CoreAVC worth it?

[Karkas]

I'm a little confused on what CoreAVC brings to the table over the open source H.264 codecs.

I recently built a HTPC and am considering buying it because it is often cited as the "best" (if there is such a thing).

The HTPC is running W7x64, GF9300 chipset, Intel 5200 CPU & 4 gigs RAM.

Would this setup see any benefit from CoreAVC?

Thanks in advance (I hope this isn't a duplicate thread, I did do some looking around 1st).

[Asmodian]

I like CoreAVC 2.0, it is nice and fast in software mode (and can play back all H.264 streams I have tried without blocking) and it supports CUDA; it sends the compressed video stream to the (in your case) motherboard for decoding which reduces power used and heat in your HTPC while allowing you to use Nvidia's PureVideo if de-interlaceing is needed.

If you don't care about CUDA/PureVideo and you just want a decent software decoder I have also heard good things about the (free) Divx H.264 decoder.

[Karkas]

I'm a little confused on what CoreAVC brings to the table over the open source H.264 codecs.

I recently built a HTPC and am considering buying it because it is often cited as the "best" (if there is such a thing).

The HTPC is running W7x64, GF9300 chipset, Intel 5200 CPU & 4 gigs RAM.

Would this setup see any benefit from CoreAVC?

Thanks in advance (I hope this isn't a duplicate thread, I did do some looking around 1st).

EDIT: This is a dedicated Media Center PC to my plasma.

[Karkas]

I like CoreAVC 2.0, it is nice and fast in software mode (and can play back all H.264 streams I have tried without blocking) and it supports CUDA; it sends the compressed video stream to the (in your case) motherboard for decoding which reduces power used and heat in your HTPC while allowing you to use Nvidia's PureVideo if de-interlaceing is needed.

If you don't care about CUDA/PureVideo and you just want a decent software decoder I have also heard good things about the (free) Divx H.264 decoder.

Ill be doing encoding on my main PC (quad core), so I'm not planning on using CUDA. What scenario would I have need for de-interlacing? Is this referring to decoding content that is 720i or 1080i?

[Asmodian]

Ill be doing encoding on my main PC (quad core). What scenario would I have need for de-interlacing? Is this referring to decoding content that is 720i or 1080i?

Yes, displaying interlaced content on a (I assume) progressive TV looks really bad unless you deinterlace it somehow. PureVideo is a good quality, in hardware so very fast, deinterlacer that is IMO a very good option for on-the-fly deinterlacing.

CUDA is not only for encoding! You have to use it to use PureVideo.

[Karkas]

Yes, displaying interlaced content on a (I assume) progressive TV looks really bad unless you deinterlace it somehow. PureVideo is a good quality, in hardware so very fast, deinterlacer that is IMO a very good option for on-the-fly deinterlacing.

CUDA is not only for encoding! You have to use it to use PureVideo.

Does pure video integrate with mediacenter?

[Mounir]

I got a P4 3gz, 2gb of ram ddr1,Xp, GT 220 and CoreAvc makes a killing currently ,better than divx h264 decoder no doubt.

I can play 1080i with no problem, no cpu charge or very little 35% top, the only down side i found was the deinterlacing is not optimum.

[Blue_MiSfit]

If you have a GT220 and CoreAVC, chances are it's operating in CUDA mode, no?

I can't see usual 1080i taking 35% CPU on a measly 3 GHz P4!!!

~MiSfit

[Asmodian]

Does pure video integrate with mediacenter?

Pure Video is a setting in the video drivers, I have never used mediacenter but I assume it is used there too. CoreAVC sends the video card the compressed video stream where it is decoded and sent back. If you have pure video turned on it is also deinterlaced at this point so I don't see how mediacenter could avoid Pure Video. Getting mediacenter to use CoreAVC in the first place might be tricky but it is possible.

Mounir, with that cpu usage I assume you using CoreAVC in CUDA mode? Have you setup your video playback settings in the Nvidia control panel?