Playback problems with 720p videos

[ebiel]

Hi,

I have some problems with the playback of high-resolution (1280x720) videos encoded with the x264 codec using VLC. Playback hangs sometimes (i.e. the video "stutters"), especially if there is a lot of movement going on. I assume that my hardware is not able to cope with the computation power that is required.

Here's my basic setup:

Pentium IV 2.6GHz FSB800 Northwood HT
ATI 9600 AGP, 256MB
1GB RAM (PC3200)


My questions:

Is it the CPU or the graphics card that is mostly responsible for decoding x264?
According to the specification of my mainboard I can upgrade my CPU to a 3.4GHz Northwood. Would that suffice to get a smooth playback?


Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Ebiel

[Sharktooth]

CPU. Try using Overlay as output and see if it gets better. Otherwise you can buy CoreAVC Pro for few bucks and use MPC for playback. Since CoreAVC is really fast at decoding h.264/AVC even your CPU should be enough.

[foxyshadis]

CPU is 100% responsible in VLC. Adding half again as much power is likely to help, but you could also just play it with CoreAVC in MPC without spending over $200 on CPU & extra cooling (and possibly a new power supply). I mean, for that money you may as well get a low-end Core2 or X2 platform.

Alternately you can try to get one of the GPU decoders, but they're pricey and might not work at all on an older card like that.

[Sharktooth]

uhm, no... AVC is only accelerated on ATI x1000 and newer series cards (and still they have problems).

[Blue_MiSfit]

Sharktooth,

Don't you mean the 2400 / 2600 series cards?

I didn't know the x1000 series cards had any AVC accel?

~MiSfit

[Sharktooth]

ehrr... forgot to add "and newer"... fixed :)

[ebiel]

Thanks a lot! I will give the CoreAVC a try. Hopefully, that'll suffice so that I don't have to spent money on a hardware upgrade.

[St Devious]

My "LAPTOP" specs :

Intel Centrino 1.5 Ghz processor .
RAM : 512 MB

H.264 Decoder : CoreAVC

cpu usage : Never over 65 % ( Even with SMPlayer which i suppose doesn't use Core AVC )

Preferred Player(s) : Neuview Media Player , GOM Player

Codec Pack : K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.40

So the 720p files r no problem for me even when playing them from DVD .

[Dark Shikari]

My "LAPTOP" specs :

Intel Centrino 1.5 Ghz processor .
RAM : 512 MB

H.264 Decoder : CoreAVC

cpu usage : Never over 65 % ( Even with SMPlayer which i suppose doesn't use Core AVC )

Preferred Player(s) : Neuview Media Player , GOM Player

Codec Pack : K-Lite Mega Codec Pack 3.40

So the 720p files r no problem for me even when playing them from DVD .So basically you're bragging about how your (probably faster) Pentium M with a crappy codec pack that illegally pirates CoreAVC is faster than the OP's playback? ;)

[St Devious]

So basically you're bragging about how your (probably faster) Pentium M with a crappy codec pack that illegally pirates CoreAVC is faster than the OP's playback? ;)

Not bragging , just showing the guy that my setup is far inferior to his and with CoreAVC i can perfectly play 720p files , so he wont be wasting money on CoreAVC .

And concerning K-lite Mega Codec Pack , dont know wat u hold against it but it does the job for me , has all the codecs . So no codec headaches for me .

[Dark Shikari]

Not bragging , just showing the guy that my setup is far inferior to his and with CoreAVC i can perfectly play 720p files , so he wont be wasting money on CoreAVC .

And concerning K-lite Mega Codec Pack , dont know wat u hold against it but it does the job for me , has all the codecs . So no codec headaches for me .Your setup is inferior? Your Pentium M is basically on par with his P4... maybe very very mildly slower.

[foxyshadis]

And concerning K-lite Mega Codec Pack , dont know wat u hold against it but it does the job for me , has all the codecs . So no codec headaches for me .

It contains cracked versions of several encoders and decoders. Of course we care, this isn't a piracy board. Besides, you can get nearly everything it offers with CCCP in two filters (ffdshow+haali's).