NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder and WMP10/GB-PVR

[AlexV]

I recently posted the same message on another site's forum, but didn't get any responses after 11 days So, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this.

Just recently rebuilt the computer I'm using as my multimedia machine. What I do on that machine is PVR-ing, if there's such a word , ripping DVDs/CDs, watching recorded content, etc.

For my PVR software I'm using GB-PVR, I installed CCCP with Media Player Classic and Zoom player, QuickTime and Real alternatives, and everything is running fine.

Then I came across a mention about NVIDIA's PureVideo decoder, and decided to give it a try, and see if it would be any better than what I already have installed. However, the only time I can actually use PureVideo decoder is when in GB-PVR I explicitely set that decoder as the Video and Audio Decoder on the Playback tab of the config.

For anything else such as playing recorded content in either GB-PVR, WMP10 or MPC, playing DVDs (WMP10 or MPC), the PureVideo decoder is not used. I know that for sure since the decoder's icon doesn't appear among the icons on the tray.

Having run WinXP video decoder checkup utility, I see 2 entries there: MPV Decoder Filter and NVIDIA Video Decoder, with the latter one set as the preferred decoder.

So my question is how do I instruct WMP10 and/or MPC to use NVIDIA's decoder? I've looked through the options on both, and didn't see where to specify that.

Alternatively, if anyone has some experience with NVIDIA's PureVideo decoder, is it worth its price as far as quality and CPU utilization go? Or should I just stick with what I got from the CCCP, and uninstall NVIDIA's PureVideo.

By the way, my video card is not NVIDIA's but ATI's, however, when researching things on PureVideo on-line, I saw that it's fine to use PureVideo with non-NVIDIA video cards.

Thanks,

-- Alex

 

[DAPUNISHER]

If you have a BBA (built by ATI) card and it features Avivo, just use the ATI multimedia center DVD or if from a partner, whatever DXVA supporting player you like. To answer the question about PV not being used by the players, you would want to uninstall all other decoders to insure PV is the default. But again, I wouldn't pay for it if you have Avivo, as it'll work with any DXVA supporting players.

 

[AlexV]

DAPUNISHER, thanks for your response.

The ATI card I have is Asus Radeon X300-based. How do I know if it's a BBA card? I also tried to install Avivo, but I am not sure it worked. When I run Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility I see 4 entries there:

MPV Decoder Filter
NVIDIA Video Decoder
ATI MPEG Video Decoder
ATI CC Multiplexer

I'm pretty sure I got the 2 ATI ones after I tried to install Avivo. I set ATI MPEG Video Decoder as the preferred one in the above mentioned XP utlity, and then tried to play a MPEP2 stream I recorded off my tuner card, and having looked at the properties of the stream in WMP10, I see MPV Decoder Filter as the Video codec. That's why I'm not sure if installation of Avivo worked.

Thanks for your insights.

-- Alex

 

[DAPUNISHER]

BBA means it is ATI branded, so you have a Asus branded card. As long as you are using relatively newer catalysts, Avivo should work great. When you say you installed Avivo, do you mean the Avivo video converter? The XP checkup utility is for choosing a compatible decoder for synching/copying recorded TV shows to Portable Media Center or other devices, it won't set the decoder used by WMP for playback.


If you want to give PV a try with MP10, reinstall the trial, it should set itself up as the default that way.

 

[AlexV]

Firstly, about PureVideo. I installed it after I installed the CCCP codec pack, and when I used WMP10, PV wasn't invoked. However, I don't want to uninstall CCCP codec since things are working fine, and I just wanted to try PV. It had to really be much better to what I have in order for me to actually pay for it.

Now, onto Avivo. I did in fact installed the latest Catalyst off ATI's web site, and then Avivo converter engine. Here's what I got off ATI's web site:

Catalyst Control Center Package v34.2 04/12/06
AVIVO Video Converter Engine v1.8 04/12/06

As I said, I can see the ATI video decoder through decoder checkup utility; however, I don't think it's invoked when I'm using WMP or watching TV through GB-PVR. How would I know if Avivo is in use? I did install it last on my system (I installed CCCP 1st, then PV).

Thanks,

-- Alex

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Hey to try out PV, use the nStantMedia player, the default path is C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\ForceWare\nStant Media\

reg keys for enabling VPP and FFDShow in nStantMedia.exe

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Filters\Video]
"EnableNVVPP"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Filters\Video]
"EnableFFDShow"=dword:00000001

Avivo, I don't think needs a particular decoder, any DXVA player&decoder should use it. Hopefully one of the guys who uses Avivo will reply with what works best for them. I don't have a Avivo card yet, and only used PV on trial. Waiting for a HDCP compliant Avivo card, then I'll build my HTPC.

 

[Wreckage]

Originally posted by: AlexV
By the way, my video card is not NVIDIA's but ATI's, however, when researching things on PureVideo on-line, I saw that it's fine to use PureVideo with non-NVIDIA video cards.

Yes. Pure Video's DVD decoder will work with an ATI card.

Also you can download ATI's decoder separately, however you will need an original ATI install CD to validate it.
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/def...deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=293

 

[AlexV]

Wreckage,

I do get PureVideo to work with my ATI card, but that happens only when I watch Live TV in GB-PVR after having manually set NVIDIA Decoder as the choice for video and audio playback in GB-PVR settings. I cannot get PV to be invoked when using Windows Media Player, so I was wondering if there was a setting in WMP that I missed. Judging from the previous answers I got not, I just to uninstall something that I installed previously.

I did download ATI's AVIVO Converter Engine separately off their website. I can see it listed when I run XP video decoder checkup utility; however, I cannot figure out how to invoke it for playback. I didn't realize that one has to validate it. My ATI card is ASUS branded, it's an inexpensive X300 one, and I'm wondering if AVIVO is even supported for this card. If it is, what I should be looking for on the CDs that I got with my card in order to validate AVIVO?

Thanks,

-- Alex

 

[Velk]

Originally posted by: AlexV
Wreckage,

I do get PureVideo to work with my ATI card, but that happens only when I watch Live TV in GB-PVR after having manually set NVIDIA Decoder as the choice for video and audio playback in GB-PVR settings. I cannot get PV to be invoked when using Windows Media Player, so I was wondering if there was a setting in WMP that I missed. Judging from the previous answers I got not, I just to uninstall something that I installed previously.

I did download ATI's AVIVO Converter Engine separately off their website. I can see it listed when I run XP video decoder checkup utility; however, I cannot figure out how to invoke it for playback.

WMP's decision on which directshow filters to use when playing back a file of any given format appears to be directed by either astrology or voodoo. Phases of the moon and chicken entrails certainly seem to have as much effect on it as anything rational.

This program gives you a bit more control over what it does, allowing you to edit the 'merit' that each filter is assigned.

 

[AlexV]

Velk,

Thanks for the link. It's a nifty little program. I ran it, and gave NVIDIA's PV audio and video decoders the highest merit but PV was still not invoked by WMP when playing a MPEG2 stream.

I guess I can try to uninstall everything but PV, and then there would be no choice which one to use; however, I don't want to go that route at this point.

In any event, thanks.

-- Alex