Does increasing buffer/cache actually work?

Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - Printable Version

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Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

Some streamed movies pause at certain points and I was wondering if this could be improved.
I am running off noobs openelec, would i be better of with fresh install and use usb for rest of the storage.
Also does modifying video cache actually work? and if it does how would I test it on Openelec.

Sorry if this has been asked before.

Re: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - nickr - 2014-08-14

Yes it does. You test by comparing with it turned off and turned on.

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

(2014-08-14, 12:09)nickr Wrote: Yes it does. You test by comparing with it turned off and turned on.

OK. and how do I do that. whats the best settings for sd card usage, I am uing 8gb noobs openelec?

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - black_eagle - 2014-08-14

My view is, given the add-ons you are using, it won't make any difference in the slightest.

To change the buffersize, you need to edit your advancedsettings.xml Advancedsettings.xml#Network_settings (wiki)

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

(2014-08-14, 12:50)black_eagle Wrote: My view is, given the add-ons you are using, it won't make any difference in the slightest.

To change the buffersize, you need to edit your advancedsettings.xml Advancedsettings.xml#Network_settings (wiki)

why do say it wont make a difference? Can I achieve this by any other methords?

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - wolfn - 2014-08-14

Just tried this (twice the bufsize + fillrate=3) because of my problems with 1080p50 files having very high data rate.
Result is not optimal, but a few better.
Seems to me, there is some more/other correction needed...

You shold test UPnP - NFS - USB if needed. USB works best here, but still some hickups...

My very old WDTVlive plays this without any problems!

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - Dilligaf - 2014-08-14

The problem with increasing the cache size is it decreases free ram on an already ram limited system. Setting the cache to 0 causes it to cache to the drive/sd card which frees up ram but may shorten sd card life, my opinion is that sd cards are cheap and if I have to replace it every year or two then it's a fair tradeoff. That being said I have several Pi running <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize> for a long time and haven't had a card failure yet.

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - stuCONNERS - 2014-08-14

Ditch the NOOBS card. I bought one the other week, I went from a pretty solid system, To problem after problem. I went back to a usb stick and system returned back to normal.

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

(2014-08-14, 18:02)Dilligaf Wrote: The problem with increasing the cache size is it decreases free ram on an already ram limited system. Setting the cache to 0 causes it to cache to the drive/sd card which frees up ram but may shorten sd card life, my opinion is that sd cards are cheap and if I have to replace it every year or two then it's a fair tradeoff. That being said I have several Pi running <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize> for a long time and haven't had a card failure yet.

what settings are you using and how do I find xml file so I can add the lines needed.

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - Dilligaf - 2014-08-14

I have this in advancedsettings.xml

Code:
<network>

    <buffermode>1</buffermode>

    <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize>

    <readbufferfactor>2.0</readbufferfactor>

  </network>

I'm not sure of the location of advancedsettings.xml in Openelec or if there is one by default, you may have to create one in which case you need to include <advancedsettings> at the beginning and </advancedsettings> at the end

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

(2014-08-14, 20:27)Dilligaf Wrote: I have this in advancedsettings.xml

Code:
<network> <buffermode>1</buffermode> <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize> <readbufferfactor>2.0</readbufferfactor> </network>

I'm not sure of the location of advancedsettings.xml in Openelec or if there is one by default, you may have to create one in which case you need to include <advancedsettings> at the beginning and </advancedsettings> at the end

thanks would these be oky to use running off noobs pi b+

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - Ned Scott - 2014-08-14

You guys can crank that readbufferfactor up higher, if you want :)

The readbufferfactor is basically dependent on the bitrate of a given file, where "1" is loading the video slightly above the bitrate needed to play. Most systems shouldn't need to worry about loading things too fast or having a setting that is too high. In theory it could cause issues in some isolated cases, but you could throw "100" in there and it probably wouldn't hurt anything. It would just allow the math to work out in such a way that XBMC/Kodi tries to load things as fast as it can get it, regardless of the bitrate of the video.

I think most of my systems use "10" right now.

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - Ned Scott - 2014-08-14

(2014-08-14, 19:29)stuCONNERS Wrote: Ditch the NOOBS card. I bought one the other week, I went from a pretty solid system, To problem after problem. I went back to a usb stick and system returned back to normal.

Really? I got like.. [counts cards].. six NOOBS cards, and so far they've all been great. I've only used 3 so far, but so far so good. Maybe you got a dud?

(2014-08-14, 20:38)yaqh Wrote:
(2014-08-14, 20:27)Dilligaf Wrote: I have this in advancedsettings.xml

Code:
<network> <buffermode>1</buffermode> <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize> <readbufferfactor>2.0</readbufferfactor> </network>

I'm not sure of the location of advancedsettings.xml in Openelec or if there is one by default, you may have to create one in which case you need to include <advancedsettings> at the beginning and </advancedsettings> at the end

thanks would these be oky to use running off noobs pi b+

Yes, but...

You will shorten the life of the SD card by writing the cache to it (which is what <cachemembuffersize>0</cachemembuffersize> does). I don't know exactly how short that will be, but just be aware of that. It's not entirely uncommon to actually burn out a card in a year or so when you read/write to it that much.

That being said, I've done it and it seems to work fine. Maybe the card will last for years, maybe not, I'm not sure. It's a card I'm prepared to part with, though :)

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - yaqh - 2014-08-14

i cant seem to find the xml does anyone know how to find it via ssh?

RE: Does increasing buffer/cache actually work? - black_eagle - 2014-08-14

It doesn't exist until you create it.

ssh to Pi.
cd .xbmc/userdata
nano advancedsettings.xml
{type your file in}
ctrl+o to save
ctrl+x to exit
reboot