2010-10-15, 01:52
I have done several test install for Dharma (all on a Shuttle XS35).
1. XBMC SVN on Maverick
2. XBMCFreak B2 T3
3. XBMCLive B3
One thing I find really interesting is the different video performance - installs one and two (both of which use the latest 260.19.XX drivers) have much better looking video - largely because it is significantly brighter. That is, it does not appear to be black crushing like XBMC normally does without 'studio levels' turned on or a modification of brightness/contrast to about 56/43 that I normally use.
In general, the video looks cleaner and sharper as well with the new drivers, although that's more nebulous and hard to pin down. But I definitely have the impression the new drivers have some real video quality improvements over the brightness difference.
I am curious why Live uses the much older drivers, and am wondering if there is much danger/potential for issus in doing a vanilla XBMC B3 install (which is the easiest on this hardware) and then adding the 260 drivers to that.
I'm surprised this hasn't come up anywhere else that I have seen, as the brightness difference is substantail and can immediatebly be seen in both the UI and video play. My gut feeling is the Nvidia driver is goind 16 to 235 correctly automatically with the never drivers...
1. XBMC SVN on Maverick
2. XBMCFreak B2 T3
3. XBMCLive B3
One thing I find really interesting is the different video performance - installs one and two (both of which use the latest 260.19.XX drivers) have much better looking video - largely because it is significantly brighter. That is, it does not appear to be black crushing like XBMC normally does without 'studio levels' turned on or a modification of brightness/contrast to about 56/43 that I normally use.
In general, the video looks cleaner and sharper as well with the new drivers, although that's more nebulous and hard to pin down. But I definitely have the impression the new drivers have some real video quality improvements over the brightness difference.
I am curious why Live uses the much older drivers, and am wondering if there is much danger/potential for issus in doing a vanilla XBMC B3 install (which is the easiest on this hardware) and then adding the 260 drivers to that.
I'm surprised this hasn't come up anywhere else that I have seen, as the brightness difference is substantail and can immediatebly be seen in both the UI and video play. My gut feeling is the Nvidia driver is goind 16 to 235 correctly automatically with the never drivers...