Common processors and the video profiles that they support

Updated: March 30, 2011

Applies To: Windows Home Server 2011

To stream media from your home server you can use a computer that is running the Windows 7 operating system, or other home-networked devices such as digital media players, and Media Center Extenders such as XBOX 360. When you are away from home, use Remote Web Access Media Player to play files that are stored on the home server.

You also need relatively fast up-link speeds that vary from 200Kbps to 10 Mbps or more and media formats that your computer and devices can recognize and play. Not all devices, however, support the same video formats so there must be a way for your computer and devices to play whatever media files you happen to have. Windows Home Server 2011 contains a new transcoding support (inherited from Windows 7) that determines the capability of the computer or device you are using and then dynamically converts an unsupported video file into a supported one. In general, if Windows Media Player 12 can play the content on a computer that is running Windows 7, then the content on the home server will usually play on the network-connected device.

The format and bit rate chosen for transcoding is highly dependent on the performance of the home server processor. The processor performance is identified as part of the Windows Experience Index. To determine the performance score of your home server, do one of the following:

• On a computer running Windows 7 that has the same processor as your home server, go to the Control Panel, click Performance Information and Tools, and review the information given on the Rate and improve your computer’s performance page.

• Contact the manufacturer of the processor.

For the best user experience, choose a video streaming resolution quality that is appropriate for your home server processor. The server will automatically adjust the bit rate to one of these settings:

• Low  if the processor score is less than 3.6.

• Medium  if the processor score is greater than 3.6 and less than 4.2.

• High  if the processor score is greater than 4.2 and less than 6.0.

• Best  if the processor score is greater than 6.0.

If you choose a video streaming resolution that requires more processing power than your server has, you may experience buffers and stops while streaming media from the home server.