Video playback on a netbook

[NaRu]

Search up a bit about the Radeon HD 3200 just in case. I have no idea whether it will have the same video decoding capabilities/compatibility as your Radeon 5850. They are generations apart.

The Radeon 5850 is UVD2 and the 3200 is UVD. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Video_Decoder *cough* wikipedia *cough*

Lots of bits and pieces about the hardware in the comments here: http://imouto.my/watching-h264-videos-using-dxva/

you sure? Because I use my netbook on my TV to watch anime and it runs HD anime files. Im using the netbook right now typing this while a HD video is playing in the background

[namaiki]

What exactly is your setup? (operating system, CPU, GPU, media player, video renderer, other filters, media info)

There are many issues. I don't recall saying that anything would or would not work.

[NaRu]

What exactly is your setup? (operating system, CPU, GPU, media player, video renderer, other filters, media info)

There are many issues. I don't recall saying that anything would or would not work.

Acer netbook
cpu :Intel Atom 1.6Ghz (2.0Ghz oc)
RAM: 2GB DDR 800
GPU: Intel GMA 945
HDD: SSD 8GB

Media player classic
Klite mega codec pack
Windows XP pro SP3

[namaiki]

By HD do you mean H.264 720p? I would have doubts about anything higher. Also, that system doesn't have anything to do with DXVA or what you quoted above.

Since the video would seem to be decoding on the CPU, I am very impressed. What video decoder are you using? (coreavc, divx h.264, ffdshow, etc)

edit: please open a such 'HD' file in MPC-HC and list everything under the Play-> Filters menu. Also, please post media info about said file.

[Mcgreag]

CoreAVC ain't free, DXVA is.
Is there a big diffrence if any between those two ?

OT: mayby this will help http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/p/79162/393825.aspx

While it's not free it's not like it's expensive. If you can spend 500$ on a computer you can spend 13$ to make it work at its best.

[sapsa]

I made a little test
Set both acording to this site: http://imouto.my/

results are like this (used same video):
DXVA - 12% - 20% + 1 once 40%
CoreAVC 1.9.5.0 - 13% - 25% + once 61%
CoreAVC 2.0 - 15% - 21% + once 69%

Video used:
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 4 frames
Muxing mode                      : Container profile=Unknown@4.1
Codec ID                         : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration                         : 1mn 29s
Bit rate                         : 13.3 Mbps
Width                            : 1 920 pixels
Height                           : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Frame rate                       : 23.976 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.267
Stream size                      : 142 MiB (95%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 0000000000000000

So acording to CPU use, DXVA is better but

But there are limitations with the DXVA method, and they are (amongst others):-

    * Only certain renderers can be used depending on operating system (overlay mixer and VMR9 for Windows XP, Enhanced Video Renderer for Windows Vista/7).
    * Cannot decode videos that was encoded with numbers of reference frames that exceed certain levels.
    * Cannot have any intermediate filters (such as ffdshow Video Decoder or DirectVobSub) between the video decoder and the video renderer.

first *, is not problem
** can be a problem ?! (or not?)
*** not sure if its a problem ? - why do i need something in between ?

[namaiki]

But there are limitations with the DXVA method, and they are (amongst others):-
    * Only certain renderers can be used depending on operating system (overlay mixer and VMR9 for Windows XP, Enhanced Video Renderer for Windows Vista/7).
    * Cannot decode videos that was encoded with numbers of reference frames that exceed certain levels.
    * Cannot have any intermediate filters (such as ffdshow Video Decoder or DirectVobSub) between the video decoder and the video renderer.

There are three limitations and there are also only three things you have to do to meet conditions for DXVA to work; unfortunately that guide has some misplaced settings which can cause stuttering:

All you needed to do (on Windows Vista or 7) was:
1: Select an EVR video renderer (EVR-CP if you need subtitles)
2: Select a DXVA video filter (either mpc-hc's internal one or the MS DTV-DVD video decoder)
3: Tick auto-load subtitles.

Windows XP:
1: Select Overlay Mixer video renderer (VMR9 renderless if you need subtitles)
2: Select a DXVA video filter (generally only mpc-hc's internal one is available)
3: Tick auto-load subtitles.

first *, is not problem
** can be a problem ?! (or not?)
*** not sure if its a problem ? - why do i need something in between ?

** can be a problem, but you can't help it. if an encode is not compatible you will have to re-encode it, or try a compatibility workaround  which may show artifacts

*** should not be a problem. usually there is a filter in between to show subtitles, but with auto-load subtitles or with ffdshow dxva filter (don't use on intel GPUs from what I have tried) the subtitles can be placed in a different way.

Then again, with CoreAVC there is no restriction on * or ***, but ** should still apply.

