Media Player Classic Home Cinema (MPC-HC) - DXVA! [Archive] - Page 181

tetsuo55

6th August 2009, 20:23

ADude,

Can you try the mpc-hc-gs version from this site.

1. You have to set output to EVR CP
2. You have to disable everything in "renderer settings"
3. You have to enabled "renderer settings > vsync > present at nearest vsync"

Save these changes before opening a file(by closing mpc)

Now make sure your using a file that works with the internal splitters and decoders (external stuff is (partially) broken in this test build)

The big question is, is the display tearing free for you?, and is playback with matching FPS video and display judderfree?

(Just to be on the safe side choose bilinear filtering (not the shader version) in the output settings)

ADude

6th August 2009, 21:35

ADude,

Can you try the mpc-hc-gs version from this site.

What is "gs" and which site ?

is playback with matching FPS video and display judderfree?

I rarely playback anything where the FPS on the video is the same as the display.

PS Just curious - are you asking me because I happen to be posting in the thread, or because it is related to some problem I have had ?

Keiyakusha

6th August 2009, 22:16

SVPlayer is a MPC-HC mod:
http://trac.svplayer.cn/browser
Src:
svn://svn.splayer.org:3690/svplayer

By the way! Source code is available? I think _xxl just found new GUI :D

nurbs

6th August 2009, 22:59

What is "gs" and which site?
GothSync; this site: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=148221

leeperry

6th August 2009, 23:40

By the way! Source code is available? I think _xxl just found new GUI :D

OMG, it's BIG! :eek:

https://secure.screeningvault.com/images/svplayer-tagdisp-360x232.jpg

now all we need is seamless playback, and I can ditch KMP :p

does this svplayer support mVR? lemme try :)

PS: seems like there's no english.ini :/

ADude

7th August 2009, 02:20

GothSync; this site: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=148221

The additions by GothSync to MPC-HC do not work with SPDIF, so it is worthless to me and many other users...

_xxl

7th August 2009, 06:34

Most interesting part is that I can watch without tearing (not perfect) in DX9 renderless mode using nVidia's FX5200.

boyumeow

7th August 2009, 07:01

OMG, it's BIG! :eek:

https://secure.screeningvault.com/images/svplayer-tagdisp-360x232.jpg

now all we need is seamless playback, and I can ditch KMP :p

does this svplayer support mVR? lemme try :)

PS: seems like there's no english.ini :/

I believe its in Chinese...

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 07:10

PS Just curious - are you asking me because I happen to be posting in the thread, or because it is related to some problem I have had ?You seem to have a lot of questions and possibly problems with the settings beliyaal.

The GS test build only has 1 setting and it should work for everyone. Which is why i asked you to try it.

I know spdif doesnt work in the current test build, obviously its only a video test.

tomasen

7th August 2009, 08:05

Thanks for interesting in SVPlayer( now we change the name to SPlayer as SPlayer.org). I'm flattered.

As I am the lead developer on SPlayer project. I can say I‘m trying very hard to follow the GPL and open every source codes. Honestly, we are on our way indeed. I don't like to include those files that shouldn't be included neither. I will remove those files once we found a better performed .264 decoder codes in available.

I did try to join MPC-HC project to contribute some of my discoveries during coding, but there is no response via sourceforge contact information.

Oh, SPlayer does based our codes on MPC-HC a lot. But I put the focus on the another end ---- like easier setting for newbies, support playing more file types, and of cause automatically downloading subtitles.

I trying to thanks everyone on about dialog, it's just I don't know anyone here.

Also I'm not an expert on GPL , so if I did something wrong, any suggestion are welcome.

BTW, basically SPlayer is only for Chinese language users, so there may not be English version of SPlayer .

Lincoln Burrows

7th August 2009, 08:23

One thing I am curious:

Why everytime I install MPC-HC, I can't see the software listed on "Open this file with..."? And when I locate the EXE, is not being added to the Windows XP SP3 list. If it's necessary I'll reinstall MPC again (my guess it's the first time I was not doing that properly), so please tell me what should I do from start?

Shell Extensions are in-process COM objects which extends the abilities of Windows operating system. Most shell extensions are automatically installed by the operating system, but there are also many other applications that install additional shell extension components. For example: If you install WinZip on your computer, you'll see a special WinZip menu when you right-click on a Zip file. This menu is created by adding a shell extension to the system. I also noticed it's possible to make MPC work in my portuguese language, but sometimes when I install the software, it's only in english. Do I need to select "With installer" or "Without installer" to make the translation works?

