TinkerBoard video performance is poor!!

[13hm13]

Confused!!!

 

I'm using a Dell 22" monitor. Connecting to TB via hdmi to dvi cable. I am using the default TB heatsink, and a RPi case with fan and a high-quality 5.25v/3.0 amp adapter. 

 Using even low-resource video-playback apps, like Celluloid, I get quite poor (choppy) video in anything above 480.  Esp if I "Full Screen" it. This regardless of whether I'm streaming (YouTube) or playing a saved avi or mp4 file.

I had assumed TB would be v. good at video playback given the ASUS product page report and many "independent" reviews. I have not found this to be the case.

I did briefly try TinkerOS, but that turned out to be unreliable. Armbian seem to be somewhat better, but video may be the same as TOS.

So how do I get TB to play video decently ... Asus claims 4k play back here ...
https://www.asus.com/us/Single-Board-Com...ker-Board/

Robust GPU Performance & Functionality

Featuring a powerful but energy-efficient design, Tinker Board supports next-generation graphics and GPU computing API's. Powered by an ARM-based Mali™-T764 GPU, Tinker Board's GPU and fixed-function processors allow for a wide range of uses, including high-quality media playback, gaming, computer vision, gesture recognition, image stabilization and processing, as well as computational photography and more. Multimedia enthusiasts will appreciate the fixed-function H.264 and H.265 playback support, including playback of HD and UHD video.

But I can't even get TB to play better than my 2004 single core Win XP computer. 

Confused!!!

[Vasant1234]

You should try Android. It is great for media consumption and everything is hardware accelerated.

[Woutertinker]

Dear 13hm13,
It is not very polite to open 4 threads about the same subject.
Some people replied to you in a meaningful way already.
In your case, you should better just use TinkerOS (newest release). In TinkerOS the Mali video drivers are active and give you a good play back quality.
For everything else, I prefer Armbian.

[13hm13]

Dear 13hm13,
It is not very polite to open 4 threads about the same subject.

Are you an employee of Asus?
In any case, I opened two about video an they are both different.

[igorpec]

> Mali video drivers are active and give you a good play back quality.

Mali drivers are operational in all Armbian versions, but they don't have nothing to do with playing video.

Video plays well on Armbian, but with an add-on. Everything one need to know is written at the download pages.

[NoobieTBUSer]

I'm using Libreelec, they have it listed under the CPU type on their web page. I am able to play back @ 4K using the built-in Kodi. It's not perfect, but it works MUCH better than I have found anything else under Android. I believe I will likely give up on Android. I can't speak for any of the other OS's mentioned.

Edit: Linky: https://libreelec.tv/downloads_new/rockchip/

[13hm13]

> Mali video drivers are active and give you a good play back quality.

Mali drivers are operational in all Armbian versions, but they don't have nothing to do with playing video.

Video plays well on Armbian, but with an add-on. Everything one need to know is written at the download pages.

Uh ... link, please. Thx.

---

I'm using Libreelec, they have it listed under the CPU type on their web page.  I am able to play back @ 4K using the built-in Kodi.  It's not perfect, but it works MUCH better than I have found anything else under Android.  I believe I will likely give up on Android.  I can't speak for any of the other OS's mentioned.

Edit: Linky:  https://libreelec.tv/downloads_new/rockchip/

If a cheap tablet can play 1080p with no issues, then a SBC should be able to do so w/o needing a "dedicated" multimedia platform ... like Kodi.

Again ... I can't even play 720 very well!!

[igorpec]

> Uh ... link, please. Thx.
https://www.armbian.com/tinkerboard/

> If a cheap tablet can play 1080p with no issues

Video acceleration is bypassing OS and knowing how to handle video codecs. Its purely a software solution. Since most of those routines are closed source made for one kernel, you can't upgrade kernel and still have video acceleration. You have to choose what is more important - features and security or playing video. You can't have both. Usually.

Very abridged.

[13hm13]

> Uh ... link, please. Thx.
https://www.armbian.com/tinkerboard/

Just the OS download info and, of course, the usual Amazon affiliate links. Why don't you use element14 or adafruit?
As far as the Video drivers/solution needed ... there's nothing useful on that page.

Video acceleration is bypassing OS and knowing how to handle video codecs. Its purely a software solution. Since most of those routines are closed source made for one kernel, you can't upgrade kernel and still have video acceleration. You have to choose what is more important - features and security or playing video. You can't have both. Usually.
Very abridged.

With all due respect, do you know what a cheap, modern $79.00 SBC can do, fully loaded with a complete OS and stellar video? DO YOU KNOW??????????!!!



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfG0oztlmX4&t=639s

[igorpec]

Just the OS download info and, of course, the usual Amazon affiliate links. Why don't you use element14 or adafruit?

As far as the Video drivers/solution needed ... there's nothing useful on that page.

Its not the best UX, but it is almost impossible to miss this. Invest more then 0.5s for scanning the page and you will not need to post strange posts here.

   

 DO YOU KNOW

Most powerful boards can play video without special routines via software. But they blow insane lots of CPU power for that .. but since you know more then me, you obviously don't need hints.

I made this video two years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln4UFzNVppQ

And this is me on the video below:
https://www.armbian.com/authors/