[vuzedome]

If you're on nVidia, it can go all the way up to ref=16.

[sapsa]

If you're on nVidia, it can go all the way up to ref=16.

Need a explain here

unfortunately that guide has some misplaced settings which can cause stuttering:

Aww, not good I will need to reset settings then

All you needed to do (on Windows Vista or 7) was:
1: Select an EVR video renderer (EVR-CP if you need subtitles)
2: Select a DXVA video filter (either mpc-hc's internal one or the MS DTV-DVD video decoder)
3: Tick auto-load subtitles.

Will try

** can be a problem, but you can't help it. if an encode is not compatible you will have to re-encode it, or try a compatibility workaround  which may show artifacts

But none of the POPULAR fan/subgroups do that right ? (encoded with numbers of reference frames that exceed certain levels)

*** should not be a problem. usually there is a filter in between to show subtitles, but with auto-load subtitles or with ffdshow dxva filter (don't use on intel GPUs from what I have tried) the subtitles can be placed in a different way.

Then again, with CoreAVC there is no restriction on * or ***, but ** should still apply.

Never saw video with filter in between, is that popular, or can i get sample of that kind of video?

[lapa321]

Just got the u230 (YAY!) and it's running the Kanon 1080p demo at around 40-50% CPU. Zero stuttering. 100% smooth.

Haruhi Suzumiya 720p video runs at 20-30%.

However, when i try running the non standard videos (The Planet Earth 1080p Video), i'm getting the artifacts again. I CAN'T REMEMBER HOW I FIXED IT ON THE DESKTOP!!! Help please! I was randomly changing things on the desktop and it somehow got fixed, i don't know what i did!

I tried installing the new drivers but the catalyst icon isn't showing up in the taskbar so i'm not sure if it got updated!

[vuzedome]

Oh? I thought you went for the ION?

[lapa321]

u230 was $100.00+ cheaper, and it beats the ION on everything aside from 3D, and only lost by 30minutes on battery life. More memory bandwidth, more CPU power, i'll make more use out of these than the 3D.
Now i just have to figure out how to configure this thing.

I also tried it on the 22", but the Kanon 1080p gets artifacts when i run it at full screen with the subtitles. If i take out the subs, it runs smoothly, if i run it with subs, it slows down until it starts artifacting.

[namaiki]

u230 was $100.00+ cheaper, and it beats the ION on everything aside from 3D, and only lost by 30minutes on battery life. More memory bandwidth, more CPU power, i'll make more use out of these than the 3D.
Now i just have to figure out how to configure this thing.

I also tried it on the 22", but the Kanon 1080p gets artifacts when i run it at full screen with the subtitles. If i take out the subs, it runs smoothly, if i run it with subs, it slows down until it starts artifacting.

Have you tried playing video without DXVA?

[vuzedome]

Open up directvobsub's settings, enable pre-buffering sub pictures, or if you're using MPCHC's own subtitle engine, open up the options, under subtitles, check the "disable animation".
Normally it's the sub's fault for causing those high cpu usage, rendering it in real time will eat up a lot of processing power, pre-buffering it will significantly reduce cpu usage.

Anyway, give my suggestion a shot, unless you've tried it already, but if you did, then I've got nothing else to help you for now.

[namaiki]

If you're on nVidia, it can go all the way up to ref=16.

Need a explain here
But none of the POPULAR fan/subgroups do that right ? (encoded with numbers of reference frames that exceed certain levels)
.....
Eclipse's Kaicho wa Maid-sama has 15 ref frames apparently. Depends on your video card's compatibility with DXVA for what it can play.

Never saw video with filter in between, is that popular, or can i get sample of that kind of video?
.....
Anything with soft subs. If you're using DirectVobSub, that is a filter in between.

[lapa321]

@vuzedome

Thanks! It helped a lot.

The artifacting and major stutters are gone so it's watchable again. Only thing is it doesn't play as smoothly. I'm gonna look for alternative video players.

1080p Advent Children looks good. 1080p Appleseed, still unplayable. Maybe i should take a video.

[namaiki]

@lapa321:
Which video decoder are you using? If you're on windows 7, definitely use the Microsoft DTV-DVD Video decoder in Media Player Classic Homecinema.

[Temuthril]

Open up directvobsub's settings, enable pre-buffering sub pictures

Doesn't work in the latest CCCP.

[namaiki]

Open up directvobsub's settings, enable pre-buffering sub pictures

Doesn't work in the latest CCCP.

The latest directvobsub buffers all frames. Different behavior.

[vuzedome]

Open up directvobsub's settings, enable pre-buffering sub pictures

Doesn't work in the latest CCCP.

The latest directvobsub buffers all frames. Different behavior.

Oh? That should be good?