_xxl

7th August 2009, 09:33

I did try to join MPC-HC project to contribute some of my discoveries during coding, but there is no response via sourceforge contact information.
I like to communicate on Doom9 forum.

Dark Eiri

7th August 2009, 10:37

The only advantage any other player can have over MPC-HC right now is the interface, but this SVPlayer GUI looks awesome. Can it be ported to MPC-HC, since it's open source? Maybe with tweaks, of course. It would make so many people ditch The KMPlayer.

ar-jar

7th August 2009, 10:50

You seem to have a lot of questions and possibly problems with the settings beliyaal.

The GS test build only has 1 setting and it should work for everyone. Which is why i asked you to try it.

I know spdif doesnt work in the current test build, obviously its only a video test.

Thanks tetsuo55. I would like to add a little more info as the topic came up here: the GothSync tryouts track currently has three different video - display sync mechanisms (or to be more precise, two sync mechanisms and one mechanism that tries to minimize the effects of missing sync):

1. Sync display to video: Adjusts the display refresh rate to match the video fps. The preferred sync if you have a compatible gfx board and display. Will not work for everyone. But if it works, it also works with SPDIF and keeps video, audio and display in sync. Works with live video sources.

2. Sync video to display. Adjust video fps to match display refresh rate. Like Reclock but simpler so it won't resample SPDIF and audio and video may get out of sync when using SPDIF output. If you decode on your sound card and use analog audio out from your sound card, it will keep audio, video and display in sync. Does not work with live video sources.

3. Present at nearest vsync. For each video sample, moves the presentation moment to a safe distance from the vsync to avoid tearing. The current release will still judder when nominally close to a vsync. I'm working on a "snap to vsync" algorithm that will hopefully only give one clean skip or duplication when necessary. With good rate matching this will only happen a few times per movie and will most of the time go unnoticed in my experience (I have a hard-coded version of the algorithm working for some fps - refresh rate combinations in my development build). Will work with SPDIF and live sources.

More here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=148221 and here: http://www.ostrogothia.com/?page_id=1050 (not entirely updated).

It's all still experimental but I use it myself and I appreciate feedback! -A

_xxl

7th August 2009, 12:38

I did try to join MPC-HC project to contribute some of my discoveries during coding.
If you make patches to fix bugs in MPC-HC they are welcome.

Reino

7th August 2009, 12:42

Today I updated my Firefox browser to 3.5.2 and for the first time I watched it's native support for Theora video.
Surprisingly enough, when I downloaded it, I couldn't load this video in MPC or MPC-HC at all. VLC Media Player does work however.
Can anyone reproduce?

http://proxy-33.dailymotion.com/18/320x240/ogg/15809843-2.ogg?afa53fd534b8c7801c421026fb78bef813dcd14

Mercury_22

7th August 2009, 12:55

Please can someone clarify for me if MPC-HC REALLY needs both (if any) VC++ versions 2005 and 2008 (http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Update_Your_System_Software) to be installed on one's system (clean Windows install, no other software), and which versions ( since the last updates 2008 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2051a0c1-c9b5-4b0a-a8f5-770a549fd78c) and 2005 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2) )?

Edit: Microsoft Windows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 ISO (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=71deb800-c591-4f97-a900-bea146e4fae1&displaylang=en) or web setup (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c17ba869-9671-4330-a63e-1fd44e0e2505&displaylang=en) it's out

Keiyakusha

7th August 2009, 13:44

Reino

7th August 2009, 14:48

Does it works with haali media splitter?Normally I don't use Haali's Media Splitter, but I installed it and I can confirm it does work.
What a mess...now there are certain OGG[THEORA] files exclusively compatible with Haali's Media Splitter and certain ones exclusively compatible with Gabest's OGG Splitter!

Keiyakusha

7th August 2009, 16:44

Normally I don't use Haali's Media Splitter, but I installed it and I can confirm it does work.
What a mess...now there are OGG[THEORA] files exclusively compatible with Haali's Media Splitter as well as Gabest's MKV Splitter!

