MKV HDTV playback issues

[ichpen]

Hi,

Recently downloaded some 1080p/720p titles in MKV format. The only way I can play these guys is with VLC unless someone can educate me somehow.

So the issues I'm experiencing are hard pauses in playback (audio continues) for about 10 seconds at a time and occasional choppy/pixelated playback. The system I'm playing this on is a Q6600 (quad core), 4 gigs of RAM and an 8600GT so I'm a little confused as my system should be more than capable of doing 1080p and 720p as I can play high def content just fine in power dvd and WMP (king kong HD plays flawlessly) but some HD titles seem to be quite picky.

I don't see CPU usage spike above 50% (across any of the 4 cores) and memory usage is well within limits. Latest NVidia drivers are on.

So any ideas?

Seems to be happening most frequently with MKVs (matroska).

[gambit_360]

Don't know about VLC, but use Core AVC codec instead. It's much better.

[crazdefool]

im using the same cpu/video card with vlc with no problems. (xp pro)

what is your o/s? with 4gb i am guessing vista..

like gambit suggested try coreavc it may help

you may want to try an older nvidia driver also.

[board123]

VLC is a piece of crap. If I had to choose between VLC and never watching videos on my computer, I'd go for the latter.

With that said, you can certainly use other players. You just need to install several things.

FFDShow (http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/ffdshow.cfm)
Haali Splitter (http://haali.cs.msu.ru/mkv/MatroskaSplitter.exe)
MPC (http://www.free-codecs.com/download_soft.php?d=3824&s=134) or any other non-VLC, non-WMP player

[willy]

Hey board123, what kind of issues do you have with VLC ? Just curious ...

[board123]

The interface, and the fact that it comes with a bunch of integrated decoders. I prefer to use a simple player with external decoders for a more modular approach.

The main problem I have with it is the interface though. I just hate it for some reason.

[ShadowVlican]

i do not recommend VLC (for reasons go search google)

CCCP. (as of this post, their main filters are the ones i would use, except i get the latest ones individually + nvidia purevideo)

[crazdefool]

The interface, and the fact that it comes with a bunch of integrated decoders. I prefer to use a simple player with external decoders for a more modular approach.

The main problem I have with it is the interface though. I just hate it for some reason.

thats why i like it lol. i can run it on systems that dont let you install codecs ;) ;) ;) ;) the interface is boring but i use meedio as a frontend on my htpc and use a remote control via girder so the interface is not really necessary

[ichpen]

Don't know about VLC, but use Core AVC codec instead. It's much better.

Will try CoreAVC, I had pure video on and CCCP but had the same issues.

Will tinker around with different players.

It's also strange that I consistently get pauses on regular DVDs when played in powerdvd and windvd, usually happens after first 10 mins.

Using Vista 64 btw.

[deep]

If I had to choose between VLC and never watching videos on my computer, I'd go for the latter.
Riiiiight ;)

With that said, you can certainly use other players. You just need to install several things.
The interface on VLC isn't great, but neither is MPC's. The one step installation makes VLC an easy intro into HD movies for a lot of people. Not everyone ('s mom) is willing to play around with FFDShow and codec packs - sometimes we need to understand that not everyone wants to tinker as much as we do.

Don't know about VLC, but use Core AVC codec instead. It's much better.
So you don't know about VLC, but you know something else is better? :|

People have issues with EVERY player. Not using VLC because Board told you it was "crap" is silly. It may be the best thing that ever happened to you. It certainly was for my friend and his old Shuttle machine. He never did get anything else working on it, so VLC was his saviour.

I have VLC running on my laptop for simiplicity's sake, but MPC with FFDShow on my HTPC, for better quality.

[board123]

I admit. I'm just a hater. VLC may be very useful for those who want an all-in-one, play-it-all program. I personally don't like that.

[ShadowVlican]

CCCP doesn't require tinkering though

it's setup defaults can playback most videos from the internet

[gambit_360]

So you don't know about VLC, but you know something else is better? :|

People have issues with EVERY player. Not using VLC because Board told you it was "crap" is silly. It may be the best thing that ever happened to you. It certainly was for my friend and his old Shuttle machine. He never did get anything else working on it, so VLC was his saviour.

I have VLC running on my laptop for simiplicity's sake, but MPC with FFDShow on my HTPC, for better quality.

I just didn't know how well VLC handled x264 video, since I found it to be more CPU intensive than standalone codecs. CoreAVC is known to be the fastest x264 decoder so that's why I suggested it.

The only time I would ever use VLC is on a machine I didn't own or wasn't an admin on. Otherwise, I always go for standalone codecs.

[bigbug]

My system is Windows XP media center 2005. After I installed CCCP, only MCE can play video files (MKV/divx/xvid), but all other players like WMP, CorePlayer can only play audio with a dark screen. Is it possible there is a setting disable other players to choose proper codec? PLease help, thanks

[ichpen]

I just didn't know how well VLC handled x264 video, since I found it to be more CPU intensive than standalone codecs. CoreAVC is known to be the fastest x264 decoder so that's why I suggested it.

The only time I would ever use VLC is on a machine I didn't own or wasn't an admin on. Otherwise, I always go for standalone codecs.

CoreAVC is a software decoder though. From my understanding pure video HD (which I cannot find on Nvidia's website - is it rolled into the driver???) and the new 8600GT/S support almost full hardware x264 decoding. Or am I misunderstanding something

[board123]

I believe all of the Geforce 8 series except 8800 have hardware decoding. 8800 might...I'm just not totally sure.

ATI's HD2000 series except 2900 also have UVD, which is a hardware decoder.

[ShadowVlican]

CoreAVC is a software decoder though. From my understanding pure video HD (which I cannot find on Nvidia's website - is it rolled into the driver???) and the new 8600GT/S support almost full hardware x264 decoding. Or am I misunderstanding something
I believe all of the Geforce 8 series except 8800 have hardware decoding. 8800 might...I'm just not totally sure.

ATI's HD2000 series except 2900 also have UVD, which is a hardware decoder.
the pure video filter isn't called unless you playback MPEG2/DVD

to utilize the hardware acceleration for h.264 that these companies are advertising, you need to pay some more money for products like powerdvd, which btw won't work with H.264 embedded in MKV files ;)

[board123]

to utilize the hardware acceleration for h.264 that these companies are advertising, you need to pay some more money for products like powerdvd, which btw won't work with H.264 embedded in MKV files ;)
True. PowerDVD is what they use for video benchmarking at ATI. They probably have an agreement with these companies to force people to use proprietary programs.

[the one]

I skipped VLC and use Media Player Classic - i found with VLC jumping forward in the movie caused it to hang, but in MPC there are no such issues.

[Evil Techie]

also CoreAVC works with MPC, but it doesnt work with VLC
so even after installing CoreAVC, dont use VLC, go use MPC instead

whats with all these XXC's

[ShadowVlican]

also CoreAVC works with MPC, but it doesnt work with VLC
so even after installing CoreAVC, dont use VLC, go use MPC instead

whats with all these XXC's
of course not! :cheesygri VLC uses it's own filter libraries... it will never access directshow filters like ffdshow or CoreAVC

[board123]

of course not! :cheesygri VLC uses it's own filter libraries... it will never access directshow filters like ffdshow or CoreAVC
Which is the main reason why I hate it.