My computer can't handle HD movies? RAM, CPU, Video card? What's the problem?

[Traian2003]

I downloaded an HD TV show, in TS format. I used VLC Media Player. Now when I try to play the folder, the computer feels like it stops working. The video is unwatchable... it just moves too slow. >:(

I have a
2.4Ghz P4 (400Mhz)
512MB RAM
9600PRO
160GB IDE 7200RPM
WinXP SP2...

Are there any tweaks am I do something wrong?

[Traian2003]

Oh yeah one more thing, when I open the task bar it says that the CPU is 98% utilized by VLC Player.

[w4x]

9600 probably doesn't have built in decoder/accelerator for that format, so CPU ends up doing all of it.

[Traian2003]

9600 probably doesn't have built in decoder/accelerator for that format, so CPU ends up doing all of it.

hmmm. so you think it might be the videi card. What affordable video card might work?

[deep]

Something else is at work here....I had no problems with HD TS files on the previous incarnation of my HTPC, which used a plain jane 9600 and an Athlon XP 2500+, also with VLC playa.

I'm not sure what the problem is, though....but I think you should be able to play them.

[markj]

get at least a 6600 gt and try the purevideo decoder and .7.2 vlc (for its better spif out)

[Amourek]

Doesn't sound like a hardware problem to me. Your specs should be more than enough to handle TS.

[ShadowVlican]

you probably have some special de-interlacing on....... switch it to blend and it should be able to playback more smoothly...... the other options are reserved for more elite computers

and VLC doesn't use anything hard accelerated.... it is not based on directshow (which is one big reason why i've stuck with MPC)

[Siefer999]

Doesn't sound like a hardware problem to me. Your specs should be more than enough to handle TS.
yes,Way more than handle it. im thinking a p3 1.2ghz+ with 64mb videocard, 256mbram should be able to run it smoooth
[EDITmy bad, i read the original post wrong]

[crimsona]

Try using CCCP (contains FFDshow and Windows Media Player Classic)

If ffdshow still takes up too much CPU, replace the h264 decoding in ffdshow with CoreAVC.

ffdshow is still great for xvid and the like.

P4 3.0E, Radeon 9000,
Running 1280x720 h264 with 5.1 aac at average of 40% cpu usage

[rp_guy]

if you're running real HD stuff:
Minimum Configuration
(to play 720p video)
# Windows XP
# Windows Media Player 9 Series
# 2.4 GHz processor or equivalent
# 384 MB of RAM
# 64 MB video card
# DVD drive
# 1024 x 768 screen resolution
# 16-bit sound card
# Speakers


Optimum Configuration
(to play 1080p video with 5.1 surround sound)
# Windows XP
# Windows Media Player 9 Series
# DirectX 9.0
# 3.0 GHz processor or equivalent
# 512 MB of RAM
# 128 MB video card
# DVD drive
# 1920 x 1440 screen resolution
# 24-bit 96 kHz multichannel sound card
# 5.1 surround sound speaker system

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/choosingpc.aspx

[LNahid2000]

It should definitely play on your PC. I have a 3GHz processor with a crappy Radeon 9000 and my cpu load is about 50% when playing true HD files.

[SUPERMAN-01]

most liekly its a codec problem. ur specs should run it just fine

[Outsider]

How long has it been since you re-installed Windows?

Maybe it's time for the yearly "blow it all away and start fresh"!

[Daijoubu]

yes,Way more than handle it. im thinking a p3 1.2ghz+ with 64mb videocard, 256mbram should be able to run it smoooth
I doubt, especially if the video card is incapable of handling HD resolution

[Shaner]

I had an XP-M 2500+, AIW 9600 Pro, 512 MB of generic RAM and I could play HD movies with no problems at all.

Your hardware is more than capable, something else is going on. Look at what you have running in the background and consider doing a reinstall of Windows.

[jb22]

True HD is a pig. At work we create HD content and our machines, all of which are dual Xeon with min 1gb (usually 2gb) of ram have trouble playing true uncompressed 1080P HD clips.

When we create our HD content, we work at half res, so our After Effects files are setup for 960 x 540, which are rendered out at 1920 x 1080 either as a targa sequence or uncompressed HD QuickTimes.

I have some trouble playing 1080P H.264 clips on my P4 2.8ghz HT with 1gb of ram.

[YauYin]

True HD is a pig. At work we create HD content and our machines, all of which are dual Xeon with min 1gb (usually 2gb) of ram have trouble playing true uncompressed 1080P HD clips.

When we create our HD content, we work at half res, so our After Effects files are setup for 960 x 540, which are rendered out at 1920 x 1080 either as a targa sequence or uncompressed HD QuickTimes.

I have some trouble playing 1080P H.264 clips on my P4 2.8ghz HT with 1gb of ram.

exactly. true 1080p HD is 2:1 compression. hdv/dv is 5:1 and everything else divx etc etc wut not are HEAVILY compressed.

to the OP, can u play quicktime 1080p clips? or even wmvhd (1080p)?

[Traian2003]

How long has it been since you re-installed Windows?

Maybe it's time for the yearly "blow it all away and start fresh"!

I just did. It's a completly fresh install. Hmmm... i'll try some more codecs and maybe a new player. >:(

[wbastien]

i cannot play apples 1080i/p videos smoothly because it strictly relies on your processor but i can play 1080p videos with VLC, MPC, and WMP.

specs: Pentium M 1.86, 1gb of ram.

[Emancipated]

I had immense problems with my old system which was an 1800+ XP Thoroughbred with a 9500Pro, but as soon as I upgraded my processor to 2600+, it went smoothly. Your processor may be suspect.

[Traian2003]

How can I check the compression on the movie? Maybe it's Apples'.

[jb22]

How can I check the compression on the movie? Maybe it's Apples'.

Apple uses H.264 for their HD encoding.

[Traian2003]

Apple uses H.264 for their HD encoding.

I used CCCP and it work a bit better but still unwatchable. Maybe i should switch VLC to another player, any ideas?

[crimsona]

Uh... as far as I know, VLC is standalone and bypasses CCCP
Meaning you haven't done anything. CCCP comes with Windows Media Player Classic. use it.

[Beradon]

Aren't there video cards out there that can handle the 1080i/p videos without requiring huge amounts of cpu power?

[YauYin]

^^^

i believe the ati x1xxx series has a h.264 decoder intsalled, called 'avivo' or something like that.

[Traian2003]

^^^

i believe the ati x1xxx series has a h.264 decoder intsalled, called 'avivo' or something like that.

Doesn't vivo stand for Video In Video Out?