Internal splitter have troubles with theora and from my experience, if haali installed it will be used for ogv splitting even if internal splitter is checked.

chuuey

7th August 2009, 18:04

does anyone have also issues when playing movies with 24hz mode in overlay mixer setting? works just fine in VMR9 but in overlay mode the video and audio are off sync for some reason, i tried the build with synch adjustments, but it doesn't seem they work in overlay mode ;( cheers :) using a mac mini with geforce 9400 and coreavc, mpc-hc build 1209

Reino

7th August 2009, 19:14

Internal splitter have troubles with theora and from my experience, if haali installed it will be used for ogv splitting even if internal splitter is checked.That's correct, but I actually meaned Gabest's OGG Splitter.
*previous post corrected*

Keiyakusha

7th August 2009, 19:20

Isn't Gabest's ogg splitter and MPC-HC's internal one is the same filter?

clsid

7th August 2009, 20:10

Yes, they are the same. The stand-alone splitters are commonly referred to as the Gabest splitters. (Gabest is the original author of MPC)

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 20:52

I did try to join MPC-HC project to contribute some of my discoveries during coding, but there is no response via sourceforge contact information. Hi, i am the project manager. We are always looking for programmers to join the project, i have sent you a PM.
Please can someone clarify for me if MPC-HC REALLY needs both (if any) VC++ versions 2005 and 2008 (http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Update_Your_System_Software) to be installed on one's system (clean Windows install, no other software), and which versions ( since the last updates 2008 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2051a0c1-c9b5-4b0a-a8f5-770a549fd78c) and 2005 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2) )?You need both if you want 100% compatibility with most applications surrounding audio and video playback, but only 2008 is required for basic mpc-hc functionality(just like you dont need the directx redist if you dont use any of the functions that depend on it).
The updated versions you linked too are indeed the newest and recommended versions (although windows update will update older versions)

Mangix

7th August 2009, 20:52

Please can someone clarify for me if MPC-HC REALLY needs both (if any) VC++ versions 2005 and 2008 (http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Update_Your_System_Software) to be installed on one's system (clean Windows install, no other software), and which versions ( since the last updates 2008 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2051a0c1-c9b5-4b0a-a8f5-770a549fd78c) and 2005 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2) )
you don't really need them but they are handy to have since MPC was compiled using MSVC++ compilers.

btw, download these ones if you're going to.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2051a0c1-c9b5-4b0a-a8f5-770a549fd78c

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2

Mercury_22

7th August 2009, 21:05

you don't really need them but they are handy to have since MPC was compiled using MSVC++ compilers.

btw, download these ones if you're going to.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=2051a0c1-c9b5-4b0a-a8f5-770a549fd78c

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=766a6af7-ec73-40ff-b072-9112bab119c2

Hi, i am the project manager. We are always looking for programmers to join the project, i have sent you a PM.
You need both if you want 100% compatibility with most applications surrounding audio and video playback, but only 2008 is required for basic mpc-hc functionality(just like you dont need the directx redist if you dont use any of the functions that depend on it).
The updated versions you linked too are indeed the newest and recommended versions (although windows update will update older versions)

So which one is it ? Cause I want to update the Troubleshooting guidelines (http://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Troubleshooting_guidelines)

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 21:12

keep recommending both, and link to the ATL updated version

Also for compilation, the Windows SDK 7 can be used, we added the missing file to SVN.

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 21:30

Could you add option in Media Player Classic Home Cinema for displaying milliseconds and frame rate of a movie? I would like to synchronize some audio with a movie in exact time, so, this would be nice. Thanks in advance!not frame rate but actual frame number.

A movie is made from 1000's of frames, and i think mpc already knows which frame its on.

I think it would be a relatively easy patch to show time in hh:mm:ss:msms and to show the current frame number.

Be adviced though charmed94, that seeking is not that accurate, although a relatively difficult patch could make the basic seeking code just as accurate (but limitations in the container/codec/splitter/decoder would form the hard limit for seeking accuracy)

Mercury_22

7th August 2009, 21:41

keep recommending both, and link to the ATL updated version

Also for compilation, the Windows SDK 7 can be used, we added the missing file to SVN.
@tetsuo55
I can't edit the page (https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Troubleshooting_guidelines) anymore ! What's up ?

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 21:47

@tetsuo55
I can't edit the page (https://sourceforge.net/apps/mediawiki/mpc-hc/index.php?title=Troubleshooting_guidelines) anymore ! What's up ?Looks like all permisions where deleten when sourceforge updated the servers :(.

