Updating FFDSHOW version? Worth it? How best to?

nikko1974 · **18th April 2008, 10:16 AM**

Hi,

My HTPC has been pretty stable for the past year or so - I still have it running on the original version of FFDSHOW I first found worked.......rev.1370 - which is around a year old.

I just checked and noticed they're currently up to rev.1950 or so - and obviously there's been some improvements in it - so while I would never change if its just a little different - IS IT WORTH DOING NOW?

Of course I'd make a backup image of my stable system first.....

Does anyone know with FFDSHOW do you uninstall COMPLETELY or install over the top?

Much thanks, Nick

logifuse · **18th April 2008, 10:37 AM**

I always just install over the top. If the build you have doesn't have the xvid codec included (so you're stuck with libavid/libavcodec for xvid/divx), then it's well worth the upgrade.

Justin

nikko1974 · **18th April 2008, 10:51 AM**

Thanks Justin, as ever your advice is worth its weight in gold - will give me somethng to amuse myself for the morning.

Much thanks, Nick

nikko1974 · **18th April 2008, 11:05 AM**

Hey Justin, or anyone else.....

Just checked on FFDSHOW and there appears to be specific MMX versions and SSE versions of FFDSHOW to support these 'instructions' that certain CPUs can give.
LINK

Which one should I get? Bearing in mind my HTPCs CPU is an AMD 3800 X2 - and is capable of both MMX and SSE/SSE2 instructions?

LINKS

Also FFDSHOW appears to never make STABLES and is just nightly build after nightly build - so I guess the latest is the best?

Much thanks.....

logifuse · **18th April 2008, 11:31 AM**

I used to go for the SSE specific build for my AMD (as I had an AMD desktop), but now that I've got an Intel desktop, I changed to the standard version. I don't see any performance difference between the two & the standard vrseion seems more stable in VMC.

Also, I recommend enabling the fast SPP deblocking post processing option - that combined with choosing the xvid codec produces great results.

Justin

nikko1974 · **19th April 2008, 06:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by logifuse

I used to go for the SSE specific build for my AMD (as I had an AMD desktop), but now that I've got an Intel desktop, I changed to the standard version. I don't see any performance difference between the two & the standard vrseion seems more stable in VMC.

Also, I recommend enabling the fast SPP deblocking post processing option - that combined with choosing the xvid codec produces great results.

Justin

Justin, cheers for the reply -

* I will give the SSE build a go - VMC? I think thats for H264 isn't it? I'm actually going to try out CoreAVC and see how that goes - so shouldn't be a drama - I hear CoreAVC is very good.

Wasn't aware of the SPP deblocking stuff - maybe thats a new function on the later builds - but will definitely have a look into it.

Much thanks as always, cheers, Nick

krypto · **19th April 2008, 09:51 PM**

VMC = Vista Media Center

ffdshow does H264 although I am currently using coreAVC becausee ffdshow wouldn't play some h264

vlad · **19th April 2008, 10:16 PM**

I use this site to keep ffdshow up to date:
http://fileforum.betanews.com/
I upgrade, as was always using Justin's advise of fast de-blocking and AC3 via spdif.

nikko1974 · **21st April 2008, 10:15 PM**

Ah thanks gents - haha VMC - you can tell I'm an MCE 2005 user!

Uninstalled FFDSHOW and installed the latest SSE verion and seems to be problem free so far - the only real tweaks I have to it are Justin's Fast de-blocking tip and also them have it upsizing any video to my exact screen resolution.

I can't notice any great difference so far but it works - which is always a sigh of relief after a non-essential software upgrade!

Added CoreAVC on too - though I've little H264 material to tryout on it but is there anyway.

Was tempted to add AC3 filter on - as opposed to my bastardised solution of FFDSHOW and the builtin AC3 filter in PureVideo - but elected to quit while I was ahead, make an Acronis image and head for the hills.

Much thanks for the advice boys!

krypto · **22nd April 2008, 12:31 AM**

I just did a clean vista install because my previous streamlined install (using vlite) wouldnt see SP1.

After install I only added ffdshow and Haali (for MKV).

All my files including h264 now play using ffdshow. Setting ffdshow to use xvid, PQ seems slightly improved. Something was definitely screwy with the previous codec installation despite having very few codecs installed.

Best of all media control plug-in now works with all its function including auto reschange when playing back files. I love having ffw/rew and resume on avi and mkv files, and sub-title on/off control