MKV h.264 Hardware Acceleration DXVA

[Mox]

I have been trying to use Core AVC and have had limited success. Through MPC it works wells, but when I try and play through VMC it sets the movie to a 4:3 screen ratio.

Also what is the actual player that VMC uses ?

[logifuse]

Anyway, have you tried any 1080 files?

OK, I've tried a 1080p MKV (around 15 megabits/sec, DTS audio) & CPU is around 33-35% (CoreAVC).

On my desktop PC (BE-2350) it's mid 40's-50%.

Justin

[superhero]

Is it there is still no solution to get HD mkv playback with hardware acceleration working with VMC?

[diablo]

Is it there is still no solution to get HD mkv playback with hardware acceleration working with VMC?

I believe i'm getting acceleration in VMC using the Arcsoft Totalmedia video decoder, checking a blu ray mpeg2 movie made into mkv i was getting 15% average cpu usage, and for a h.264 based mkv i was getting 10% average.
I am using a 8500GT and a core 2 duo 4300 (1.8 ghz)

[Redmist]

The way I did it is:
1. I installed the x64 Components from Vista Codecs (click here to find proper description and download link). The reason why I used this package is to save me time manually installing Gabest splitter, mkv support in MCE/WMP and so on.
2. Manually copy the MPCVideoDec.ax filter into your system folder (32bit = System32, 64bit = SysWOW64), also do not forget to use the appropriate regsvr32 and on Vista it has to be registered with the administrative rights if UAC is enabled.
3. Make sure MPEG4 AVC is disabled in ffdshow.
4. Use the MediaControl for MCE to set the MPCVideoDec.ax as the decoder for H264 (I do not remember this process exactly as I do not use MCE - explained later)
5. You should have a DXVA fully functional

Unfortunatelly, for those ones that require subtitles, there is no option that I know of that will use DXVA with subtitles (except the MPC Home Cinema of course). This is why I use MediaPortal with MPC Home Cinema setup as an external player for movies (I do not need subtitles myself, but my girlfriend does).

Also ffdshow x64 tryouts, even the MPC Home Cinema x64 are not perfect, meaning if it comes to codecs, it is best to use 32 bit environment. Vista HP x64 uses a 64 bit version of MCE and this is something I do not understand (I was quite angry about it 'cause I bought OEM Vista HP x64 with my new HTPC) because by default it uses 32bit version of WMP. Couldn't they do the same thing with MCE?

I don't remember now, whether I tested the DXVA with mkvs just in WMP 64bit or MCE as well but this should make no difference as whatever plays in WMP 64 also plays in MCE 64.

Wow - this really works!! It even detects if a H264 MKV is not DXVA compliant and turns off acceleration! (this is the main reason that the PowerDVD 8 filter is useless)

Like you said, the only downside is that DirectVobSub must be disabled but hopefully there will be a solution soon. I have very few files with subtitles anyway.

I was just watching a 1920x1080@30fps file with 3% CPU usage. Great stuff.

[logifuse]

What I had to do was register the filter, unregister CoreAVC (they kindly offer register & shortcuts in their program group on the start menu) & then use a filter manager (Radlight is the one I use) to enable H264 in MPCVideoDec (& disable some of the other formats it can decode such as divx/xvid).

If you were using FFDShow for AVC, then you disable AVC in FFDShow instead of unregistering CoreAVC.

Impressive results - skip forward/back is much more responsive.

Justin

[krypto]

OK, I'm a bit of a dummy and you lost me on this step

2. Manually copy the MPCVideoDec.ax filter into your system folder (32bit = System32, 64bit = SysWOW64), also do not forget to use the appropriate regsvr32 and on Vista it has to be registered with the administrative rights if UAC is enabled.

1.Where do I copy MPCVideoDec.ax from?
2 "also do not forget to use the appropriate regsvr32" - how do I do this?

Thanks

[logifuse]

OK, I'm a bit of a dummy and you lost me on this step


1.Where do I copy MPCVideoDec.ax from?
2 "also do not forget to use the appropriate regsvr32" - how do I do this?

Thanks

32 or 64 bit?

32 bit:

1. Download this.

2. Extract MPCVideoDec.ax & put it in to c:\Windows\System32\. Open a command prompt & navigate to c:\Windows\System32\ & run: regsvr32 MPCVideoDec.ax

You then might need to use a filter manager to set the decoding options for MPCVideoDec.ax (as mentioned in my post).

Justin

[Redmist]

Open a command prompt & navigate to c:\Windows\System32\ & run: regsvr32 MPCVideoDec.ax

Yes, and remember to run the command prompt as administrator.

This really does work beautifully. CoreAVC might be obsolete now.

The 1920x1080 movie trailers on the Apple site all seem to be DXVA compliant once I put them into an MKV container.

[logifuse]

Yes, and remember to run the command prompt as administrator.

Good point - been that long since I've used UAC, I've totally forgotten about that requirement.

This really does work beautifully. CoreAVC might be obsolete now.

Yep, I'm going to put it on my main rig today.

Justin

[cptviper]

Confirming as well the method of MPCVideoDec.ax manual register has worked for me.

Using a Gigabyte Ma78GPM-DS2H (inbuild ATI HD3200) and AMD 4850e CPU.

Using no more than 1-2% CPU ie barely noticeable. on a 720p or 3-6% 1080p
both x264 mkv in Windows Media Player 11 or Vista Media Centre.

Thanks.

[Fazz1977]

32 or 64 bit?