ADude

7th August 2009, 22:59

Thanks tetsuo55. I would like to add a little more info as the topic came up here: the GothSync tryouts track currently has three different video - display sync mechanisms (or to be more precise, two sync mechanisms and one mechanism that tries to minimize the effects of missing sync):
How do these sync mechanisms interact with the Beliyaal sync mechanisms, and the sync mechanisms present prior to Beliyaal's sync mechanisms (i.e. Build 1043 and prior) and how do all of the above interact with ATI's sync mechanisms, for example, in my 1150 gpu ?

Beliyaal added close to a dozen option settings for sync, but I have yet to find anyone who can clearly explain either his settings or the above interactions.

So, all MPC-HC users are blindly changing settings until some combination happens to work okay.

That seems to be contrary to Beliyaal's representation that he was improving the software.

Your web site seems far more well documented than Beliyaal's reluctant attempts at documentation, so I am hopeful that you can do a better job at explanation.

Otherwise, what really needs to be done is for software to make all the setting choices automatically...

tetsuo55

7th August 2009, 23:16

How do these sync mechanisms interact with the Beliyaal sync mechanisms, and the sync mechanisms present prior to Beliyaal's sync mechanisms (i.e. Build 1043 and prior) and how do all of the above interact with ATI's sync mechanisms, for example, in my 1150 gpu ?

Beliyaal added close to a dozen option settings for sync, but I have yet to find anyone who can clearly explain either his settings or the above interactions.

So, all MPC-HC users are blindly changing settings until some combination happens to work okay.

That seems to be contrary to Beliyaal's representation that he was improving the software.

Your web site seems far more well documented than Beliyaal's reluctant attempts at documentation, so I am hopeful that you can do a better job at explanation.

Otherwise, what really needs to be done is for software to make all the setting choices automatically...The short answer is:
His code disables all and replaces all previous code, and uses the directX api to communicate with the videocard (abstracted to brands/models)
Basically you cannot compare it with pre-beliyaal or post beliyaal.

The only way to compare is in terms of Tearing, jitter, judder and dropped frames.

I have tested different intel/ati/nvidia systems, and so far the code works on all of them. We did find an existing bug in the framerate detection and interlace detection (not added to the tracker yet for obvious reasons)
This bug could be partially to blame for strange issues with some files with the current code and with madvr.

EDIT:
Hopefully, the eventual commit will remove all options, 1 size fits all. (besides the obvious what to sync to options)

tetsuo55

8th August 2009, 00:07

@everyone.

In order to get a more predictable and faster developement cycle in MPC-HC i'm working on a very detailed To-Do list.

I found a way to get almost all bug reports and feature requests on the To-Do list without naming them individually.

I need everyones help making a few matrixes.
Each matrix contains the technical requirements of a certain part of MPC.

I will explain how each one is made, and i would like to ask the community to fill them (and eventually place them on the wiki)

1. Splitter matrix:
This matrix shows each container format on one axis, and every possible container feature on the other.(not limited to the containers we currently support)

2. Audio Renderer matrix:
This matrix shows each physical audio path (e.g analog, spdif, hdmi, etc..) on one axis, and its capibilities and supported api's on the other(not limited to the internal renderers, also list reclock, etc..)

3. Video Renderer matrix:
This matrix shows the different renderers on one axis, and all the existing and possible capabilities on the other axis(not limited to the internal renderers, also list madvr, etc..)

4. Subtitle renderer matrix:
This matrix shows the different subtitle formats on one axis, and all the possible subtitle features on the other(not limited to the supported subtitle formats)

5. Playlist matrix:
This matrix shows the names of other applications which are well known for their playlist capabilities on one axis, and their features on the other axis.(this includes things like, play/pause/stop settings, seamless playback, and the file open dialog, etc..)

