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View Full Version : video on Rev A is useless even thouh the screen is gorgeous



nph
Jan 15, 2009, 06:03 PM
Even though I love rev A screen to me it is useless if can't watch video on it. I have tried HD video on several rev A's and none can handle it. I am leaning towards a MBP instead...


travis64
Jan 15, 2009, 06:35 PM
about how many frames per sec is it?

it can play dvds off superdrive without a problem right?
SFStateStudent
Jan 15, 2009, 06:51 PM
Playing "Braveheart" HD right now via my Superdrive and it's fine...:confused:
nph
Jan 15, 2009, 07:00 PM
I mean streaming it 720P, try to watch a HD show at CBS.COM for instance.
mshepherd
Jan 15, 2009, 07:12 PM
any flash video will have problems. flash does not utilize the GPU very well. are you using flash 10? I have heard that helps. Also, if you are on youtube you can get a javascript widget (http://www.joeyhagedorn.com/2008/04/16/youtube-in-mp4-via-quicktime-plugin) to play the video in quicktime instead of using flash.
SFStateStudent
Jan 15, 2009, 07:39 PM
Yup, I'm running it on my 40" Sony Bravia LCD and went to CBS.com like you pointed out and watched Criminal Minds, and the Insider and everything is totally awesome, so you've either got a problem with your MBAir or your tele is tossed up. Sorry, but both my TV and my MBAir are working just fine...:cool:
nph
Jan 15, 2009, 08:13 PM
Well I tried several MBA rev A in stores and they could not handle the HD videos on cbs.com.
I even noticed that a rev B 1.6 HDD had more blocky graphics than a 1.8 SSD.
so the question is if you guys that don't have problem with your rev A and HD shows on cbs have the SSD model?

Anyone have any other explanation?
nph
Jan 15, 2009, 08:17 PM
SFStateStudent do you have 1.6 or 1.8 and is it HDD or SSD and finally is it Rev A or rev B?

Thanks
justit
Jan 15, 2009, 11:24 PM
Well I tried several MBA rev A in stores and they could not handle the HD videos on cbs.com.

Apple store loads stock install and is not the best way to test a rev A since resolving issues require monitoring/installing software.
nph
Jan 16, 2009, 12:14 AM
But Rev B handled it no problem.
Btw, since I heard that cbs.com uses flash for its content could that be why the 1.6 HDD Rev B version did worse (more pixelation( than the 1.8 SSD or is it a matter of SSD vs HDD or 1.6 vs 1.8?

Thanks
kloan
Jan 16, 2009, 12:21 AM
If it weren't for the HDD vs SDD difference, I'd suggest maybe it was the internet connection.

But if the SDD models streamed the video fine, your guess is as good as mine.....

From my experience, the rev a I owned for a brief moment couldn't handle ANY 720p. Didn't matter if it was streaming, flash, saved on the hdd, whatever.

On the rev b I have, it still stutters on flash video. I wish Apple would fix this already. It's quite pathetic that it can't play flash flawlessly yet. The MSI Wind I had before this could handle flash MUCH better than the Air.
nph
Jan 16, 2009, 09:33 AM
Hi

I tried the set up on one HDD and SSD Rev B next to each other on several occasions sometimes starting HDD first and sometimes SSD first so internet connection was not an issue.
Dont get me wrong, if I hadnt run SSD next to the HDD I might have missed it but when I looked how it handled some backgrounds it was bovious the SSD (1.8) was doing a better job.

Since it was streaming I am leaning towards the CPU being the reason for the difference. But that means that 1.6 is borderline being able to handle it.
At the same time when compared to the old A rev they had and I didn't use a full screen mode the Apple guy said the extreme difference i blockingness even for a small picture was due to the improved GPU in the new machine. Then it begs the question again, why a difference between SSD and HDD???

Anyone have a theory?
justit
Jan 16, 2009, 09:51 AM
Then it begs the question again, why a difference between SSD and HDD???

Anyone have a theory?

