Requirements to play HD MPEG-2

[gamerscloset]

I need Quality! But, I'm cheap.. :)

I have a 1.33ghz AMD with 512mb Ram running MCE. I'm not capturing on this system, just playing. I'm hoping for high quality with 5.1 surround sound.

What would you recommend for a Video Card, directx 9 capable? I have a GeForce FX 5200 right now.

What codecs should I install so that Windows Media Player can play it? I believe that's what MCE uses.

Is this system even capable of playing these? If I have to, I'll upgrade, but I'd prefer not too since it's not my main system.

Thanks All!!

[Krismen]

I can play smoothly MPEG-2 HDTV on my PC (AXP1700+) with Elecard decoder with half horizontal & vertical modes checked. My graphic card is Radeon 8500 with 64MB.

[gamerscloset]

So what would I need to play it with Windows Media Player?

[Krismen]

Originally posted by gamerscloset
So what would I need to play it with Windows Media Player?
Elecard MPEG2 Video Decoder (http://priv.twoje-sudety.pl/~divxpl/Dj_AnT/mpg2dec.zip)

You can set half horizontal & vertical mode in GraphEdit - Graph --> Insert Filters --> DirectShow Filters --> Elecard MPEG2 Video Decoder. Right-click on that filter and choose Properties.

[gamerscloset]

Tried it, and a few other decoders.. no luck.. the video goes real slow and gets further and further behind the audio.. My CPU is maxed out at 100% in every case so I think I'll have to upgrade.. oh well, maybe I can find something decent on eBay.. ;)

[iceburger]

Why ebay, when you can newegg ;)
my athlon was $85, mobile@266FSB, overclocked to 410FSB/2310 with a cheap HSF, nforce2 mobos are cheap ...mine plays HR-HD xvid, 960x528 with postprocessing on, in decoder, at about 70-80% CPU load, but my video card sucks.Either way, I'm good for another year:D

[felinmorph]

strange - i can watch MPEG2 videos (in DVD quality and fullscreen) with PowerDVD om my 2nd PC (1300MHz Duron, 256MB RAM , Win98se, Geforce 2 MX) without any problem (80-90% CPU use) - okay i dont have 5.1 sound - only the simple AC97 compatible thing which is onboard...
And for Windows media Player i use the ACEMCP603PRO codex pack - i can view at 100% size but have a litle chockig video if i switch to fullscreen =/

[gamerscloset]

You are watching at DVD Quality.. I'm trying to watch in HD Quality.. pretty big difference.. I can watch DVD quality, full screen, without any trouble.