For every matrix the following rules apply:
-If a feature is only partially supported or something else is up, a note will have to be made explaining it
-The matrix has no room for completely new feature requests, it should be based on existing examples/specifications
-Provide as much technical information as possible on each feature as a whole, and each implementation of the feature
-Eventually each item should have a page on the wiki, with as much information about that item as possible (like the full spec for SRT including how different containers treat it)

EDIT:
Here is an example of the subtitle matrix, for SRT:
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/8303/exampleu.th.png (http://img35.imageshack.us/i/exampleu.png/)

ADude

8th August 2009, 01:58

The short answer is:
His code disables all and replaces all previous code, and uses the directX api to communicate with the videocard (abstracted to brands/models)
Basically you cannot compare it with pre-beliyaal or post beliyaal.
Are you saying that his sync code replaces all of Beliyaal's sync code, including for EVR-CP ?

JonasNo

8th August 2009, 03:28

I just wanted to add some info to the skin / new gui discussion:

You should be careful with special gui / skin support because it will affect video playing, usually in a bad way, generally it just slows down the player and sometimes also the responsiveness of the player (ex. click the stop button and wait 5 seconds).

So using the standard native windows gui is the way to go.
But adding an option and letting the user decide if they want to use it or not can be the way to go.

Btw: What is wrong with the built-in windows theme ? why not use that ?

Now to the compile optimization topic:
The best way is to leave them alone, mpc-hc should work on as many computers as possible.
Optimizing for specific cpus is bad programming practice ( in this case ).

But there are some good news, there are ways to enable and use new cpu features on-the-fly ( detect cpu features on program start ), ex SSE2, SSE3, etc..
So it can be done, a win-win for all users.

But these kinds of optimizations (and eye candy support) should be done after all the bugs have been fixed, a code review and a code clean up. (Programming isn't always a fun thing but a code review and clean up will make it better overall and make it easier for new devs and easier to find new bugs)

About the new playlist request:
This is a tricky thing, creating the playlist it self is pretty easy but getting the file information is not because of the way mpc-hc works (ex title, artist, duration, etc)
I have not looked too deep in the code yet so it might be easier than i think.
I'll know more in a week or so.

Keiyakusha

8th August 2009, 04:19

Well this 5 secs waiting will not happens if GUI will be written well ^_-
And about "after all the bugs have been fixed"... You know, there is always will be some bugs. Software never finished. Yes, for us some bugs may be really annoying, but most of them are invisible for average user. For average user the main "bug" now is a GUI. So IMHO it's not a first priority but it shouldn't be delayed up to the time, when nobody will use MPC-HC except doom9 members. If only nobody cares about these users. Also maybe developers already tired of these bugs. This is the chance to make something a bit different and maybe more creative.

chros

8th August 2009, 07:53

2 question:

1. What does "View -> Information" do? :)
2. Is VC1 partially accelerated (iDCT) on nVidia cards with the newest drivers for you? (for me it isn't. I have tried some older MPC-HC build too...)

Thanks

tetsuo55

8th August 2009, 08:19

Are you saying that his sync code replaces all of Beliyaal's sync code, including for EVR-CP ? For simplicity i'd its say it replaces it (but obviously the new function is based on what was already in there). The function i mentioned only works on EVR-CP and is still very experimental.

But so far everyone that has tried it has reported tearing free playback, often with much less jitter and frame drops, and on some system a more stable judder
2 question:

1. What does "View -> Information" do? :)
2. Is VC1 partially accelerated (iDCT) on nVidia cards with the newest drivers for you? (for me it isn't. I have tried some older MPC-HC build too...)

Thanks1. Information shows details in a black section between the video and the controls.
2.None of the DXVA capabable internal codecs support partial accelaration (but some external ones do)

clsid

8th August 2009, 13:03

Now to the compile optimization topic:
The best way is to leave them alone, mpc-hc should work on as many computers as possible.
Optimizing for specific cpus is bad programming practice ( in this case ).

But there are some good news, there are ways to enable and use new cpu features on-the-fly ( detect cpu features on program start ), ex SSE2, SSE3, etc..
So it can be done, a win-win for all users.Before making suggestions like this you might in the future want to investigate what MPC already does. It already contains such optimizations in its FFmpeg based decoders.

ar-jar

8th August 2009, 15:12

For simplicity i'd its say it replaces it (but obviously the new function is based on what was already in there). The function i mentioned only works on EVR-CP and is still very experimental.

But so far everyone that has tried it has reported tearing free playback, often with much less jitter and frame drops, and on some system a more stable judder

Thanks tetsuo55 for answering while I've been busy coding :-) It is true that I have removed all sync-control code in the code base while implementing my additions. In my private builds that is, the sourceforge trunk is intact. There were several reasons for it but the main ones were: (1) it was much easier to implement my own functions if I started from a cleaner sheet (but not an entirely clean sheet) and (2) it's fairly easy to merge in the pre-existing sync code again should need be.

