K8NGM2-FID -- how much video ram to reserve in BIOS for HD?

[horseflesh]

I'm trying to track down a software issue causing skips in playback of live or recorded HD content. I know it isn't a signal problem, because I had a BTV test system in this location and it worked fine. Problems began when I put in my dedicated HTPC, built on the MSI K8NGM2-FID. (I also just verified signal with the DVICO Fusion TV viewer.)

Actually, the skips are recorded, as they repeat exactly if I rewind live TV.

I've got a list of things to check, but first off, how much video ram should I assign to the 6150 in the BIOS for best playback of HD content? All I use BTV for is time-shifting HD prime time programs.

Edit: I put a second 512MB memory module in, upped both HT parameters from 800MHz to 1000MHz, and set video RAM to 128MB. That seemed to do it, for overlay at least. I'll have to try exclusivefs 3d mode later.

[hamltnh]

From what I've read, a BIOS setting of 128 MB is the right answer for a video card with 128 MB or greater of memory. My card (x800....) has 256 MB of memory and a BIOS setting of 128 MB works fine with BTV.

If the skips are part of the recording, they are most likely due to signal problems. The only real way to tell is if you have a TIVO/Replay record at the same time/channel and compare. It's possible to a have a perfectly fine signal level with OTA HD and still have occasional glitches in the recording due to signal/RF problems.

[horseflesh]

I've got a set top HD box running in parallel, as well as the DVICO tuner app, so I am sure it isn't a signal problem. For some reason BTV was dropping data when buffering to the hard drive, but the BIOS changes I made seem to have fixed it.

3d exclusivefs still performs poorly at 1080, but that's life.