ati x1000 series hardware h264, I found a codec.

[kzin]

Hi all, I guess this is a codec question but I'll start with my configuration then some background, and finally the problem I have.

Config:

Hauppauge winTV-HVR 3000
ATI x1900AIW
Two AMD 2214 dualcore cpus
4GB ram
Win XP Pro SP2
I have 2 displays connected to the x1900, main monitor is a AOC LCD the 2nd monitor is A Hasper 42in Plasma

GBPVR V1.3.11
Cyberlink codecs from power DVD 7
CoreAVC v1.9.5
and "CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder(ATI)" got the trial version here "http://docs.cyberlink.com/cinema/ati/h264_decoder/enu/index.jsp"

Background:

My goal is to be able to watch New Zealand Freeview TV in another room on the Hasper Plasma, and be able to have someone else still able to use the computer with the other monitor. So far only 2 programs come close to allowing this "DVBviewer and GB-PVR" but this is were I like GB-PVR better, as there is a useful start on other monitor check box, and it supports the Hauppauge remote.

The main problem I have though is with performance.

The Power DVD7 codecs are not hardware accelerated and it skips & is out of sync with the audio (oddly Power cinema works much better)

The CoreAVC codec is much better but:
still seems to get out of sync overtime
and there is a known problem with changing the channel( I have seen it discussed else ware)
Work around is to go back to the EPG and select the new channel there.
Also this codec seems to have a problem with the Channel "C4" it will display for a bit then a No signal detected error appears. odd since all the channels come from the same transmitter.

Then I found the holy Grail of codecs "CyberLink H.264/AVC Decoder(ATI)" this Cyberlink/ATI codec is meant to have Hardware Acceleration for ATI x1000 series cards. and it works very well ... with DVBviewer CPU drops to ~3% nice in sync audio and no skipping frames. (EDIT: 3% is wrong is more like 30% sorry I made an error)

After adding it to the Config.xml file it can now be used in GB-pvr, but has similar problems to the CoreAVC codec except the No signal problem happens on more of the channels and this often results in a not responding program.

Do I need to change any other settings to get this codec working better?

And can GB-pvr be setup to respond to the remote even if another program is the active window?

[sub]

My understanding was that the ATI 2400/2600 cards were the first to introduce full H.264 hardware acceleration that would be useable for NZ's Freeview HD. I've seen much discussion here and elsewhere indicate this is true, and never seen comments indicating it worked with the ATI x1000 series cards, so you comment about it working in DVBViewer doesnt really make sense to me.

Its also worth noting that hardware acceleration is only available on some devices when the app is 'started and used' on the primary monitor.

And can GB-pvr be setup to respond to the remote even if another program is the active window?

It depends on the remote. Generally, no. By default all the remote software is designed to work with the foreground application. If you do a forum search though you should find some hacks others have used in the past to try to achieve this.

[kzin]

My understanding was that the ATI 2400/2600 cards were the first to introduce full H.264 hardware acceleration that would be useable for NZ's Freeview HD. I've seen much discussion here and elsewhere indicate this is true, and never seen comments indicating it worked with the ATI x1000 series cards, so you comment about it working in DVBViewer doesnt really make sense to me.

I found this info "http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2645&p=2"

And "http://www.beyond3d.com/content/reviews/25/2"

these web pages led me to the codec in question.

I have gone back and re checked the GBpvr cpu usage

this is for tv3 thats 1080i ? and on both the primary & secondary monitors the figures remained the same.
Cyberlink Power dvd codec: 28%
CoreAVC codec: 30%
Cyberlink ATI codec 29%

it seems I made an error in my first post re the 3% but visual performance of the ATI codec is markedly better than the others. Perhaps as you say, it is not full hardware accel. or I wonder if the trial has expired... I would be very happy with this codec if it did not keep showing the no signal fault when I know there is signal.

Its also worth noting that hardware acceleration is only available on some devices when the app is 'started and used' on the primary monitor.

as above I tryed both but it seems to be making a liar out of me.

It depends on the remote. Generally, no. By default all the remote software is designed to work with the foreground application. If you do a forum search though you should find some hacks others have used in the past to try to achieve this.

OK I'll check.

[stustunz]

look at program "event ghost" or "hip" for your remote question

[kzin]

look at program "event ghost" or "hip" for your remote question

thanks.