I'm not aware of ADude's "ATI sync mechanism". I have a limited set of computers to test on as I do this as a hobby but my dev computer has an ATI board and my HTPC has an NVidia. Both low to mid end boards. I try to keep the stuff working with at least those two, and hopefully most other mainstream boards with the help of you guys. But workarounds for specific boards that seem less fit for htpc use will have low priority.

I will try to keep the options to a minimum and supply default values that should work for most people. But for these early builds I want to keep some tweaks open. -A

Yobbo

8th August 2009, 19:40

I have always had a little problem with MPC-HC (currently using latest build 1179). Sometimes when playing short wav samples (eg drum samples) it gives me a "Cannot render the file" error, and a pop-up "Could not render some of the pins in the graph, may not have the needed codecs or filters" etc. The problem is with the following pins - Audio Switcher::Out and ACM Wrapper::Output.

majortype: MEDIATYPE_Audio {73647561-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
subtype: MEDIASUBTYPE_PCM {00000001-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71}
formattype: FORMAT_WaveFormatEx {05589F81-C356-11CE-BF01-00AA0055595A}

Other wav files (songs etc) play just fine. It only ever (sometimes) happens when trying to play certain short wav samples.

Here's some MediaInfo on a sample -

Format : PCM
Codec ID : 1
Codec ID/Hint : Microsoft
Duration : 1s 942ms
Bit rate : 2 117 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Resolution : 24 bits
Stream size : 502 KiB (100%)

What could be the problem? I would like to find out and resolve this ongoing issue once and for all. Thanks!

ADude

8th August 2009, 20:20

I'm not aware of ADude's "ATI sync mechanism".

AFAIK, for the last seven years, ATI graphics cards do vertical sync to displays, without needing the application to do anything. Evidently, only gamers seem to care about the details, since disabling vsync allows them to get greater performance from the gpu. Here is a gamer's description of the ATI vsync options:

Wait for Vertical Refresh: This option controls Vertical Synchronization (VSync) in games. VSync is the synchronization of your graphics card and monitor's abilities to redraw the screen a number of times each second (measured in FPS or Hz), and is explained in greater detail on this page of the Gamer's Graphics & Display Settings Guide. There are four choices here:

Always Off - Vertical Sync will always be set to Off, regardless of the setting in the game or 3D application. This provides fastest performance but may result in image 'tearing' which can be annoying to some.

Off, Unless Application Specifies - Vertical Sync will be off by default, however if you choose to enable it in a game or 3D application, it will be enabled for that game/app. This is the recommended mode.

On, Unless Application Specifies - Same as above, except Vertical Sync will be on by default unless otherwise disabled in a particular game or 3D application.

Always On - Vertical Sync will always remain on, regardless of the setting in the game or 3D application. This is not recommended, as it may reduce performance however it guarantees that there will never be any screen "tearing".

It is recommended you select the 'Off, Unless Application Specifies' option for the best performance, and this also allows you to set VSync Off/On in each individual game using the game's own settings if required. Generally speaking, VSync should be disabled for the best performance.

Perhaps this is why I have never seen tearing on my HT-PC... although a web search shows that NVIDIA has a "force vsync" setting in their control panel as well:
Vertical Sync: Vertical Synchronization (also called Vertical Sync or VSync) is the synchronization of your monitor and graphics card's abilities to draw a certain number of frames per second (or FPS) on the screen. It is covered in detail on this page of the Gamer's Graphics & Display Settings Guide. If Vertical Sync is disabled, your FPS will improve, and it can now also exceed the refresh rate cap, however you may notice some screen "tearing" – the top portion of the screen being slightly out of alignment with the bottom. This causes no damage to your monitor, and in general it is strongly recommended that Vertical sync be disabled in all games to improve performance. Since almost every current game has the option to enable or disable VSync in the in-game settings, I recommend you select the 'Use the 3D application setting' option here, and manually set the VSync in each game. This prevents conflicts between games and the Forceware drivers. Note that if you insist on forcing VSync to On here, try enabling Triple Buffering to improve overall performance when VSync is enabled.

PS ATI also has a "Triple Buffering" option.