It may/may not have to do more with CPU speed than HDD/SSD speed.
You would need to download coolbook (free version) to watch what CPU speed each MBA is jumping to. Most of the tests I've done, the new SSD would stay at 800mHz and jump to 1.6 rarely getting to 1.8 which lead me to believe that 1.8 (for my needs) wasn't really worth the extra money.
pgharavi
Jan 16, 2009, 10:18 AM
It's Coolbook, simple as that.

With the latest updates, OS X throttles the CPU speed upon heavy usage. That was their solution to the core shutdown problem. Ironically, it makes the Rev A act as if a core was shutting down.

If you install Coolbook, and leave the CPU limit to something like 85 degrees C, it will not stutter (nearly as much).

And where did someone get Braveheart High Def DVD?
nph
Jan 16, 2009, 10:53 AM
But please note that the 1.6 and 1.8 I tested were both Rev B. That is why I am unable to determine if it is the SSD or 1.8 that is needed for perfect HD video.
The Toddfather
Jan 16, 2009, 11:22 AM
But please note that the 1.6 and 1.8 I tested were both Rev B. That is why I am unable to determine if it is the SSD or 1.8 that is needed for perfect HD video.

I had Rev A and had video issues all the time. Since I purchased Rev B all is fine, I would recommend against the Rev A if you are into video.
nph
Jan 16, 2009, 12:07 PM
You mean watching video, right?
Pupator
Jan 16, 2009, 12:43 PM
I'm watching HD video on CBS.com right now with my Rev A (HDD) MBA without any problems.

I'm also running Windows 7. OSX made this thing run hot and slow. Vista and Windows 7 have been great on it.

YMMV
The Toddfather
Jan 16, 2009, 12:44 PM
You mean watching video, right?

Yes, specifically streaming. But, there are some like the poster above that have no issues.
zer0tails
Jan 16, 2009, 01:49 PM
It's Coolbook, simple as that.

With the latest updates, OS X throttles the CPU speed upon heavy usage. That was their solution to the core shutdown problem. Ironically, it makes the Rev A act as if a core was shutting down.

If you install Coolbook, and leave the CPU limit to something like 85 degrees C, it will not stutter (nearly as much).

And where did someone get Braveheart High Def DVD?

do you have more information on OS X throttling the CPU on heavy usage? I'll really like to read up on Apple's "solution" so i can decide if coolbook or the os x update is better.

thanks
nph
Jan 16, 2009, 02:20 PM
For those of you watching the HD video on CBS, ware you using full screen mode?

And have you upgraded to Flash 10? Because if you are doing it on Flash 9 just like the store copies have there is something weird going on...
italiansauce88
Jan 16, 2009, 02:39 PM
I'm watching HD video on CBS.com right now with my Rev A (HDD) MBA without any problems.

I'm also running Windows 7. OSX made this thing run hot and slow. Vista and Windows 7 have been great on it.

YMMV

Are you serious? Windows plays/runs HD video better without problems??? Bootcamp or VM?? WTF!!

Somehow I have a hard time believing Rev A's can play HD video without stutter...
elppa
Jan 16, 2009, 04:57 PM
Are you serious? Windows plays/runs HD video better without problems??? Bootcamp or VM?? WTF!!

Somehow I have a hard time believing Rev A's can play HD video without stutter...

Flash on Windows is way better than OS X.

Hardly the fault of Apple, or OS X.
Hey Jude
Jan 17, 2009, 09:51 AM
Even though I love rev A screen to me it is useless if can't watch video on it. I have tried HD video on several rev A's and none can handle it. I am leaning towards a MBP instead...

I read your post yesterday while at work, so when I got home I decided to test my Rev A SSD to see how it would perform playing HD shows from cbs.com.

Well, I had Safari window open, surfing and played NCI: Miami (or is it NSI: Miami?). Well, there was a little bit of choppiness 20 minutes or so into the 43 minute video but the computer seemed to have gotten over the hump and the rest of the show played normally. The video might have played normally if I had no windows open.

