VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Microsoft Windows specific usage questions
Forum rules
Please post only Windows specific questions in this forum category. If you don't know where to post, please read the different forums' rules. Thanks.
djmadness
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 3
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 08:37

VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby djmadness » 07 Jul 2008 09:21

My system setup is as follows:
Dell Precision 470 Dual 3.0GHZ XEON HT 2MB L2 (Not Dual Cores)
WInXP 64-Bit SP2
12GB DDR2-400 ECC memory
2x 74GB Seagate 15k.5 SCSI in Raid 0 on Adaptec U320 SCSI Controller
2x 500GB Seagate 7200.10 in Raid 1 on Adaptec SATAII Raid Controller
Nvidia NVS285 128MB PCI-E 16 Vid Card
All PC's have gigabit NICS
Switch is 10/100/1000 Cisco Catalyst 2960

I am running the latest stable build of VLC and V7 CoreAVC x.264 Codec
VLC is Configured to play x.264 files with the CoreAVC Codec

I am playing from .MKV files

I can play 720P with no probs on a 22" LCD 1680x1050
When I try to play 1080P it is extremely choppy and pauses at times before resuming after a period of time
With 1080P I am peaking at 30% CPU usage and all CPU threads show even activity

My understanding is the vid card is irrelevant with CoreAVC codec

I want to use this machine to broadcast to my HTPC that only has a P4 2.8 - 1GB DDR400 - Nvidia FX5200 128MB and Gigabit Nic
The HTPC is connected via DVI to HDMI cable to a 42" 720P Regzia

Questions:
1) Why is the vid choppy on the dell when it has more than enough cpu to play
2) Do I require a better vid card in the Dell Precision 470 to play 1080P
3) Will 1080P play on a screen that is not 1920x1080 resolution?
4) Once I get the issue fixed on the Dell will it provide all the processing needed to decode the file to stream to the HTPC thereby not requiring alot of processing on the HTPC end?
5) I have an ATI HD3450 512MB PCI-E 16x card coming in for the Dell Precision. Should this resolve my problem?
6) Are there any settings in the CoreAVC codec configuration in VLC I need to change from stock?

Thanks in Advance
Madness

VLC_help
Mega Cone Master
Mega Cone Master
Posts: 25661
Joined: 13 Sep 2006 14:16

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby VLC_help » 07 Jul 2008 14:24

VLC is Configured to play x.264 files with the CoreAVC Codec
That isn't possible. VLC only uses build-in codecs. So it can't use external codecs. And VLC build-in H.264 decoder doesn't support multithreading decoding nor GPU decoding so specially HD videos cause slowdowns. CoreAVC supports multithreading decoding but it doesn't support GPU decoding so your display adapter doesn't matter.

You can also play 1080p on even 480p output, but you either lose details or only see small part of the image.

EDIT:
http://wiki.videolan.org/WindowsFAQ#H.2 ... s_too_slow
this might help a little.

djmadness
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 3
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 08:37

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby djmadness » 07 Jul 2008 15:54

That isn't possible. VLC only uses build-in codecs.
Then why is CoreAVC listed under the codecs for h.264? FFDShow is listed under other codecs

djmadness
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 3
Joined: 07 Jul 2008 08:37

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby djmadness » 07 Jul 2008 16:00

Also FFDShow uses Direct X - DirectDraw which does use the GPU, Doesnt it?

Alexsource
Cone that earned his stripes
Cone that earned his stripes
Posts: 102
Joined: 22 Nov 2006 15:45

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby Alexsource » 07 Jul 2008 22:06

I remember someone requesting a wrapper or loader for CoreAVC, don't remember if it was worked upon or not. Latests nightlies offer some support for external Real codecs now, and it works, but you have to manually copy some files to the plugin folder.

Also note that using the GPU to output (as in: after it's been decoded) the video using overlay acceleration or whatever it's called is not the same as decoding the video with the GPU.

Arite
Big Cone-huna
Big Cone-huna
Posts: 2478
Joined: 26 Jun 2007 20:40
VLC version: 3.0.20
Operating System: Debian Testing|Win10

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby Arite » 07 Jul 2008 22:46

That isn't possible. VLC only uses build-in codecs.
Then why is CoreAVC listed under the codecs for h.264? FFDShow is listed under other codecs
ffdshow is different to the FFmpeg project. VLC uses libraries from the FFmpeg project, as does ffshow. ffdshow can be used as DirectShow filter for decoding/encoding on Windows, whereas FFmpeg itself is a set of libraries (as well a standalone commandline program). The H.264 codec used in FFmpeg is a part of libavcodec. CoreAVC is a proprietary Windows-only H.264 decoder which is (currently ;)) faster/more efficient than the one in libavcodec. VLC doesn't support it since there is no DirectShow/DMO wrapperfor it (and not much need since the one in libavcodec works well too).

Arite.
Last edited by Arite on 08 Jul 2008 11:55, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: x264 is not decoder
Don't use PMs for support questions.

Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 37523
Joined: 22 Jul 2005 15:29
VLC version: 4.0.0-git
Operating System: Linux, Windows, Mac
Location: Cone, France
Contact:

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby Jean-Baptiste Kempf » 08 Jul 2008 09:14

That isn't possible. VLC only uses build-in codecs.
Then why is CoreAVC listed under the codecs for h.264? FFDShow is listed under other codecs
ffdshow is different to the FFmpeg project. VLC uses libraries from the FFmpeg project, as does ffshow. ffdshow can be used as DirectShow filter for decoding/encoding on Windows, whereas FFmpeg itself is a set of libraries (as well a standalone commandline program). The H.264 codec used in FFmpeg libavcodec is x264, a VideoLAN project. CoreAVC is a proprietary Windows-only H.264 decoder which is (currently ;)) faster/more efficient than x264. VLC doesn't support it since there is no DirectShow/DMO wrapperfor it (and not much need since x264 works excellently too).

Arite.
Ouch... x264 is an encoder. CoreAVC is a decoder.
Jean-Baptiste Kempf
http://www.jbkempf.com/ - http://www.jbkempf.com/blog/category/Videolan
VLC media player developer, VideoLAN President and Sites administrator
If you want an answer to your question, just be specific and precise. Don't use Private Messages.

Arite
Big Cone-huna
Big Cone-huna
Posts: 2478
Joined: 26 Jun 2007 20:40
VLC version: 3.0.20
Operating System: Debian Testing|Win10

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby Arite » 08 Jul 2008 11:56

Oops :? - thanks. Fixed.

Alan.
Don't use PMs for support questions.

Elijah
Blank Cone
Blank Cone
Posts: 23
Joined: 01 Jan 2009 22:34

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby Elijah » 21 Aug 2009 23:28

You can also play 1080p on even 480p output, but you either lose details or only see small part of the image.
How do I do this? The loop filter trick did not do much for my Athlon 3200 64.

VLC_help
Mega Cone Master
Mega Cone Master
Posts: 25661
Joined: 13 Sep 2006 14:16

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby VLC_help » 22 Aug 2009 23:10

Not all computers can do, I just stated it is possible.

lulzdude
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Aug 2009 00:57

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby lulzdude » 29 Aug 2009 01:02

well, as much as i love vlc, lately its just not cutting it, eating massive amounts of cpu, freezing up, and just being a general pain, a friend showed me this http://mpc-hc.sourceforge.net/ i hate the gui, but it does support gpu decoding and doesn't bitch as much as vlc does. hopefully vlc will get its act back together

VLC_help
Mega Cone Master
Mega Cone Master
Posts: 25661
Joined: 13 Sep 2006 14:16

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby VLC_help » 29 Aug 2009 18:05

Videolan project doesn't work on H.264 decoders, so slow H.264 decoder really isn't something we can fix.

lulzdude
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 2
Joined: 29 Aug 2009 00:57

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby lulzdude » 29 Aug 2009 20:29

well, for me its mainly been vlc crashing and sometimes it doesnt close and sits there taking up 50% of my cpu and it has to be killed in the taskman

robertark
New Cone
New Cone
Posts: 4
Joined: 19 Dec 2008 17:01

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby robertark » 29 Dec 2009 22:37

I had the same problem.. With some research, I'm now able to play full 1080p movies without a problem (whatsoever). Follow these steps:
  • Uninstall all codecs (via add/remove programs)
  • Install FFDShow codec pack (download from http://www.free-codecs.com/FFDShow_download.htm -- select SSE or SSE2 build -- do some research to see if your processor supports SSE2 [it should -- but double check])
  • Install CoreAVC decoder pack (legit version costs $$)
  • Open up the FFDShow video decoder control panel and for the "H.264/AVC" format, select "disabled" -- save & close
  • Open up the CoreAVC decoder control panel and check the "Use Tray Icon" box -- save & close
  • Install BSPlayer (http://www.bsplayer.org/)
  • After installation, set all MKV files to open with BSPlayer (or all video files if you chose not to use VLC)
When you play MKV files in BSPlayer, the coreavc and ffdshow icons should pop up (two blue icons, one round other w/white background). If it doesn't, then you didn't configure FFDShow to disable the handling of "H.264/AVC" formats.

If all else fails, and you followed these steps, make absolutely sure all other codecs are uninstalled. Then, download graphstudio.exe (http://blog.monogram.sk/janos/tools/mon ... aphstudio/) and open the MKV file to see what decoders are being used and paste a screenshot here.

Now you should be able to play any 1080i/1080p movie without a problem -- here's my system hardware (which is OLD!)

Processor: AMD X2 4400+ Dual core
Video Card: AGP (8x) nVidia 6800 GT
HDD: 500GB WD Caviar Green - Running in SATA I mode (mobo doesn't support SATA II haha)
Sound: Onboard
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster T220

Hope this helps :)

VLC_help
Mega Cone Master
Mega Cone Master
Posts: 25661
Joined: 13 Sep 2006 14:16

Re: VLC Player CoreAVC and x.264

Postby VLC_help » 30 Dec 2009 19:26

It is easier to either use Media Player Classic Home Cinema or install DivX 7, which both are free.


Return to “VLC media player for Windows Troubleshooting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 38 guests