Topic: Share your HTPC set-up Part2

[JT]

Hi JT- yup yup, can play up to 720p w/o hiccups, but with 3g RAM with 500G HDD mod and 8400GS upgrade and hybrid sli, it was also able to act as a gaming pc, and play 1080P files.
Here's our thread,check it out:http://pinoydvd.com/board/index.php?topic=86163.0

Hey, thanks bro. Got it last week and it works fine. Thanks a lot.

[Alfie]

I downloaded a CoreAVC 1.8.5. torrent, from BT Junkie(only one that has 7 seeds others were abandoned)however, my AVG indicated that the crack and Keygen was a Trojan.

to those using this codec.....Did you get the same, or did you purchase the $7 standard and $15 Pro ? 

[Clondalkin]

to those using this codec.....Did you get the same, or did you purchase the $7 standard and $15 Pro ? 

I got it from HD-bits, the EDGE release.  Pro version daw    It's clean based on comments from those who DL'd previously and when I tried, ok naman ang keygen and the installer unlike other apps where Norton or McAfee or Interscan deletes them.   I can email you the installer if you want.  It's only about 1.15MB.   Keygen would probably be blocked automatically because it's a marked word, so I'd just generate myself in case.

[Alfie]

Clondalkin-Thank you, I'll try to look for it, really appreciate your response.

[Alfie]

I was able to successfully download and install the coreavc 1.8.5, now, how do I configure this?

I tried playing the KMplayer, however, it seemed configured to it's own set of codecs?

I also tried the Media Player Classic and it stayed  with the same set of codecs.

To those using this, can you give some pointers, and thanks for your responses.

[Clondalkin]

For KMP

Right click, Options, Preferences or press F2

Under Filter Control/Decoder Usage, click Internal Video Decoder and uncheck H.264 and AVC1 tick boxes.

Click External Video Decoder, External Decoder Search, Add After Scan - then all installed external decoders will be listed in the window.  If CoreAVC is properly installed it will be detected and included in the list.  Press OK to close window.

Click External Video Decoder again then click the Down Arrow next to the H.264 Video box and select *CoreAVC Video Decoder.   Do the same operation on AVC1.   If you want to play around with the settings of CoreAVC, click the "C" next to the Down Arrow and the Filter Info will be displayed.  Close Preferences Window and that's it.

PS.  Mukhang ang ganda ng bagong beta ng KMP -ver. 1434



MPC

Right click, Options, External Filters, Add Filter.

Select CoreAVC, press OK, tick the Prefer box, press OK to close window and that's it. 

In case maraming ibang external codecs, disable or uninstall them.

[milken]

I was able to successfully download and install the coreavc 1.8.5, now, how do I configure this?

I tried playing the KMplayer, however, it seemed configured to it's own set of codecs?

I also tried the Media Player Classic and it stayed  with the same set of codecs.

To those using this, can you give some pointers, and thanks for your responses.

Alternative procedure for MPC:

If you're using Media Player Classic with ffdshow as default video decoder, you have to disable "libavcodec" in h.264/avc format inside ffdshow video decoder configuration (find the ffdshow video decoder configuration in Programs) so that CoreAVC will automatically be used to decode the video.  To check if CoreAVC is working, open a mkv file, right click, point to "Filters", you should see CoreAVC Video Decoder instead of ffdshow.  I use K-Lite Codec Pack btw.

[Alfie]

Clondalkin- Thank you so much, Ma-a-asahan ka talaga. 

Milken- Thank you, hilig ko talaga at nakasanayan ang MPC.

[fernando_montalban]

For smooth playback of 1080p (H.264/AVC) in an HTPC, CoreAVC is the way to go.
As I understand, I could be wrong, CoreAVC utilizes all available cores of a CPU. The common FFDShow codec only uses one core and does not support multi-core processing.  With MKV, as far as I know, playback relies on CPU processing.  Not unless you are using a video card with accompanying software that helps the CPU play the video (CPU + GPU), CoreAVC provides a great software based boost to video playback.


1080p Playback using FFDshow Video Decoder


1080p Playback using CoreAVC Video Decoder

Note:
I am using Dual Core Intel Atom, the reason that four cores are visible is due to the hyper threading capability.  One core shows up as two cores.

[Alfie]

Dual Core Atom?

When did they become available?

[fernando_montalban]

@Alfie

Medyo matagal na po sir... mga late Sept 2008 ko po nabili yung akin...
Mini-itx form factor... hindi netbook...
http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/D945gclf2/D945gclf2-overview.htm

[Alfie]

Yup, read about it and heard about it in Gilmore, but I never thought that it was already available, in fact, I was gearing for the dual core celeron.

So is the performance might be better than the dual core celeron ?

[fernando_montalban]

@Alfie
My dual core atom "HTPC" (it barely reaches HTPC status) serves well enough for what I built it for, playback of SD content, particularly my favorite television series on my 29" CRT bedroom TV.  But it ends there.  Do not expect much from it especially with HD content.  Big mkv files do play good and smooth at lower resolutions like 1024X768, but what's the use of getting high bitrate video if you will play them at that resolution.  In the end, it may suit your needs but most likely, it won't, especially as an HTPC.  Don't know much about the dual core celeron but I doubt it will fare good as an HTPC as well.  Then again, there are so many tweaks out there, it might be able to do the job.  I mean, CoreAVC boosted my dual atom in terms of video playback.  Between the dual core atom and dual core celeron, I think the celeron is better.

PS
Presently, I just connect my laptop via VGA to my Sammy 40A650 as the parts for my Athlon based HTPC is not yet finalized and of course 'konting ipon pa'.  The dual atom is now also a NAS and a torrent rig but still connected to my CRT (the CRT acts as its monitor).  I still watch SD content from it all the time.

[Alfie]

O' ayan...Mayroon na tayon'g may 1st hand experience na nag report tungkol sa Intel Atom.

Dati' kasi na-pag-debate-han namin nila Clondalkin iyan' pero wala pa naman sa amin gumagamit nang Atom bilang HTPC. Ang karamihan kasi noon naka single core Atom na Netbook lang, sa experience ko naman sa Wind nang Misis ko na single core, hangang axxo files lang ako. Ginawa kong parang small monitor divx viewer..he-he. 

Fernando_Montalban...mas mura ba ang kuha mo, kasi sa estimate ko dati dati kung dual core celeron a-abot nang 10-12K din. pag may onboard video ang MoBo, 120G HDD at 2 GigRAM. Paki share na rin ang expenses mo.

[Clondalkin]

...Big mkv files do play good and smooth at lower resolutions like 1024X768, but what's the use of getting high bitrate video if you will play them at that resolution...

If this is the case, then in theory your Dual Core Atom may be able to play well on a native 1024x768 plasma like the PV80? 

Your Samsung is a full HD panel but you're forcing it at less than half its native resolution, hence the degradation in image.  If your PC  is capable of rendering the video bitstream at the monitor's optimal/native settings, the resulting image should look good.   For instance, I like watching MKV on an HDTV CRT which has much lower resolution than 1080p.  I set the CRT at 720p, its optimal setting per TV specs.  I play a 720p content and it looks nice.  I then play a 1080p content and it looks even greater.    So baka magandang lumabas if you connect the Dual Core Atom to a PV80.

[fernando_montalban]

@Alfie
Give or take, 11k lahat... D945GCLF2~4k, 640GB HDD~4.5k, 2gig ram~1k, Casing with PSU~1.5k...

If this is the case, then in theory your Dual Core Atom may be able to play well on a native 1024x768 plasma like the PV80? 

Your Samsung is a full HD panel but you're forcing it at less than half its native resolution, hence the degradation in image.  If your PC  is capable of rendering the video bitstream at the monitor's optimal/native settings, the resulting image should look good.   For instance, I like watching MKV on an HDTV CRT which has much lower resolution than 1080p.  I set the CRT at 720p, its optimal setting per TV specs.  I play a 720p content and it looks nice.  I then play a 1080p content and it looks even greater.    So baka magandang lumabas if you connect the Dual Core Atom to a PV80.

@Clondalkin
Actually, come to think of it, that may be the case. If so, the dual atom pc could actually deliver a good viewing experience at a reasonable price. But I should say that I have never connected my dual atom pc to the Sammy 40A650.  I have only connected it to my 29" CRT TV and 15" monitor that we have lying around at 1024x768 resolution.  Both displays are beside each other.  The TV is connected by S-Video and the monitor by VGA. I was not able to mention this earlier. I seldom use the real monitor, technically, the TV is the pc's monitor. My experiences are purely based on viewing at a non HDTV. Tomorrow, if I have time, i will connect the dual atom pc, by VGA, to the Sammy and see how it goes at 1024x768 and 1920x1080 resolution playing a 720p and 1080p video.  If ever it plays well with the Sammy, I think it will play well with the PV80, and the setup could might as well be a very cheap HTPC.

[air ween]

guys question, what would you prefer for an OS? a VISTA or should I stick with XP? anong mas convenient and effective to install?

[ninjababez®]

Congrats bro! nakuha mo na pala ito sa TPC.. musta naman.. nasetup mo na?

yuff .. on the day i got it ..
i had to "extend" the 4pin processor 12v though ..

I got it from HD-bits, the EDGE release.  Pro version daw    It's clean based on comments from those who DL'd previously and when I tried, ok naman ang keygen and the installer unlike other apps where Norton or McAfee or Interscan deletes them.   I can email you the installer if you want.  It's only about 1.15MB.   Keygen would probably be blocked automatically because it's a marked word, so I'd just generate myself in case.

bro ygpm 

[Alfie]

For KMP

Right click, Options, Preferences or press F2

Under Filter Control/Decoder Usage, click Internal Video Decoder and uncheck H.264 and AVC1 tick boxes.

Click External Video Decoder, External Decoder Search, Add After Scan - then all installed external decoders will be listed in the window.  If CoreAVC is properly installed it will be detected and included in the list.  Press OK to close window.

Click External Video Decoder again then click the Down Arrow next to the H.264 Video box and select *CoreAVC Video Decoder.   Do the same operation on AVC1.   If you want to play around with the settings of CoreAVC, click the "C" next to the Down Arrow and the Filter Info will be displayed.  Close Preferences Window and that's it.

PS.  Mukhang ang ganda ng bagong beta ng KMP -ver. 1434



MPC

Right click, Options, External Filters, Add Filter.

Select CoreAVC, press OK, tick the Prefer box, press OK to close window and that's it. 

In case maraming ibang external codecs, disable or uninstall them.

Clondalkin- Thank you so much, my dual core PC can now play MKV files smoothly. 

[fernando_montalban]

UPDATE: Dual Core Atom HTPC

What I will say may contradict what I have said recently about the Dual Core Atom as an HTPC  .  I have just tested its capabilities with a Sammy 40A650 and I have to say, my findings are great.  My initial impression of an HTPC is a computer that has a very good video card, a very good audio hardware, and can play HD videos flawlessly and great fidelity, that is why, all the while, I was thinking that my dual core atom pc barely reaches an HTPC status.  After seeing what the dual core atom pc can do, I may not continue with my prospect for an athlon based HTPC.  What I have right now is good enough HTPC for me.  What I am saying is, if what you want is something that can play HD videos well enough, a dual core atom based HTPC will suffice. Small and cheap.

My opinion, if you are not that concerned with audio regarding TrueHD, DTS-HD and the like, and you can do without them, an HTPC at this price beats any NMT.  I spent around 11k and that already included a 640GB hdd and not to mention the added capability of upgrading codecs on the fly, using IE/Firefox when surfing the web, your choice of torrent client (uTorrent for me), NAS with discrimination (share only a folder or partition) and play games (like Warcraft III, though it sucks to play DOTA at a 40" screen, 'masyadong malaki'). If you have a hard drive lying around, cost goes down to 6.5k (D945GCLF2+2gigram+Casingw/PSU), that's just 800 more than a WD TV HD Media Player.

The PC is connected via VGA at 1920x1080 playing 720p and 1080p video (mkv) using media player classic with CoreAVC video decoder. Audio is connected via 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack plug to HTIB.

DISCLAIMER
I have to point out that I am not a videophile and/or an audiophile.  What is great for me may only be good for the enthusiasts.  Someone might buy the same PC and get disappointed and blame me.  As far as it concerns me, video playback was very smooth and great. 

[air ween]

guys question, what would you prefer for an OS? a VISTA or should I stick with XP? anong mas convenient and effective to install?

mga sir pa-up lang po ng tanong ko ha..original kasi bibilhin ko eh and i just want to make sure that sulit yung ibabayad ko..thanks po..

[fernando_montalban]

@air ween
My two cents, I'd go for XP. Pero if you decide to get the Vista, get the Home Premium, not the Home Basic.
Maraming kaartehan kasi ang Vista eh, although, you can turn them off. There are only a few things I like about the Vista over XP (like for example the Advance Cut/Copy function, Search function, and over all look). In the end, I'd go for XP. I have 3 computers, two are running XP and one is Vista.  The Vista has been with me for over a year now and still having problems with updates (minsan inde compatible). 

Pero I have read that may mga gadgets, especially for Home Theatre Viewing that plays around the Vista structure (Premium and Ultimate versions) like for example media extenders.  If you have those gadgets, like an XBOX 360, you may research on the benefits it could give you having a Vista. I don't know much about them though.

Pero as you may know, Windows 7 is coming out, earliest is July 09. If you are getting a secondary pc, you could play with the beta for a while before reformatting again and installing your original XP/Vista. They say the performance boost of Windows 7 is very clear and apparent.  As far as I know, officially released ang beta to the public.

[air ween]

@air ween
My two cents, I'd go for XP. Pero if you decide to get the Vista, get the Home Premium, not the Home Basic.
Maraming kaartehan kasi ang Vista eh, although, you can turn them off. There are only a few things I like about the Vista over XP (like for example the Advance Cut/Copy function, Search function, and over all look). In the end, I'd go for XP. I have 3 computers, two are running XP and one is Vista.  The Vista has been with me for over a year now and still having problems with updates (minsan inde compatible). 

Pero I have read that may mga gadgets, especially for Home Theatre Viewing that plays around the Vista structure (Premium and Ultimate versions) like for example media extenders.  If you have those gadgets, like an XBOX 360, you may research on the benefits it could give you having a Vista. I don't know much about them though.

Pero as you may know, Windows 7 is coming out, earliest is July 09. If you are getting a secondary pc, you could play with the beta for a while before reformatting again and installing your original XP/Vista. They say the performance boost of Windows 7 is very clear and apparent.  As far as I know, officially released ang beta to the public.

thanks for the tip bro.
pero di ko padin alam kung ano kukunin ko eh.. 
also, should i get a jack sparrow version or an anti?

[Clondalkin]

Fernando, favor please.  Could you try to DL and install the freeware called MediaInfo (maliit lang sya) and please post the detailed info of your 1080p file - please delete the title.  Just want to see the bitrates and encoding level.

Atom + CoreAVC capable of playing 1080p - that sounds very impressive to me.  Well CoreAVC 1.8.5 is truly effective so far but if it's likewise capable of making even Atom based desktops 1080p-capable at 1920x1080 settings, that's quite awesome indeed.  WHAT?   

Please keep us updated on your Atom.  Thanks!

I'd have to disagree with you on the OS though.  XP is very matured while Vista may still have some growing up pains, but Vista is fine on a capable machine, especially in terms of its multimedia functionality.   Dumb reasoning perhaps but I feel rather "restrained" with the thought of installing a discontinued though reliable 8 year old OS on a 2009 PC.  Dont you think the XP is already "boring"? 

[ninjababez®]

@air ween
My two cents, I'd go for XP. Pero if you decide to get the Vista, get the Home Premium, not the Home Basic.
Maraming kaartehan kasi ang Vista eh, although, you can turn them off. There are only a few things I like about the Vista over XP (like for example the Advance Cut/Copy function, Search function, and over all look). In the end, I'd go for XP. I have 3 computers, two are running XP and one is Vista.  The Vista has been with me for over a year now and still having problems with updates (minsan inde compatible). 

trust me bro xp has updates issues too, and repercussion are far worse than having a vista operating system.   
do you remeber using xp when it was only 2-3 years old?   

btw please update us with your atom testing 

[Clondalkin]

Clondalkin- Thank you so much, my dual core PC can now play MKV files smoothly. 

Most efficient codec at the moment.  Pati retired P4 ng friend ko na-resurrect somehow.   

[air ween]

so its 2:1 in favor of Vista..
isa nalang vote at lalarga na..

[Clondalkin]

so its 2:1 in favor of Vista..
isa nalang vote at lalarga na..

Kung meron ka nang licensed XP beforehand, sempre it's practical to use it.  pero kung bibili ka rin lang ng bagong OS for your new PC, mag Vista ka na.

[fernando_montalban]

The thing is, XP never gave me a problem when it comes to everyday computing.  With my Vista (Home Basic) PC, like before, even installing small programs like a specialized scientific calculator, Vista gave me a problem.  Also, I've been to so many Microsoft forums already pero hindi ko pa rin mahanap yung conflict with my Vista PC, it won't let me upgrade to Service Pack 1.  But I have to agree with Clondalkin, XP is boring  .  There was a time when I tried to fix XP up so that it will have some aesthetics and functionalities incorporated from Vista.  Also the discontinued part, yes, XP is old.  Come to think of it, sir ninjababez is right, when XP was still young, 2-3 years old, it had big problems as well, baka in my case, Vista will soon deliver a solution to my upgrading to SP1 problem.  Pero Windows 7 is just around the corner, baka the support for Vista will not be as lively and prioritized as what was given to XP.  For sure though, support for Vista will continue for a long time pero baka di ganun ka focus as compared to XP before.

@Clondalkin
When I get home, I'll try MediaInfo out.

[Clondalkin]

Hi Fernando.  Got your PM and thanks a lot.  Based on the data generated by MediaInfo, I am absolutely impressed!!!

The first sample in particular was encoded to profile 5.1 at that video bitrate with DTS sound stream and yet kinaya ng Dual Core Atom without any problems??? - you've got to be kidding me Bro.    That's awesome!

Among the 3, the first one is the toughest file to render by kind of media player, the 3rd one the lightest.  Even then, I dont know what else to say about the capability of your Atom desktop.      It's unbelievable.

It's better not to think of MKV resolution in terms of resolution per se, but in terms of bitrate and encoding profile.   It's quite common that encodes use non-standard resolutions - compared to what are technically defined as 1080p or 720p resolutions.  Not a bother at all.  I guess encoders have technical reasons, difficulties or limitations that force them to "downscale" a 1080p encode to 1920x800 or a 720p encode to 1280x 548 in some cases.