So, for me, that is fairly acceptable performance and I don't have CoolBook. Perhaps the performance will be even better once I install the program. The fans were silent, but hot, at around 6200rpm.

Jude
nph
Jan 17, 2009, 10:40 AM
interesting, have you run it full screen? If that works then the difference is the SSD since the rev A I have tried have all been HDD...
coupdetat
Jan 17, 2009, 11:46 AM
CoolBook will make all your troubles go away :rolleyes:
Turmoil
Jan 17, 2009, 11:49 AM
Rev A Refurb HD latest flash - CBS.COM HD video plays fine No video problems that I have seen so far.
nph
Jan 17, 2009, 02:16 PM
So you dont have any issue when watching cbs HD videos full screen?
No blockiness etc?

I compared a rev A and B in the apple store and it was awful compared to rev B.
It was so blocky graphic it was not even funny.

However they both ran Flash 9 plugin. So would flash 10 change that?
Can the old graphic card show HD video well? That would be the toughest challenge I would give it.
Really like that screen ahead of the new Rev B screen.

Thanks
mashoutposse
Jan 17, 2009, 02:24 PM
Firstly, thanks for getting me to watch some CBS HD content :D There are some interesting shows on there.

I have a 1.86/128SSD and it plays back perfectly. Temps are in the 70C range on a flat wooden table surface. I think you should splurge ;)
justit
Jan 17, 2009, 04:20 PM
Well, there was a little bit of choppiness 20 minutes or so into the 43 minute video but the computer seemed to have gotten over the hump and the rest of the show played normally.

If after 20 min it's fine, you can rule out both HD/SDD and CPU as factors. This is an issue of a disruption in your connection and buffering speed from cbs.com.

I've owned both the Rev B SSD and now my Rev A HD and it's fairly close in playback. With the Rev B a bit better because of it's large 6mb L2 cache. But IMO the difference is not worth 2.5x the price.

Get the refurb, and wait for 3.0
coupdetat
Jan 17, 2009, 10:47 PM
Flash 10 should help a TON. I remember my PowerBook was nearly unusable on flash sites with Flash 9--it was actually one of my reasons for finally upgrading. Now, it can play flash videos okay with Flash 10.
kaku945
Jan 18, 2009, 05:12 AM
Agreed. the coolbook changes the whole experience of streaming 1080p.
bushman1
Jan 18, 2009, 01:05 PM
How dose the MBA rev. A work on just dvds and SD videos played off the Hard drive. Would the ssd make a difference for this?
remobot
Jan 18, 2009, 03:12 PM
How dose the MBA rev. A work on just dvds and SD videos played off the Hard drive. Would the ssd make a difference for this?

i'm using a rev a HDD and i've played video from my hard drive and have experienced no problems what so ever. a couple of 30 minute sitcoms and even a rip of step brothers. the fans stayed around 2400 rpm and it ran cool enough to keep in my lap. i've also streamed the wall•e trailer at 720p with no stuttering or any issues, somebody asked about it in one of the forums, i don't remember which. i just let the whole video load prior to playing, no issues at all.

so far i have not experienced any video stuttering or playback issues. for the price this machine is certainly worth it. im very happy with everything about it, especially the savings from no purchasing a rev b.
bushman1
Jan 18, 2009, 03:19 PM
what sort of battery life to most of you get?
Pupator
Jan 19, 2009, 02:23 PM
Are you serious? Windows plays/runs HD video better without problems??? Bootcamp or VM?? WTF!!

Somehow I have a hard time believing Rev A's can play HD video without stutter...

Believe what you like, but it runs much, much better than OSX ever did. :D I wiped the hard drive clean and installed Windows 7 from scratch. It's faster, cooler (temperature), longer battery life, smoother video performance and quicker booting than OSX was. (Vista was also better on the MBA than OSX in most regards.) YMMV but my experience over several months has been positive with Vista/Win 7 and rather negative with OSX.