I wrote: >> I'm getting pokey frame rates because the CPU cannot decode and/or >> deliver the video data fast enough to the graphics unit.
_Chas_ <Charles Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> replied: >Time for me to call YOU on the assertion that the CPU alone makes the >difference. This is definitely not true -- I have machines that are >considerably SLOWER than yours that can play DVDs, for example my >Wallstreet II powerbook (which has a 300MHz CPU but only *4*MB of video >RAM). What it *does* have, however, is a dedicated video decoding chip >on a PCMCIA card that allows the DVD-ROM drive to play DVDs. Uh oh, I realize this is getting rather far afield, but I've gotta 'call' _you_ on that one. <G> The G3 PowerBooks have zoomed video support on their cardbus connector. The cardbus DVD decoder card sends the decoded DVD video straight into the zoomed video 'port' and directly to the screen, bypassing the system entirely. The speed of the system is dang near irrelevant. Heck, if you could get a DVD player app to run on a 3400, using a decoder card it'd playback DVDs just dandy too. Back on topic, I just picked up a rev D MLB and matching 333MHz CPU. I'm going to overclock and swap in first the faster CPU. Once I get an idea of how much (if any) difference that makes, I'll then pop in the rev D MLB with its hot-spit Rage Pro GPU and see what (if any) improvement appears then. Sure wish I had some way of doing this testing with hard numbers, but I can't seem to find any way to get VLC to display the playback frame rate. Keep in mind, at this point I'm just interested how capable can be a first generation iMac. For my real-world problem, I ended up finding a DV 400 iMac dirtcheap, so that's gonna end up being my daughter's 'new' 'puter anyway. Problem solved, the rest is just Dad's playtime. :-D dan k ................................. http://macdan.n3.net/ carracho://dankephoto.dhs.org:9700 hotline://dankephoto.dhs.org:9500 ................................. -- The iMac List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | - Epson Stylus Color 580 Printers - new at $69 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> iMac List info: <http://lowendmac.com/imac/list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/imac-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
