Problem
PMS is exceeding the available Java heap memory allocated when PMS starts. Newer versions of PMS handle this error by half-ing the transcode buffer (sometimes leading to skips or crashes depending on the renderer) while older versions just let the video crash.
The heap is the sum of the transcode buffer memory plus all of the overhead memory (the actual PMS application, media library, iTunes support, Radio plugin, etc), and the overhead memory can grow quite a bit if the “extra” features (iTunes, Radio plugin, etc) are enabled.
Solution
Install the latest version of Java and PS3 Media Server. Goto General Configuration and Install as a Windows Service.
Edit file C:\Program Files (x86)\PS3 Media Server\win32\service\wrapper.conf , search the file for the Heap Size and change it from 768 to 1536.
# Maximum Java Heap Size (in MB) wrapper.java.maxmemory=768 (change this to 1536)
- 32-bit JVM on a 64-bit machine with 4+ GB of RAM can safely use a heapsize value of 1536
- 32-bit JVM on a 32-bit machine with 4 GB of RAM should at most use a heapsize value of 1200
Goto Transcoding Settings and change these settings:
- Transcode Buffer: 600
- Number of cores: 4
- Video Quality Settings: Keyint=5:vqscale=2:vqmin=3
Restart the PS3 Media Server service. The javaw.exe*32 process will now use more memory and your 1080p video should run smoothly.
Overjoyed says:
Thanks a ton! This resolved all my stuttering issues for hi-def mkv stuttering. Everything works like a charm now.
Carl says:
Worked great! Thanks! Get this on their forum..
dross says:
How do you change the heap size??? the instructions don’t work….i’m really confused?
laws says:
i don’t get how i can change the heap size according to the instructions. it doesn’t make sense!!
Brainsnack says:
/facepalm
Are you serious? At which of these two steps did things get to hard for you to understand?
1. Go to the directory mentioned
2. Right click ‘wrapper.con’, choose ‘edit file with..’ and save
That’s it. Works perfectly.
Tim says:
Brainsnack, you forgot a step:
3. Once you right click, next choose open with and look for notepad in the list. Once you open it look for the line listed above and then save.
Your done.
ash sibb says:
Does anyone know how to do this on a Mac
matt says:
I get access denied when editing the conf… :/
Amanda says:
i was getting that error as well, save it to your desktop, then drag and drop back to the folder and select” move and replace” to save over.
Solari says:
In Windows 7/8, to edit the .conf file: Run notepad as administrator, THEN open the .conf file from file->open. You’ll be able to save it because you run notepad as an administrator. (Amanda’s solution works as well, but this is faster imo)