Please help-Pure Video problems

[ChiSoxFan]

So I just bought Pure Video yesterday and after I installed it tried playing a dvd in both Media Player and Media Center. The video playback is extremely choppy with like 3fps. I'll list my specs below but my system is more than capable to run this properly. When I called Nvidia, after 2 hours of trying the 800 number (was busy the whole time), I got some guy in India who just kept putting me on hold. I presume he was just talking to other callers while I held and likewise. He didn't have a clue about anything and it was a waste of 45 minutes. Can you guys give me any advice? My specs are below. Thanks in advance.

Athlon 64 3500 Venice
1GB, 300GB SATA
7900GT KO
XFi Platinum
91.29 Forceware

 

[TheRyuu]

First lets go get a good player like Media Player Classic.

Second, your going to have to tell MPC to USE Nvidia's Purvideo decoder. It's pretty easy. Also nows the time to install ffdshow also.

Open up MPC and get to the options screen. (View->Options)
Now go to "External Filters" and hit the "add filter" button.

Now choose Nvidia Video Decoder, and then do it again and choose Nvidia Video Post Processor (just to be sure) and set both those to the "Prefer" setting in the menu (you'll see it).

Now you should be able to just fire up a video and the icon should appear in the task bar (bottom right).

If you were using ffdshow just go ahead and add those filters too. But that also requires some configuring (just ask if you want some help).

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Wow, thanks. I'm working on downlading and setting everything up now. I'll test it and come back with results.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

I just did everything exactly as you said and the Nvdia icon popped up in the system tray when the dvd started in MPC. It was the same problem though. Looks like about 5fps when playing and my CPU is pegged at 100% the entire time. I also used that XP Decoder checkup utility and the Nvidia decoder is listed as the preferred decoder with everything else checked in the row.

 

[TheRyuu]

Alright, if you havn't already, download ffdshow.

Next, install it (duh!).

Same thing with MPC, go ahead and add it to the filters. Now open up the config for ffdshow (Start->ffdshow->Video Decoder Config). Now were it says Codecs on the right, go all the way down to the bottom with that and change the "Raw Video" to "All Supported" under the decoder colum. That will make it work (it's kinda like one of those duh steps if you know what your doing). Also go ahead and check the OSD thing in the left colum (to be sure that ffdshow is on). Other than that, for now NOTHING ELSE SHOULD BE CHECKED in the left hand colum. I'll give you a link to show settings to use later.

Now in MPC, under the "Internal Filters" in the Options menu, UNCHECK the mpeg2 on the right hand colum to avoid MPC from using that (instead it will use ffdshow.).

Now with ffdshow running, Nvidia Decoder will only work in software mode. There is no way around it but your rig should be able to handel the increased load just fine.

You should be able to start up a dvd now. See if that works.

The settings for ffdshow are in this thread:
http://www.htpcnews.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17427

Just arrow down.

 

[Auric]

wizboy11, why recommend ffdshow if it won't be doing anything... is there some defect with the Nvidia decoder and that viddy card which requires such a workaround to disable HWA?

In any case, that may be the wrong tack (even though I likewise recommend MPC &c.)... first make sure the DVD drive is in DMA transfer mode from the storage controller channel in Device Manager or specific configuration app where applicable.

 

[ChiSoxFan]

Thanks for all your advice. I ended up removing my Nvidia drivers and installing 91.33 and the problem just fixed itself. All of this time and BS and I could have just tried a new driver. Oh well, live and learn. Now that I have it working in Windows Media Player and MPC, do you have any advice as to how I can improve picture quality further? This ffdshow is what makes most of the visual enhancements and improvements on my dvds right? Will those improvements work in WMP and Media Center or just MPC player? Any quick advice for a newbie on this? Thanks again.

 

[TheRyuu]

Originally posted by: ChiSoxFan
Thanks for all your advice. I ended up removing my Nvidia drivers and installing 91.33 and the problem just fixed itself. All of this time and BS and I could have just tried a new driver. Oh well, live and learn. Now that I have it working in Windows Media Player and MPC, do you have any advice as to how I can improve picture quality further? This ffdshow is what makes most of the visual enhancements and improvements on my dvds right? Will those improvements work in WMP and Media Center or just MPC player? Any quick advice for a newbie on this? Thanks again.

Well ffdshow makes if look better. Thats why I orginaily recommended it.

Just read ~2 posts up and all the info is there.