels with it, I cannot build kernels for everyone just by myself. I simply do not have the time for that. Thanks!

All I know is that the MK908 doesn't seem to be very stable, always problems with each revision

[paradoxman]

yes you are right, I am thinking of selling my mk908 although it's the better version v1 compared to the last v3 which has even more problems; i am not decided yet as to buy a t428 or better wait for the new sticks with amlogic M8 which have the new mali450 ... is the wireless consistent on the t428 without drops?

[clarkss12]

T428 over clock failed

Hello, I installed this kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_720p_cpu1800h_ddr 600_vsfsam on my T428. About every half hour my stick would reboot. I am a using a good quality 3.1amp power plug. Antutu ran twice without problems. Thirty minutes into watching Netfix, the stick rebooted, tried again and same thing. The video quality is awesome by the way. Next I tried watching a movie from XBMC and same thing, thirty minutes into the movie, the stick would reboot. The stick did not seem to get hot, just mildly warm as always.

I next replaced that Kernel with your non-over clocked kernel, kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_720p_vsfsam and everything is working great again.

So, I am not sure why my T428 does not like to be mildly over clocked. I have had this stick for a few months now, and I am very pleased with it. I have gone through most of the roms that have been posted on here, and my stick gets better and better. If someone could just get Dolby surround sound passthru via HDMI I would be in heaven.........

[fonix232]

Hello, I installed this kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_720p_cpu1800h_ddr 600_vsfsam on my T428. About every half hour my stick would reboot. I am a using a good quality 3.1amp power plug. Antutu ran twice without problems. Thirty minutes into watching Netfix, the stick rebooted, tried again and same thing. The video quality is awesome by the way. Next I tried watching a movie from XBMC and same thing, thirty minutes into the movie, the stick would reboot. The stick did not seem to get hot, just mildly warm as always.

I next replaced that Kernel with your non-over clocked kernel, kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_720p_vsfsam and everything is working great again.

So, I am not sure why my T428 does not like to be mildly over clocked. I have had this stick for a few months now, and I am very pleased with it. I have gone through most of the roms that have been posted on here, and my stick gets better and better. If someone could just get Dolby surround sound passthru via HDMI I would be in heaven.........

Might be that the age of your stick is the problem. Earlier pieces of any chinese model are well known for their instability, as small quirks are fixed during the first batches testrounds, so that later ones would be better quality. I know, this sounds like a scam, as they do not offer replacement, but this is China, early adopters always have to suck it up with problems.

[phjanderson]

As always with overclocking: your mileage may vary

Some units are better than other, even if they're of the same revision.

About the PSU, if you really want to know how good the PSU is, try measuring the voltage on the USB port while it's running antutu.

Anyway, the kernel with stock frequencies is still a big improvement for video playback due to the video fix.

[clarkss12]

awesome play back

As always with overclocking: your mileage may vary

Some units are better than other, even if they're of the same revision.

About the PSU, if you really want to know how good the PSU is, try measuring the voltage on the USB port while it's running antutu.

Anyway, the kernel with stock frequencies is still a big improvement for video playback due to the video fix.

Yes, I agree, the video is working flawlessly. I wouldn't be able to check the voltage unless I stripped some insulation off the cord, or open the case.

[clarkss12]

Thanks for all you have done

Yes, I agree, the video is working flawlessly. I wouldn't be able to check the voltage unless I stripped some insulation off the cord, or open the case.

Bye the way, I can't thank YOU and all the other developers enough for all the hard work you guys have done. If it wasn't for all of you guy's had work, this device would be junk.

[Molle]

Interesting results with the new AnTuTu v4:

• kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_720p_cpu1800h_ddr 600_vsfsam: 18614
• kernel_20130902_101055_phja_t428_1080p_cpu1920h_dd r720_vsfsam: 19623