Fastest MPEG4 Video Decoder?

[Cyber-Mav]

hi all, got a small problem, i got an old p3 800mhz machine and was wanting to use it for video playback. whats the fastest mpeg4 video DECODER i can get to play back xvid encodes?

also whats the fastest ac3 decoder too?

am using windows media player 10, dunno if thats the best one to use for decoding speed?

[joseph5]

I used to have the same processor as you, and I used 3ivx without problems.

[Dark Shikari]

AC3 shouldn't need much CPU to decode. Use Media Player Classic for playback, it probably has the least bloat.

The Xvid codec (the official one) seems much faster than FFDShow for me, so try using that.

[Manao]

No, FFDShow is faster than XviD. Your FFDShow however may be badly configured ( postprocessing ? noise ? sharpening ? )

[~bT~]

VLC should do a nice job.

[Dark Shikari]

No, FFDShow is faster than XviD. Your FFDShow however may be badly configured ( postprocessing ? noise ? sharpening ? )
Testing with TimeCodec at RealTime priority showed Xvid going 150% faster with all FFDShow options off, including postprocessing (at least on my machine).

[*.mp4 guy]

Make sure to use Overlay for rendering instead of VMR9, it can make a very big difference in watchability (less jitter when neer maximum cpu usage).

[Manao]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=471101#post471101

So your FFDShow is definitely badly configured.

[Mk4ever]

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=471101#post471101

So your FFDShow is definitely badly configured.

What about the date of the thread you are referring to? It's very old. Who says it is still valid for new versions?

Personally, I always prefer XviD decoder. I feel it gives better quality and smoother playback.

[check]

Here's a quick test I did myself. I tested a standard 25minute 640x480 xvid file with Haali's timecodec and null renderer:
ffdshow (built 2007-06-15): User: 33s, kernel: 0s, total: 34s, real: 34s, fps: 983.4, dfps: 962.7
xvid (1.1.2 built by celtic_druid): User: 37s, kernel: 0s, total: 37s, real: 37s, fps: 886.8, dfps: 882.8

[Elias]

hi all, got a small problem, i got an old p3 800mhz machine and was wanting to use it for video playback. whats the fastest mpeg4 video DECODER i can get to play back xvid encodes?

also whats the fastest ac3 decoder too?

am using windows media player 10, dunno if thats the best one to use for decoding speed?No doubt, ffdshow for both MPEG-4 and ac3 if properly configured.

[Cyber-Mav]

cool, how do i make sure ffdshow is configured properly so now post processing etc is turned on?

all i have is ffdshow installed and when the icon comes up in system tray the only thing ticked in there is the defult option.

[check]

you don't want any post processsing enabled. It will just slow the decoding for a questionable improvement in image (to my eyes there is usually no benefit to the CPU friendly pp).

[Dark Shikari]

you don't want any post processsing enabled. It will just slow the decoding for a questionable improvement in image (to my eyes there is usually no benefit to the CPU friendly pp).
Well it depends on the video you're playing.

Filters in FFDShow, especially postprocessing, are really only useful on really crappy encodes IMO. Like the 700MB Xvid movie rips you'll find on torrent sites that you shouldn't be downloading anyways.

[Cyber-Mav]

cool, looks like ffdshow is best way for crappy old systems.

[celtic_druid]

Well, no I would have thought something like mplayer would be better.

[Dark Shikari]

Well, no I would have thought something like mplayer would be better.

Doesn't Mplayer use libavcodec, which is the same decoder ffdshow uses?

[check]

yes, but as it's written to directly make use of it rather than going through a wrapper (directshow), it ends up being a few percentage points faster.

[bond]

decoding using libavcodec via mplayer was faster than using libavcodec via ffdshow in my tests

[Elias]

Media Player Classic Home Cinema x64 is pretty damn fast when decoding.

[Sharktooth]

@Elias: 3 years and half old thread... ;)

[XXXheros]

No doubt, ffdshow for both MPEG-4 and ac3 if properly configured.


Yes, I think ffdshow for both MPEG-4 and ac3 if properly configured.
Hope you will enjoy my answer!

[Ajax_Undone]

Isn't this thread another one of those "whats better/best" question's where everybody's opinion is based on their own experience and therefore should just be left alone.
Its is, I believe a violation of rule 12.

Could be mistaken though.

[GodofaGap]

No, "fastest" can be objectively measured.

[Sharktooth]

ehrr... maybe you didnt notice but, this is a 3 years old thread... and i guess it was resurrected by mistake... :)