32 bit:

1. Download this.

2. Extract MPCVideoDec.ax & put it in to c:\Windows\System32\. Open a command prompt & navigate to c:\Windows\System32\ & run: regsvr32 MPCVideoDec.ax

You then might need to use a filter manager to set the decoding options for MPCVideoDec.ax (as mentioned in my post).

Justin

Just did this... works an absolute treat. Intel Core2Duo 2.4 usage 4-7% down from 30%.

[Cinaber]

Well, I just found this thread and DXVA, at least on ATI cards (HD series), is available in Vista MCE since the MPC Home Cinema v 1.1 is out (March/April 2008?). NVIDIA cards require later builds. All you need to do is register the MPCVideoDec.ax in your system along with the Gabest Splitter. I actually tested it on Vista Home Premium x64. Here is a link for latest builds of the MPC Home Cinema. The standalone filters are not available with every build (you have to search through all builds manually). Keep in mind that these are NOT stable builds. To get a stable version of the standalone filters, use the official webpage.

The way I did it is:
1. I installed the x64 Components from Vista Codecs (click here to find proper description and download link). The reason why I used this package is to save me time manually installing Gabest splitter, mkv support in MCE/WMP and so on.
2. Manually copy the MPCVideoDec.ax filter into your system folder (32bit = System32, 64bit = SysWOW64), also do not forget to use the appropriate regsvr32 and on Vista it has to be registered with the administrative rights if UAC is enabled.
3. Make sure MPEG4 AVC is disabled in ffdshow.
4. Use the MediaControl for MCE to set the MPCVideoDec.ax as the decoder for H264 (I do not remember this process exactly as I do not use MCE - explained later)
5. You should have a DXVA fully functional

Unfortunatelly, for those ones that require subtitles, there is no option that I know of that will use DXVA with subtitles (except the MPC Home Cinema of course). This is why I use MediaPortal with MPC Home Cinema setup as an external player for movies (I do not need subtitles myself, but my girlfriend does).

Also ffdshow x64 tryouts, even the MPC Home Cinema x64 are not perfect, meaning if it comes to codecs, it is best to use 32 bit environment. Vista HP x64 uses a 64 bit version of MCE and this is something I do not understand (I was quite angry about it 'cause I bought OEM Vista HP x64 with my new HTPC) because by default it uses 32bit version of WMP. Couldn't they do the same thing with MCE?

I don't remember now, whether I tested the DXVA with mkvs just in WMP 64bit or MCE as well but this should make no difference as whatever plays in WMP 64 also plays in MCE 64.

Hi everyone

New to this forum and I just recently built a htpc with the specs:

Cpu: AMD ATHLON 4850E
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-MA78GPM-DS2H
Ram: DDR2-800 Kingston 2GB-Kit (x2)
HDD: 750GB Samsung Hard Drive (x2)
TV tuner: Hauppauge HVR-2200
Case: Antec New Solution NSK2480B 380W mATX Desktop Case
Software: Vista Home Premium 32bit
Optical Drive: Pioneer DVR-216BK
Remote: Microsoft Remote Control and Receiver
Wireless Card: WNET LINKSYS WIRELESS N PCI ADAPTER
Keyboard and mouse: Logitech diNovo Mini

I installed community combined codec pack as that is what i use on my main rig, but with this htpc it had sync issues. Now i followed the step above, which was to download the vista codec pack (i downloaded 4.7.3) and installed that and i uninstalled CCC pack.

I followed step two with downloading and extracting the .ax file and running the command prompt.

This the part where im lost!!! I dont know what to do after that, so i was wondering if anyone can help me please.

I use windows media classic to run all my 1080p mkv files. I did test some 1080p files again after only completing up to step 2 and well everything seems to run fine, except how on earth do you get such low cpu usage? I check the performance indicator on windows sidebar and it says i have on avg 70-90% cpu usage during playback of a 1080p mkv file.

Help would be appreciated!

Thanks

[mrgreedy]

This thread is the bestest mostest hidden piece of amazing information of the intermanet, ever.

Err.

Sorry.

I built a HTPC last week with a nice Gigabyte 780G board. Was floundering around with PowerDVD codecs and getting nowhere.. fast.. untill Google barfed up this thread.

And thank god it did.

The fact that MPC-HT now does DXVA is excellent.. Manually registering MPC's filter, installing AC3Filter for sound.. Brilliant!

Cinaber, I've noticed some 1080p content near-maxes out the processor, this seems to be related to the number of reference frames in the encoded file - and the profile it was encoded in. Profile 4.1 with a maximum of 5 reference frames is best for DXVA to work in HD it seems..

The 'proof' was in a Band of Brothers sample .mkv I downloaded. Basically, it put my Athlon64 4850e upto 80-90% usage in MPC-HC.. A quick look at the stats of the file and it had 8 reference frames and was profile 5.1..

Re-encoded the sample to the figures suggested on another board, (4 ref frames and profile 4.1) and the results were stunning.

CPU usage down to around 5%!

I didn't think it'd make quite so much difference!

Now, if only I could get that northbridge running cooler

[logifuse]

Something mildly interesting: I put my 256MB 8500GT card in my Abit system & disabled the 8200 onboard (which was using 512MB of the system RAM). The 8200 worked with the MPC codec (but the 8200 was overheating), but the 8500GT was pixelating. Had to change back to CoreAVC.

This is with the 178.13 & 178.15 drivers. My main rig (8200 onboard/512MB with 178.15) remained fine. Wonder if it's the 256MB that was the problem?

Justin