Setting up the Acer Revo 3610:
Getting the Revo up and running is simple. The unit has only a power cord, a wireless key board and a mouse. Then hook up an HDMI or VGA cable to your HDTV or computer monitor. Done! I chose to hook it to a RCA 40″ full 1080p HDTV.
Set up of Windows-7 took just a few minutes. You can select the name of the PC, region, password, and network settings. Afterward, the setup goes through a 2 minutes process before you are presented with a log on screen and finally the desktop. See both CRT screen shots below. As you can see, there are some bloatware icons on the desktop to contend with:
After logging in, the Revo prompts you to make a Windows-7 OS backup disc set. Take note, this is because the Revo does not come with a Windows OS re-installation disc! Since I do not yet have a Esata or USB CD/DVD rom, I promptly installed my Windows Home Server Console program and set up a user account for the Revo. From there I did a complete OS image back up, which took about 40 minutes to complete. That way I could restore my Revo to factory specs should something go dreadfully wrong. You can later use the Acer Backup program to make those restore discs once you get a DVD rom connected, but the sooner the better. Fortunately, I have WHS.
Initial Updates, Software Installation and Adobe Flash Fixes:
First off, I headed to the MS Update site and updated everything except for the Windows Office Suite. The Nvidia video driver needed an update as well to 191.07. The Revo already had Flash 10.0.22 installed (more on Flash later).
I then installed MPC-HC video player, Boxee Alpha and Hulu Desktop. I played a 720p 30 HD H.264 file and it played flawlessly on the Revo via WMP 11 adn MPC-HC. I then tried some files shared (.avi & .mkv) via WHS through Boxee and they too played flawlessly. Next up, Hulu Desktop and Hulu via IE.
Now Hulu plays video, like many on line video sites, with Adobe Flash. This wreaks havoc on slower CPU’s and is just the same on the Revo using the installed Flash 10.0.22…for the moment. Here is how things shook out with Hulu playing a 30 Rock episode.
Flash 10.0.22 out of the box
Hulu via IE 86 was a almost perfect, but skipped. CPU was 79%+
Hulu Desktop was almost perfect, fewer skips. Better than IE. CPU usage was 76%
Boxee was almost perfect too! Same as IE. Surprised. CPU usage 59%-66%. (odd how it’s lower than IE)
All three results had high CPU usage (as expected), but was surprised by the quality of Hulu using old Flash, which does not support GPU acceleration and off loading!
Flash 10.1 Beta to the rescue!
The new Flash Beta 10.1 now allows for GPU acceleration to the video card! (Even for non-ION PC’s. As long as your card and any video player being used supports this feature!) This is the update all Atom ION users have been waiting for!!!! Now lets see what this Revo is made of.
Flash 10.1 installed: For this test I installed the Nvidia Beta ION video driver vs 195.55 11-13-2009, developed just for the Flash 10.1 Beta. This further reduced the CPU usage below my initial tests done last week! Today, Nvidia released the final version that is WHQL certified vs 195.62 11-27-09. So, I’ll be updating again and so should you!
Hulu via IE 86** worked flawlessly! CPU usage was down to 16%!
Hulu Desktop worked flawlessly! CPU usage was down to 16% !!
Hulu in Boxee was the same as 10.0.22 test above. CPU 60-80% Some skipping as it has Flash 10.0.22 that is built in.
As you can see, the GPU acceleration usage of the Flash Beta works superbly with Hulu Desktop and any Flash media streamed via IE! The only real skips seem to come as a result of low download buffer. So, pausing at the beginning to build the buffer eliminates this.
Installing the Flash Beta does not update Boxee’s Flash version. Boxee does not trigger or utilize GPU acceleration of any sort. So CPU usage will always be high with any video played through Boxee. Flash is very poor unless you have a quad core CPU to handle the duty. This will change when Boxee Beta is released on December 7, 2009. Watch out!
**Flash is not supported at all in IE 64 bit**
Video Players:
This has nothing to do with the Flash update. Only how the players utilize GPU acelleration with Ion as expected.
I played a .wmv HD file and a 720p 30 h.264 files with the MPC-HC 64 bit player and the WMP 11. Both worked flawlessly using 20% cpu +/-
Now, these tests do not cover all scenarios with Flash. Your mileage may vary based on Internet connection speed, HDTV resolution settings, and even Flash player types at different web sites. At the 1080p setting on the Revo Nvidia controller, some flash playback was just a bit off compared to setting it to 720p. But barely! And this varied by web site too. Example: YouTube HD is useless, but I found their encryption to be terrible and bandwidth from them is poor. But theirs was the only site that gave poor Flash performance.
HDTV Screen shots with Task Manager: With Flash 10.1 Beta
Desktop at boot
Hulu Desktop
Hulu IE x86
Hulu Boxee
HD Nation on Boxee -The encryption of Revision shows makes for flawless play in Boxee even with higher CPU usage. White screen because captured between scene changes.
HDTV Screen shots with Task Manager: WMP-11 & MPC-HC 64
HD Nation on WMP 11
HD Nation on MPC-HC 64 withVideo Stats
There’s MORE on page 3!!
Similar Posts:
- Flash 10.1 Beta on Acer Revo 3610 testing Results
- New Acer Revo 3610 HTPC
- Acer Revo 3610 Unboxed
- Adobe Flash Player 10.1 Beta Released for Atom Ion
- Acer Revo 3610 Atom ION-Video Demo
Tags: Acer Revo 3610, AsRock 330, atom ion 330, Boxee, Fancast, flash, Hulu, nvidia, Review, XBMC, xbox
John,
The revo supports only 5.1, so I don’t understand how one can get 7.1 from the system then?
I received my 3610 from B&H Photo (sorry I said BH before). It did include the VESUS mount, but so far I haven’t looked into using it as I am having trouble getting a wireless router signal. I had to go to Paul’s unboxed page to find out what the tiny black plug was, still not sure it’s purpose but pulled off the tape and plugged it in.
I am using the Belkin N wireless router but have only limited access indicated and can’t get on line. I think my massive stone fireplace wall may be blocking the signal.
Ed Taylor,
The tiny black plug is for the SPIDF optical out to cover and protect the LED inside. I don’t know why they cover it with white tape at the factory.
The wifi? I think you have to go into the control panel and set up networking to turn it on first. It’s not on by default.
It is a notebook style card, so signal strength is not that good and it tends to hog CPU and RAM. So, I’d go wired if you can. Or buy a bridge and plug the revo into it with a eithernet cable and let the bridge do the gruntwork of wifi and not the Revo.
I purchased the revo aspire 3610 with 4 gig’s of DDR and 500 gig a bites of storage space. I’m using my Panasonic 54V10 as my monitor.
I am happy with it and don’t know how I got along without it. It’s at the leading edge of current technology. Ten years ago this would have cost an absolute fortune,
if even possible?? I give it 5 stars out of 5.
Michael Norris