WMVHD - High Definition video!

[CrystalBay]

I get about 60% avg. cpu usage.. though it looks real nice...

 

[rbV5]

New WMV HD files available at MS high definition showcase:

*Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (DRM) 145MB 2:03
*The Punisher 164MB 2:27
*Godsend 144MB 2:31

All files are 720p.

High Definition Content Showcase

 

[konakona]

looks like i need a new vid card... s3 unichrome just cant deliver
either that or my ide driver conflict is turning it into a jerkiness galore

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: midori
looks like i need a new vid card... s3 unichrome just cant deliver
either that or my ide driver conflict is turning it into a jerkiness galore

It's most likely your CPU that's the bottleneck on the high resolution WMV clips (or VIA chipset conflicts). A video card won't solve your playback problems. The CPU does the grunt work on WM9 decoding, and MS recommends 3GHz for smooth playbck on the 1080p clips.

 

[konakona]

its barton 2400 mobile unoverclocked + KM400 and the rest of the system tweaked to the MAX... still not enough?

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: midori
its barton 2400 mobile unoverclocked + KM400 and the rest of the system tweaked to the MAX... still not enough?

From what I've read on AVS forum, even people with desktops over 2GHz can have trouble getting the higher-end clips to play flawlessly without any skipping/freezing issues. People sometimes have to go through each hardware component, software and drivers to eliminate lagging performance. Some suggest that Zoomplayer is a more efficient player for these clips, as long as you don't run into the DRM issues:

Zoomplayer

Here are a bunch of AVS forum links, if you're really interested in the topic. Some Microsoft developers are active in the discussions.


*OFFICIAL* Windows Media Video 9 support thread
What is the minimum computer that you have gotten to play the 1080p HD wmv files?
What speed AMD needed to run 1080p?
Advice Needed: New WMV9 capable HTPC
WM9 Clips
*OFFICIAL* Step Into Liquid now available on DVD
*Official* (Spotless | Punisher | Godsend) Three new WMVHD 720p trailers
Coral Reef Adventure
Three new 720p HD WMV titles have made it to the Microsoft Windows Media HD showcase

 

[konakona]

wow, zoomplayer really is smoother for this one, i am really impressed unfortunately it doesnt have any .smi support, meaning i am back to my good old trusty GomPlayer...

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: midori
its barton 2400 mobile unoverclocked + KM400 and the rest of the system tweaked to the MAX... still not enough?

hah the higher bitrate higher res ones kill. easily play some of the lower bitrate or res ones thuogh. i have xp @ 2.4ghz which is like a 3200+ atleast. some of the clips kill me. course this is for wmv. for normal hdtv mpeg2... compression isn't so extreme so requirements arent anywhere near as high.

 

[rbV5]

It does help playback to use a DX9 card and VMR9. Check the statistics if you are using WMP9 to see how many frames you drop. The new gen cards claim WMV hardware decoding, so they should be a big help playing back these files.

I ordered "Step into liquid" from Amazon ($17.49)

 

[rbV5]

I found a great thread at AVSforums about upcoming WMV HD titles, looks like my collection will grow and my wallet will thin by the end of June!

Link

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: rbV5
The new gen cards claim WMV hardware decoding, so they should be a big help playing back these files.

I've been looking forward to this technology, but here's a discouraging early review. Hopefully, the drivers will be improved so the video acceleration can live up to its potential.

NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra Video Acceleration Tests

However, our measurements quickly showed that NVIDIA is still at the beginning of their efforts. Decoding Microsoft's WMV9 isn't really accelerated all that much. Quite the contrary.

In DIVX playback, the FX5950 and the Radeon 9800XT are practically on the same level. The 6800 Ultra, on the other hand, leaves a bit more of the decoding work to the CPU.

While the FX5950 and the 9800XT are once again neck and neck in WMV9, the GeForce 6800 is clearly the "laziest" by far, letting the CPU do the work.

When asked about these results, NVIDIA explained that the driver we had received for the review does not support all of the features and capabilities the video processor offered yet. While MPEG decoding was implemented in hardware, the driver developers are still working on WMV9 and other formats.

 

[rbV5]

I've been looking forward to this technology, but here's a discouraging early review.

Theres nothing to review untill NV enables the PVP, obviously it wasn't working at the card launch. X800 is supposed to accelerate WMV also, but I've seen nothing on it either.

 

[rbV5]

New WMV HD file available at MS high definition showcase
*Taxi 3 (in French) 1080p (162 MB) 2:42 min

High Definition Content Showcase

 

[rbV5]

Several New Demos available:

*To the Limit (IMAX)
*Stormchasers (IMAX)
*Speed (IMAX)
*The Magic of Flight (IMAX)
*The Living Sea (IMAX)
*Journey Into Amazing Caves (IMAX)
*Dolphins (IMAX)
*The Discoverers (IMAX)
*Amazon (IMAX)

WMV HD Content Showcase

 

[manko]

Microsoft has released an early alpha tool for determining if you system can handle WMV HD.

WMV HD Performance Analyzation

download page

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: manko
Microsoft has released an early alpha tool for determining if you system can handle WMV HD.

WMV HD Performance Analyzation

download page

AWESOME man! My video subsystem sucks ass! I'll take care of that little problem when I get my 6800 GT shortly.

 

[rbV5]

"The Bourne Supremacy" Trailer available

720p 62.8 MB

Link

Halo2 Game Trailer
1080p 49.5 MB
Link

Originally posted by: manko
Microsoft has released an early alpha tool for determining if you system can handle WMV HD.

WMV HD Performance Analyzation

download page

thanks for the link, I'll check it out

 

[manko]

Unfortunately, my own system is red in all categories. Overall system rating is about 40% for 720p and 30% for 1080p.

I've been putting off an upgrade for too long, but I'll probably build a new system by the end of the year.

 

[cpars]

My results

 

[manko]

Originally posted by: cpars
My results

Not too shabby...

 

[rbV5]

Plenty of new demos available at WMV HD Content Showcase

 

[rh71]

I have the latest version of WMP10 and a 720p and a 1020 clip both skipped on me and had no audio. Running @ 1.7GHz, 512MB RAM, and CPU is half idle the entire time.

 

[gururu]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: manko<BR>Microsoft has released an early alpha tool for determining if you system can handle WMV HD.<BR> <BR>WMV HD Performance Analyzation<BR><BR>download page

<BR><BR>AWESOME man! My video subsystem sucks ass! I'll take care of that little problem when I get my 6800 GT shortly.

the 6800 series does not support WMV in hardware. there is a huge thread about it in the Video Forum.

 

[Davegod]

the halo2 vid, i had that on a uk pcgamer dvd. they said their fastest pc in the office couldnt even run it.

ran perfectly fine on my machine, i've no idea what the fuss was about 'cos my machine aint particularily fast.