With a bit of to & fro between son & self, we at last got HW acceleration working in PowerCinema 5.1 (with all NZ updates applied).
Trick is making changes to two sets of ini files. (Previously I hadn't realised there were "duplicates" of the ini files under Program files).
This solution applies to Vista. Tested under Vista x64.
For TV viewing (mpeg4 H.264) in VISTA
1. C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\PowerCinema\TVSetting.ini (XXXX = user name)
I had previously added the lines (these were left in place)
enable_dxva2_vista = True
enable_dxva_vista = True
EDIT: These lines should be added into the [TV] block in the .ini file (is the first block in the file).
& changed "default_videorender_vista = VMR9"
to "default_videorender_vista = EVR"
EDIT: This line is further down the .ini file
EDIT2: ArchPrime has reported (below) that changing the default to EVR appeared to cause problems on his system, which has an Ati Radeon HD 2900XT video card. EVR is needed for full HW acceleration, so these instructions may not work for ATI cards.
New mods that did the trick (still need the others, though):
2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\PowerCinema\Customizations\Cyberlink\TVSetting.ini
Have now added the lines (previously did not know about this file):
[TV]Not certain if it was the dxva or dxva2 that did the trick, but after adding them & restarting PowerCinema, CPU usage for TV 3 is now only 4% - 10% (mostly 5% - 7%). Same for TV1 & HD Preview channel. Previously was 20% - 25% or more for TV3 (Graphics card is 8600GTS, cpu = QX9650, HVR4000 tv card)
enable_dxva_vista = True
enable_dxva2_vista = True
EDIT: I added these lines at the top of the .ini file followed by a blank line to separate the new [TV] block from the existing [TV_Default] block
NB: Have to run edit program with admin privileges.
Having run PC a few times in that configuration, I deleted the added lines in the latter file one at a time to see which one was critical, but even after deleting all the lines, it is still running HW accelerated. I suspect PC has saved the settings somewhere (registry?) & that I probably need to re-boot to "un-set" them. Not going to try just now. Am happy enough that it is working, so I have put all lines back in.
Not only is CPU usage well down, but I no longer seem to be getting the occasional picture "pixelisation" / "breakup" that I used to get, especially with TV3. Feels a lot smoother, though I guess it is still early days.
Note that the "EVR" bit is critical, but only worked after I modified the second set of ini files.
Son also has HW acceleration working (Q9450 + 9800GTX + Nova T500). Similar CPU usage.
For viewing recorded TV (mpeg 2?) in PowerCinema (in Vista 64) keyword seems to be "enable_dxva_vista":
1. C:\Users\XXXX\AppData\Local\PowerCinema\MovieSetting.ini
Changed "enable_dxva_vista = False" to
enable_dxva_vista = True
2. C:\Program Files (x86)\Cyberlink\PowerCinema\Customizations\Cyberlink\MovieSetting.ini
Same modification.
CPU usage for viewing is 3-6% (recorded 1080i HD stream off TV3. Saved as .mpg).
[EDIT: re CPU usage - figures above are with about a dozen other program windows also open (but not active) - plus the usual background programs such as Skype etc. "Base" CPU usage with those windows open, but without PowerCinema running is 2-3%. Not certain whether PowerCinema demand would be lower with the other programs closed (not wanting to close them at this point).