Hardware H.264 Decode Without HD-DVD/BluRay

[Slaimus]

Is there a way to set up hardware H.264/MPEG4-AVC decode of regular files? Do any of the decoders in the new video cards work as a plain DirectShow filter or you have to use something like PowerDVD?

 

[ViRGE]

Both the WinDVD and PowerDVD suites are based upon a DirectShow filter. Installing either one of these will allow any DirectShow application to use their decoders(assuming everything else is configured correctly).

 

[TroubleM]

So, it's possible to use hardware acceleration when playing a H264 encoded MKV file? If I set, let's say, Media Player Classic to use PowerDVD's H264 codec for decoding?

 

[ViRGE]

Yep. I'm doing that right now in fact.

 

[Auric]

I heard rumours on teh internets that the Ahead/Ateme decoders included in the Nero 8 package are no longer restricted to their player. Based upon previous experience they have not been up to par though. I would more strongly recommend against WinDVD.

PowerDVD is excellent though and its decoders can be used in universal DS players such as MPC-HC (HD disc formats are generally limited to the PDVD player though). Its AVC decoder will utilize GPU acceleration for all commercial sources but not for non-compliant x264 recodes. If acceleration is not particularly important then a free software-only decoder such as libavcodec included with ffdshow may manage. But decoding via CPU is extremely innefficient versus the dedicated hardware in new viddy cards.

 

[Slaimus]

So the AVIVO/PureVideo software that can be downloaded does not actually contain the decoder, but you have to buy another third party software to use HW decode?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Slaimus
So the AVIVO/PureVideo software that can be downloaded does not actually contain the decoder, but you have to buy another third party software to use HW decode?

Correct.

 

[Slaimus]

With my 8800GT and Nero Showtime 3, I can get the nero decoder to decode H.264, but hardware acceleration is not working. The "show extra info" item Showtime would show "Hardware Acceleration" in another computer with a 7900GS, but nothing here. I have tried a few different driver sets, and none of them seems to work.

Had anyone gotten a G92 card to do hardware accleration with the Nero?

 

[metalmania]

PowerDVD decoder is the ONLY one on the market that can do the hardware acceleration.

For nvidia 8x00 card, you need Forceware 163.75, and PowerDVD version 7.2 with the decoder version 1.99.1405.

Do not try to update the forceware or PowerDVD version, repeat: DO NOT use the latest version.

 

[Auric]

The latest builds of MPC-HC sport integrated ffmpeg-based DxVA decode of AVC and VC-1 so given UVD or VP2, commerical decoders from the likes of CyberLink are no longer necessary for non-disc formats.

 

[metalmania]

Originally posted by: Auric
The latest builds of MPC-HC sport integrated ffmpeg-based DxVA decode of AVC and VC-1 so given UVD or VP2, commerical decoders from the likes of CyberLink are no longer necessary for non-disc formats.

any words on "20 fps" bug?

 

[SynthDude2001]

Does anyone know if an X1900XT will do hardware acceleration of h.264 decoding? I can't seem to find a clear answer one way or the other.

Basically, I've been halfway considering picking up a Blu-ray drive at some point in the not-too-distant future, but I have no idea if my X1900XT/2.65GHz X2 would be up to the task...

Edit: Just saw this exact same question posted in another thread (and the answer seems to be a resounding "maybe" :laugh:...)

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: metalmania

Originally posted by: Auric
The latest builds of MPC-HC sport integrated ffmpeg-based DxVA decode of AVC and VC-1 so given UVD or VP2, commerical decoders from the likes of CyberLink are no longer necessary for non-disc formats.

any words on "20 fps" bug?

I understand this decoder can work around some non-compliant x264 encodes much the same as by manually changing the header profile. Personally, I would just avoid them though.