Running NPVR on older hardware with Windows XP, what codecs, etc?

[jboyter14]

I am attempting to run NPVR on an older machine with Windows XP:
Athlon 64 3700+
1gb ram
Geforce 4mx video card (I've also got a Radeon 9250 I've tried)

I have GBPVR working fine; I can play just about any video, including recorded .TS files full HD (1920x1080) which are recorded by NPVR on my server (use video library file share). I am currently using an older SAF 4 installation with Cyberlink codec (the one where you could drop the .AX file in C:\) for MPEG2. I'm most interested in getting MPEG2 working correctly in NPVR since thats what my recordings use.

For MPEG2, I have tried several configurations with NPVR, none of which quite work. I have tried my current setup with SAF 4; I get a black screen with audio. I have tried SAF 5 (no Cyberlink codec). With SAF 5, the video is extremely choppy and not watchable. I have tried an old NVIDIA purevideo codec that I've had success with (GBPVR) in the past. Its a little better than SAF 5, but still really choppy and not watchable.
I am playing the .TS files directly (file share, video library), not through streaming (recordings menu)

I have the latest PowerDVD and was thinking about trying to use those codecs next. Is that possible with NPVR?

I would love to go to Windows 7, but currently don't have the funds to upgrade. Also, I'm using a remote control that does not have Windows 7 drivers, so that will have to be replaced as well if I upgrade.

Can anyone help me get this machine playing my recordings with NPVR?

[SickBoy]

You're going to have a hard time with that video card as it does not support DX9/DXVA. Maybe ffdshow? Initially when I built my HTPC I was using a Geforce4 Ti4600 and had to "upgrade" to a FX5200 AGP card, and it was indeed an upgrade - the FX5200 did DXVA/DX9 in hardware and the Ti4600 did not.

Alternatively, the ATI drivers available from the site should install the ATI MPEG codec. Not sure if that will only work with the ATI video card or not, though.

[jboyter14]

So I need a DirectX 9 capable card? I think I might have a 5200 or something lying around actually. I'll try it.

Also, why is it GBPVR works fine, but not NPVR? Do I need to configure NPVR to work with SAF 4 and Cyberlink decoder?

[sub]

I'd be surprised if GBPVR would work fine with HD on these video cards.

For many years the consensus among US GBPVR users was that the Nvidia 6600 GT was the minimum you wanted to use for HD MPEG2. Lower cards (including your mx4) just didnt have the required bandwidth for HD playback. The same should be true for NPVR.

I cant remember what the recommended minimum ATI card was for HD MPEG2 playback.

[Snooze]

The ATI HD2400 struggled with it but could do it.

[jboyter14]

Ok, thanks for the advice.
How can I get NPVR to use the same codecs that GBPVR are using?

Maybe you don't believe me, but this setup is running HD MPEG2 on GBPVR; just not on NPVR. Now, I did think of one thing; while the source file is 1920x1080, the TV is only 1366x768 (essentially 720p) Maybe thats why its working. Perhaps it drops a frame here or there, but nothing to make it unwatchable. Most of the source video is simple TV shows (for my wife) Little to no action packed movies or sports (where dropping frames would be a bigger deal)

So how can I get NPVR to work with the same configuration as GBPVR? Or is that possible?

Thanks for your replies. I love how active and responsive the forum is. I was excited to see several of you chiming in.

[sub]

As long as you choose the same decoders and renderers in both apps, then you should get the same results.

[jboyter14]

But unfortunately, thats not the case. When using the same codecs as the working GBPVR, I get a black screen in NPVR.

[sub]

Post the logs for GBPVR and NPVR so I can compare.

[jboyter14]

Here you go.

One thing I thought of: My TV is 720p. Maybe NPVR was trying to output 1080p when it was displaying the video. I tried running in a window but it didn't work either. The window was just black. Also, I'm not sure if this is important, but the sound seems to working fine.

:confused: