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Download this page in PDF formatShortlink of this post – http://wp.me/PrgSo-b1 (use this link in your forum/BBS/IRC/twitter/facebook etc. messages)
Alternative reading: same configuration with this page using PotPlayer – click here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHANGELOG
INTRODUCTION
CHECKLIST
TUTORIAL
MISCELLANEOUS
CHANGELOG
15 May 2013 – Modified the installer so that users can keep their settings when upgrading.
Also included: A detailed QuickSync headless mode setup. You do not need this if you use Windows 8 and has installed the latest drivers.
INTRODUCTION
When this guide was first written nearly three years ago, it exclusively focused on making GPU-accelerated video playback. Today's update means that you can use MPC-HC to use a variety of GPU acceleration options, depending on the computer configuration that you have, and of course, your preferences. Not only that,you can use software decoding too if you wanted it.
Suggested hardware – with consideration of software decoding and usage of madVR.
For software decoding methods, especially for Hi10p videos, a reasonably powerful CPU is needed. Below are some recommended CPUs for the said task.
AMD systems:-
CPU
AMD FX 6100 6-Core Processor, 3.3 6 Socket AM3+ - FD6100WMGUSBX
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-970A-DS3 AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
Intel systems:-
CPU
Intel Core i3-3225 Dual-Core Processor 3.3 GHz 3 MB Cache LGA 1155 - BX80637i33225
Motherboard
These CPU + motherboard combinations should be enough for even the most demanding of Hi10p videos out there in TokyoTosho.
GPU
To fully utilize the capabilities of madVR, a reasonably powerful GPU is needed. Furthermore, they can also be used for hardware-accelerated video decoding for 8-bit H.264 videos, alongside MPEG-2, VC-1 and MPEG-4 ASP formats.
ATI
This GPU should be able to handle all the madVR scaling algorithms, including Jinc. Can also be used for hardware-accelerated video decoding (native DXVA, DXVA renderless) for H.264 8-bit, VC-1 and MPEG2. Can also bitstream HD audio tracks (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA/HR).
nVidia
Low end:-
EVGA GeForce GTX 650 1024MB GDDR5 DVI mHDMI Graphics Card 01G-P4-2650-KR
High end:-
Both cards can do hardware-accelerated video decoding (native DXVA, DXVA renderless and CUVID) for H.264 8-bit, VC-1, MPEG2 and MPEG4-ASP (CUVID only) videos. Both can also bitstream HD Audio tracks (Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA/HR). The only difference between these two cards is that the GTX 650 cannot handle Jinc 8-tap while the GTX 670 can.
CHECKLIST
Main Programs:-
- DirectX End-user Runtime June 2010 – offline installer (recommended) or stub installer. A mandatory installation for the MPC-HC build above. If you already have this runtime installed (some games install this for you), there is no need to redownload this.
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4 – Download here. You probably won't need it if you already have Windows Vista or 7. You will need it with Windows XP.
- LAV Filters Megamix - Download here (Compile time: 22 May 2013 1:46pm UTC+8. Build: 62a2e59c3987). Contains MPC-HC 32-bit lite (and PotPlayer 32-bit), LAV Filters (32-bit version only), dtsdecoderdll.dll for decoding DTS-HD MA tracks, madVR, AC3Filter 2.5b, Reclock, Real Alternative Lite and DirectVobSub xy-vsfilter (disabled for now). Unlike vanilla LAV Filters, the version in this package needs SSE2-capable CPUs to operate. doom9 thread for LAV Filters. doom9 thread for madVR.
Note: When playing your very first video, it may take up to 30 seconds for playback to start because Reclock is doing its initial initialization.
Troubleshooting:-
- DXVA Checker – Download here. Original website. Provides information about your GPU video decoding capabilities.
- GPU-Z – Download from here. Provides general information about your GPU.
- CPU-Z – Download from here. Provides general information about your CPU.
- Driver Sweeper – Download from here. Clean up remnants of device drivers installations for clean reinstall.
- nVidia RGB Full/Limited range toggler – If you have nVidia GPU and uses HDMI output, this program allows you to make the GPU output full-range RGB without making custom resolutions. Download it here.
Test files:-
- H.264 SD video clip with styled karaoke subtitles [MediaInfo] – The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya NCED theme (Hare Hare Yukai) – download here.
- H.264 720p video clip with styled karaoke subtitles [MediaInfo] – Clannad NCED theme (Dango Daikazoku) – download here.
- H.264 1080p video clip with styled karaoke subtitles [MediaInfo] – AIR NCOP theme (Tori no Uta) – download here.
- H.264 1080p video clip with styled karaoke subtitles [MediaInfo] – Clannad After Story NCOP theme (Toki wo Kizamu Uta) – download here.
- H.264 1080p video clip with styled subtitles [MediaInfo] – Planet Earth: From Pole to Pole – download here.
- Optional test file for testing deinterlacing capabilities: H.264 1080i video clip [MediaInfo] – History Channel – Decoding the Past: Mysteries of the Freemasons – download here.
- Optional test file for testing splitter's segment linking capabilities: 3x H.264 anamorphic 1080p video clips with styled subtitles [MediaInfo] – K-On!! episode 6 – download here.
- Optional (animation) test file to test Hi10p decoding performance: H.264 1080p 10-bit video clip (no subtitles) [MediaInfo] Sentai Filmworks' Angel Beats trailer – download here.
2-pass encode with 10000Kbps bit-rate, 16 reference frames and 8 b-frames. Visually lossless compared to the source Blu-ray, even with 50% size reduction. If you can play this file flawlessly, your system should be good enough to play 99.999% Hi10p videos that anime fansubs groups will encode in the future. Even Tenshi's encodes.
- Optional (real-life) test file to demonstrate Hi10p encoding efficiency: H.264 1080p 10-bit video clip (PGS subtitles) [MediaInfo] – Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End blooper reel – download here.
2-pass encode with saner settings: 3072Kbps bit-rate, 3 reference frames, 3 b-frames. Differences in visual quality between the encoded file and the source Blu-ray is pretty much negligible. This clip is more than 3 times longer than the Highschool of the Dead clip above, yet the differences in size is merely only 20MB. A massive 80% file reduction has been achieved from the source file, with no 80% quality reduction, or any need to downscale to lower resolutions either.
If you have any problems downloading the files, please make a comment below.
TUTORIAL
Jump to:-
Step 1 – Installation Stage
Step 2 – Choosing Your Preferred Decoding Method By Configuring LAV Video Decoder
Step 3 – Configuring LAV Splitter Source, LAV Audio Decoder and AC3Filter (optional)
Step 4 – Configuring madVR
Step 1 – Installation Stage
If you already have Haali Media Splitter, madFLAC, madVR and LAV Filters installed, uninstall them first. If you have previous versions of LAV Filter Megamix that has Haali in it from here before, use the uninstaller to uninstall it too. Uninstall your version of MPC-HC too if you have them installed.
Download the .NET Framework above and install it, if you didn't have it installed already.
Then download the LAV Filters Megamix above and install it. Make sure you do not forgot to select MPC-HC in the screen below.
Click the 'Next' button a bunch of times until you arrived at the last step of the installation process as shown in the picture below.
For first-time installation, the first option in the picture above MUST BE SELECTED. Then click the 'Finish' button to finish the installation process.
When upgrading, you do not need to select the first option in the picture above if you want to keep your previous settings. But once in a while, you should reset the settings especially if a new version of LAV Filters and/or MPC-HC has been released. Or better, uninstall your current instalation first before using a newer version of the installer.
A note for everyone, if you use Windows 64-bit, you do not have to use MPC-HC 64-bit too. MPC-HC 32-bit works just fine.
MPC-HC can now be started via 'All Programs —> LAV Filters —> Media Player Classic HomeCinema'. Using Windows 8? It should be available somewhere in the Start Screen.
Step 2 – Choosing Your Preferred Decoding Method By Configuring LAV Video Decoder
It will be here where you will have to decide which decoding method from the list below that you want to use:-
- High performance software decoding mode.
- DXVA renderless decoding mode.
- CUDA decoding mode.
- Intel QuickSync decoding mode.
- Native DXVA decoding mode.
Go to 'Start Menu —> All Programs —> LAV Filters —> LAV Video Configuration' to bring up LAV Video Decoder property page. For Windows 8 users, the shortcut should be somewhere in the Metro Start page. LAV Video Decoder property page will appear and ready to be configured according to your preferred decoding method.
Method #1 – High performance software decoding mode.
Mainly used for Hi10p videos, and other video codecs if your GPU doesn't support it. For best results, you need a fast dual-core CPU with minimum speed of 3Ghz. A quad-core CPU should at least have 2.5Ghz of speed at least.
Method #2 – DXVA renderless decoding mode.
Works only in Windows Vista and later. Works best with nVidia GPUs, and also ATI GPU series that has UVD3. ATI UVD2.x users may have to switch to EVR custom presenter. Doesn't work on Hi10p videos and other unsupported video formats, and will fall into high performance software decoding mode when such files are played.
Method #3 – CUDA decoding mode (nVidia GPUs only).
note: For PureVideo 4 and 5 users, do not use 28x.xx, 29x.xx and 300.xx drivers, else MPEG4-ASP acceleration will fail. Use 27x.xx or older drivers, or use 301.42 drivers or newer.
Doesn't work on Hi10p videos and other unsupported video formats, and will fall into high performance software decoding mode when such files are played.
Method #4 – Intel QuickSync Decoding Mode.
You need an Intel SandyBridge/IvyBridge CPU that use the LGA1155 socket and a motherboard that did not use the P67 chipset. Therefore only motherboards with the B65, H61, Q67, H67, and Z68 chipsets can be used. All Series 7 motherboard chipsets will work. Windows 7 and later is recommended. Windows Vista is discouraged (no heterogenous GPU support), and Windows XP isn't supported at all.
If you want to use QuickSync ASIC for decoding while using a discrete videocard for madVR, you will need Windows 7 or later. If you only have Windows 7, you need to enable the QuickSync headless mode by following the steps in this link. If you have Windows 8, you do not have to do so.
Always make sure that you are using the latest drivers available from Intel's website, not the ones that comes from the motherboard manufacturer' websites, or the CD. Older driver versions may cause the decoder to fail.
Method #5 – native DXVA decoding mode.
Works only in Windows Vista and later. Should only be used by owners of Intel G45 chipset, Clarkdale and Arrandale CPUs, ATI HD3xxx, HD4xxx and HD5xxx GPUs. But all other GPUs/iGPUs that can use QuickSync/CUVID/DXVA renderless decoding methods should also be able to use this mode. Doesn't work on Hi10p videos and other unsupported video formats, and will fall into high performance software decoding mode when such files are played.
Click 'Apply' button to save your settings, then click the 'OK' button to close the property page.
Step 3 – Configuring LAV Splitter Source, LAV Audio Decoder and AC3Filter (optional)
Go to 'Start Menu —> All Programs —> LAV Filters —> LAV Splitter Configuration' to bring up LAV Splitter property page. For Windows 8 users, the shortcut should be somewhere in the Metro Start page. 'LAV Splitter' property page will appear below.
Leave everything here exactly as shown above. You're welcome to play around with automatic audio/subtitles track selection routine though to suit your needs. Verify that everything is in order, click 'Apply' and then click 'OK' to close the property page.
Go to 'Start Menu —> All Programs —> LAV Filters —> LAV Audio Configuration' to bring up LAV Audio Decoder property page. For Windows 8 users, the shortcut should be somewhere in the Metro Start page. 'LAV Audio Decoder' property page will appear below.
Enable any audio codec you want to bitstream here. If bitstreaming DTS-HD MA, do not enable 'Use DTS-HD Framing for all DTS types' unless your receiver needs it. Verify that everything is in order, click 'Apply' and then click 'OK' to close the property page.
By default, AC3Filter is set to mix all audio tracks to stereo. If you have other speaker configurations, start up AC3Filter by going to 'Start Menu —> AC3Filter —> AC3Filter Config' to bring up its property page, as shown below.
For example, if you have a 5.1 speaker system, change the 'Output Format' drop-down menu to use '5.1 surround'. Verify that everything is in order, click 'Apply' and then click 'OK' to close the property page.
Step 4 – Configuring madVR
Click here to read how to configure madVR.
If you have any problems, make a comment below with the screenshots of your DXVA Checker, GPU-Z and CPU-Z results like in the example below.
MISCELLANEOUS
- With the removal of ffdshow raw video filter, if you want to deband your videos, you have to use JanWillem32 deband pixel shader script, which is included in the LAV Filters package above. His pixel shader script need a reasonably powerful GPU to run effectively though. No iGPU like Intel HD4000 and AMD/nVidia solutions can handle it, and some models of low-end discrete GPU may have problems too.
Reviews only full season(s) of anime series, and movies. Maybe a little bit of OVAs. Will put a two-point handicap on titles within the romance and sport genres.
Incoming search terms:
- imouto cuda (356)
- madvr guide (337)
- mpc hc cuda (238)
- imouto my cuda (221)
- anime cuda (217)
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- mpc cuda (162)
- mpc-hc CUDA (108)
- watching CUDA (100)
- coreavc low latency (99)
- madVR (94)
- madVR settings (89)
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- cuda watching (55)
- madvr anime (52)
- imuto my (48)
I’m here to leave a thank you note for the OP. Here are my results:
[SPOILER]
Filter 0: Default DirectSound Device
Filename: quartz.dll
Filter CRC: CRC Unavailable.
Date: ERROR: File Not Found.
Filter 1: Video Renderer
Filename: quartz.dll
Filter CRC: CRC Unavailable.
Date: ERROR: File Not Found.
Filter 2: ffdshow Audio Decoder
Filename: C:\Program Files\CCCP\Filters\FFDShow\ffdshow.ax
Filter CRC: Use Tools->CRC Check to find CRC.
Date: 2009-04-09 | 15:55:10
Filter 3: CoreAVC Video Decoder
Filename: C:\Program Files\CoreCodec\CoreAVC Professional Edition\CoreAVCDecoder.ax
Filter CRC: 79B4A919
Date: 2009-03-15 | 08:38:18
Filter 4: D:\Atashi\Desktop\Fullmetal Alchemist 2\[Taka]_Fullmetal_Alchemist_(2009)_02_[1080p][7CFA26F4].mp4
Filename: C:\Program Files\CCCP\Filters\Haali\splitter.ax
Filter CRC: 125697A6
Date: 2009-01-10 | 15:17:14
[/SPOILER]
Ok thanks, I will try to attempt to just change it to 512 mb. According to my techpowerup printout I see that only 256 is listed. Now that I am in my bios, where do I tweak it too 512
The motherboard manual should have the setting in it (framebuffer memory, video memory or something like that). It is hard to guess because I do not have your motherboard manual, and the way to change it differs between manufacturers.
Ranpha,
As I mentioned I am a novice with all of this. I checked your DXVA tutorial. Now I would like to tweak the bios. How do I do this. I entered the bios but not sure what to tweak. If I go into th eBios setup utility advanced settings I can change anythig taht relates to RAM, speed, frequency and FSB Multiplier. Are you sure I can adjust the bios?
Thanks
While I do have the same ATI chipset as you, I am not really sure on how to do it with your ASUS motherboard. Your best bet is to read the motherboard manual to see how to do it (mine is Gigabyte motherboard). You can get away actually without overclocking the GPU, but you must give it 512MB of RAM. That’s a must and very important. You should be able to access the BIOS when you start the computer (press Delete button or something), not by using the eBios Windows software.
Unless your playing formats that exceed the capability of DXVA there is no reason for anyone to use CUDA. Comparing your CUDA and DXVA tutorials, DXVA is far in the lead in terms of processor usage, which makes sense because CUDA isn’t really hardware accelerating the video like DXVA, its just offloading software processing to the GPU without utilising PureVideo. CoreAVC is still a software codec.
@Terminal Illness
The CPU usage in the CUDA tutorial is higher than it is in DXVA tutorial because ffdshow Video Decoder is being loaded for post-processing too. If I do not use ffdshow just like I do in the DXVA tutorial, the CPU usage between both methods should be comparable.
Ranpha,
Thanks for the help. Here are my computer details;:
Windows Vista X64
MB M3a78 Em AM2 AMD780G
Processor AMD Anthlon 64X 5600
4GB memory
ATI HD3200 Radeon
I just ran Techpowerup and want give you a screenshot but how do I link it for you? Not very familiar with this.
Thanks
Hmm.. you did know that CUDA only works with nVidia GPUs right?
You might want to take a look at this post instead, where you use DXVA with ATI.
The AIR OP video will not work with the ATI GPU, and you should set in the BIOS, so that the GPU will be overclocked to at least 700Mhz and uses 512MB of RAM.
Hello,
Ive been reading your posts trying to tweak my system. However, I actually am trying to play MKV files on MPC HC but running into a lot of trouble (skipping/ audio sync and such). Before I post/ email you with all my computer setup details I just want to make sure that you are willing to help me out setting up my system correctly. Please note though that I am a novice with all of this. Ive tried a lot of other websites/ posts but it appears that none of them go into such details as yours.
Let me know if you would be so kind to help me out! If so please send me an email.
Thanks in advance for your consideration.
Rich
@richard
Just post it here, so that everyone who reads this post will benefit from it. There’s nothing to hide here. Sharing is caring, and I will try to help as much as I can.
Include your PC spec like below:-
- Windows version.
- CPU and RAM (1GB at least).
- Info about your nVidia card, such as model number, amount of RAM (256MB minimum), bus (PCI-E or AGP), driver version (minimum 182.06). Download GPU-Z from http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/ and make a screenshot of your card information and link it here.
- CoreAVC is 1.9.5. Professional at minimum.
Also, download the 3 test files above there, because testing will be done with them.
@ranpha
Yes, The spec is the same.
Thank you for all your assistance.
Now I need a new laptop…..
@ranpha
My HP dv2517tx laptop do hot have Shared Video option in its BIOS.
I am a bit confuse because in this picture it show my VGA has 256 MB ram.
http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/pp340/MaxDOL/MaxDOLvideoshared.jpg
The ‘Approx. Total Memory’ includes Turbocache mode, which didn’t count.
Is your laptop the same as this one here – http://www.shopsanova.com/productSubmitReview.htm?currentProduct=5804
Intel Centrino(TM) Duo Mobile Technology
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.0GHz, 800MHz FSB, 4MB L2)
Intel PM965 (Crestline PM)
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945BG Network Connection
2GB DDR2 667 (1GBx2DIMM), 160GB Hard Drive 5400rpm (Serial ATA)
DVD+/-RW Drive (Super Multi DVD Writer Dual format, Double Layer) Light Scribe
"5-in-1 Media Reader
SD (SDIO), MultiMediaCard (MMC), Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, XD
( Support of 16MB to 512MB memory cards for XD)"
"14.1"" WXGA (1280 x 768) High-definition BrightView LCD panel,
Nvidia NB8M-GS with 64MB of dedicated video memory with upto 256MB video memory when system memory has > =1GB (64MB + 192MB Turbo Cache)"
Altec Lansing branded speaker with built in dual microphone
10/100 LAN Ethernet, high speed 56K modem, 802.11b/g Wireless LAN, Bluetooth
(3) USB 2.0, 1394- 4 pins, VGA, TV-out (S-Video), (2) Headphone Jack with one SPDIF support, (1) Mic In, AC adapter 65 watt, Kensington Lock, Expansion Port, Express Card Slot, One fingerprint reader
New moulding HP Imprint technique ("Radiance" Pattern on notebook glossy cover and palm rest)
Weight 2.44 kg., 6-Cell LilON Battery
Microsoft® Windows® Vista Premium
ULTRA SLIM REMOTE CONTROL
QuickPlay Function version 2.1 (Play/Preview Music, Movie and Pictures)
Integrated HP Pavilion Webcam 1.3 Mega Pixels
If this is your computer, then you cannot use CUDA with your laptop. The amount of dedicated video ram is simply too low. You may try DXVA tutorial here – http://nunnally.ahmygoddess.net/watching-h264-videos-using-dxva/ although I think you probably need 128MB video RAM for that.
@ranpha
Here is my screenshot of my GPU’s data.
About the driver, I use the driver from laptop2video.
@MaxDOL
Your video ram is only 64MB from GPU-Z. Go to BIOS and increase it to 256MB (if you use EVR custom presenter) or 512MB (if you use VMR renderless). If you use soft-subtitles in MPC-HC internal subtitle engine, you will need even more RAM. 512MB should be good enough for most cases, 64MB is way too low.
256MB video ram is the minimum requirement for CUDA. For DXVA, I think it is 128MB.
Which renderer gives better picture quality?
1. coreavc + CUDA + EVR, or
2. MPC Video decoder (DXVA2) + VMR9
I am using XP by the way. I noticed even if I select EVR, MPC will switch to VMR (not sure 7/9 it didn’t specify in the filter section), when DXVA is in use.
Anything that isn’t VMR7/9 should be good enough. DXVA2 is Vista/7-only, that’s maybe why it switch to VMR7 for DXVA because you are using XP. As for decoders, CoreAVC and MPC Video Decoder should spit out the same picture quality.
If you are using XP, then CUDA + overlay mixer/Haali Video renderer/EVR/EVR custom presenter is better than MPC Video Decoder DXVA + VMR.