H.264 Codecs: What Options Are Out There?

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50 posts

Geek

#122218 8-Apr-2008 22:04

I can confirm that the Twinhan drivers do support h/w gpu acceleration (Uses Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave) codec)

3GHZ P4 running XP MCE with Nvidia 8500GT GPU. With DVBViewer getting 20% CPU when decoding TV3 at 1920x1088. Without GPU acceleration CPU is at 100%.

DBViewer Directx video renderer set to VRM9 (or Vista EVR).

Note:
I loaded latest NVidia GPU drivers (Forceware 169.21).
You need to activate Use DxVA in View> Filters > Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave)

freitasm

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#122288 9-Apr-2008 11:48

[cross-posting from the Cyberlink PowerDVD v8 thread]

freitasm: Seeing that H.264 is a requirement for our DVB-T HTPC projects I have been working with Cyberlink on something for sometime now - no updates yet, but I will let folks know when - and if - anything comes along.

I have managed to arrange a 10% discount for PowerDVD Ultra v7. I am waiting for the discount code and the link to their online store and will post this information later.

No1Daemon

172 posts

Master Geek

#122771 11-Apr-2008 09:16

You need to activate Use DxVA in View> Filters > Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave)

Where do you activate?

Seasport

50 posts

Geek

#122809 11-Apr-2008 11:41

No1Daemon:

You need to activate Use DxVA in View> Filters > Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave)

Where do you activate?

That's how you do it in DVBViewer. There is a checkbox there to enable DxVA. I presume the other media players will have a similar option.

linw

2849 posts

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#122821 11-Apr-2008 12:40

I am runnining GBPVR on a Vista box. Can the twinhan decoder work with this? If so, which file, exactly, should I download?

No1Daemon

172 posts

Master Geek

#122825 11-Apr-2008 12:48

That's how you do it in DVBViewer. There is a checkbox there to enable DxVA. I presume the other media players will have a similar option.

Gotcha. I am using Mediaportal. Still trying to find if there is an option for it.

Seasport

50 posts

Geek

#122949 11-Apr-2008 21:11

linw: I am runnining GBPVR on a Vista box. Can the twinhan decoder work with this? If so, which file, exactly, should I download?

You install the package and when you get to the message "no supported hardware found" just ignore this and continue. From memory the codec is automatically registered and will appear as an option when you set up Directx.

The codec is labelled Cyberlink H.264/AVC Decoder (Azurewave)

I don't know how this compares with the Cyberlink PowerDVD codec could be the same. It would be interesting to compare them.

The requisite files are held in Twinhan Digital TV\DigitalTV3.3build08a\DigitalTV3.3build08a\3rdPartyApp\H264.

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linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#123129 12-Apr-2008 22:38

Installed the Twinhan software and it worked! I am using an ASUS My Cinema USB tuner and am testing with TV6 and 7 from within GBPVR. GBPVR just worked so that was no trouble. I am surprised it works so well with my ATI X700 vid card - cpu is only 15-20%. Maybe it will grind to a halt with TV3.

Call me surprised....

eXDee

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#123137 12-Apr-2008 23:01

Also i'm pretty sure you dont actually have to install the twinhan program i'm getting, just regsvr32 each .ax file from the h264 folder in the download.
Doesnt really matter to install it but its nice not to have unncessary programs installed on your HTPC to keep things neat and tidy.

linw

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#123138 12-Apr-2008 23:17

Even more interesting. Thanks for that info.

Seasport

50 posts

Geek

#123177 13-Apr-2008 11:56

It would be interesting to find out if this is the same codec as in the PowerDVD package.

The cl264dec.ax file in the Twinham package is version 1.99.0.1416

Anyone care to check the PowerDVD codec?

PlatinuM195

80 posts

Master Geek

#124878 19-Apr-2008 01:21

I've been trying to test the Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave) in the TwinHan package, it seems as if you only need to register the file cl264dec.ax in the /h264 folder.

Been trying to test it with various filetypes but doesn't seem to be working with full HD video embedded in an mkv container format.

Could someone test this with DVBviewer or something?

1gkar

722 posts

Ultimate Geek

#124950 19-Apr-2008 16:59

PlatinuM195: I've been trying to test the Cyberlink H.264 AVC Decoder (Azurewave) in the TwinHan package, it seems as if you only need to register the file cl264dec.ax in the /h264 folder.

Dang! there goes my theory of the PC hanging after about 25 seconds of viewing TV3 on my new setup. Thought I might need to install the package.

I just registered the *.ax file as above & it goes fine: until it hangs/replays between video frames & am unable to escape out.

Haven't tried any other channels as I'm watching the V8s on MCE at present.

Just for those sho have seen my other threads; it appears all my issues & subsequent forced hardware upgrade were due to a faulty Asus 8500GT video card.

How do I check if the issue is codec related or something do with Mediaportal? Though I don't see how. Just how do you check if the videocard is actually hardware decoding? Cheers.

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Seasport

50 posts

Geek

#124960 19-Apr-2008 18:20

How do I check if the issue is codec related or something do with Mediaportal? Though I don't see how. Just how do you check if the videocard is actually hardware decoding? Cheers.

There should be an option to activate DXVA (DirectX Video Acceleration) or DXVA2 in the video renderer properties somewhere. Don't use Mediaportal (yet) but there is an option in DVBviewer filters window. You will see a big difference in your CPU Usage in your task manager. With DXVA working your CPU figures should be low (like 10%). You can use Graphedit to look at the Directshow filter chain

Seasport

50 posts

Geek

#124961 19-Apr-2008 18:24

Seasport: It would be interesting to find out if this is the same codec as in the PowerDVD package.

The cl264dec.ax file in the Twinham package is version 1.99.0.1416

Anyone care to check the PowerDVD codec?

Bought PowerDVD 8 Ultra

cl264dec.ax version is 2.1.0.1310

So the Twinham codec is an earlier version. I can't get either to work properly yet with XP. See my other post
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=21016

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