C860 + Cacko + Kino, How Do I Get Best Video Perf

[datajerk]

I have read multiple posts on the subject, but have been unable to determine precisely what will work best.  I am willing to do a some experimenting, but would like some direction.

I have been using Dr Divx to convert my 2GB 1 hour .tivo files to 300MB .avi files.  I have to say that I was quite impressed with the performance of Cacko 1.21a with its stock kino.  After updating to kino .4.2 and the latest mplayer it appears as if I am watching TV (Scale to screen is checked).

Video info:  320x240, DX50, Bitrate: 600320, FPS: 29.97
Audio info:  Codec: mad, Rate: 44100, Bitrate: 80000, Channels: 2

I thought I'd try a higher res version of the same video:

Video info:  480x352, DX50, Bitrate: 800856, FPS: 29.97
Audio info:  Codec: mad, Rate: 44100, Bitrate: 64000, Channels: 2

but, it is noticeably not as smooth as the 320x240 video.  320x240 is good enough, but I would like to know how far I can push the c860 in terms of video performance.

I have also noticed that I have to have rotate checked.

Questions:

1.  Will Cacko 1.22a improve performance?  If so, by how much?  Currently I am using Cacko 1.21a with Kino 0.4.2 and latest w100 mplayer.
2.  Will pre rotation improve performance?  If so, by how much?  Currently I see no way to get Dr Divx to do this, but will explore.
3.  What video formats perform the best from 4GB CF disk?
4.  Should I overclock?  Currently not overclocking.
5.  How do I measure frame rates?
6.  What is the best hires performance you have seen?  How did you get it?
7.  What are the sustainable bitrates for a 4GB CF HD?

Thanks.

[maslovsky]

Video info:  480x352, DX50, Bitrate: 800856, FPS: 29.97
Audio info:  Codec: mad, Rate: 44100, Bitrate: 64000, Channels: 2

but, it is noticeably not as smooth as the 320x240 video.  320x240 is good enough, but I would like to know how far I can push the c860 in terms of video performance.

Your video bitrate is too high here - keep it at 500 Kb/s (or even less)  for such video resolution and you'll have to overclock your Z.

Questions:

1.  Will Cacko 1.22a improve performance?  If so, by how much?  Currently I am using Cacko 1.21a with Kino 0.4.2 and latest w100 mplayer.

No, kino and mplayer don't depend on ROM version

2.  Will pre rotation improve performance?  If so, by how much?  Currently I see no way to get Dr Divx to do this, but will explore.

Yes, up to 20-30%

3.  What video formats perform the best from 4GB CF disk?

DivX 5

4.  Should I overclock?  Currently not overclocking.

Yes, for movies larger than 320x240 and high bitrates (say 700-800 kb/s)

5.  How do I measure frame rates?

Add -benchmark option for mplayer, check "Debug output" and start kino2 from console

6.  What is the best hires performance you have seen?  How did you get it?

640x352 (16:9) at 500 kb/s overclocked Z

7.  What are the sustainable bitrates for a 4GB CF HD?

Doesn't matter - the speed of any CF cards/microdrive is higher that bitrates of the video that mplayer can handle.