ATi and DXVA (G73jh and any other ATi laptops)

Catalyst 10.5 ATi UPDATE! Full DXVA 2.0 Support. ATi has taken 2 years, but finally we have DXVA, L5.1 16 ref frame support. MPC-HC 64 etc have been updated in the last week or so for this. Here is the setup!!!
- MPC-HC's DXVA support has been great for Nvidia, but not so great for ATi
- With Catalyst 10.5 update, MPC-HC have updated to provide the same level of support for ATi users!

Also this guide will show you to watch your videos in 100% 64 Bit, not that you need it. But if like me, you just want 64 bit with your 64 bit OS, regardless!

DXVA is Microsoft's hardware support for video rendering. There is an alternative with Linux using Mplayer.

Why use DXVA? Why not use it. This will allow you watch the the most intensive HD videos using 1% of CPU and 1% of GPU. If you have a i5 or i7, 720p/1080p should be no problem using CoreAVC 2.0 or FFDShow Tryouts. But this is just easier, read on to see how much easier.

Onwards with Windows 7.

Download MPC-HC 64 Bit latest version: Media Player Classic Home Cinema (x86/x64) - XvidVideo.RU.
- When you install, install this in the 64 bit program folder.
- MPC-HC has the best free DXVA 2.0 support available IMO and it works awesome
- MPC-HC also uses FFDShow's latest ffmpeg-mt h264 decoder when not using DXVA.
- It is an all in one package.

Download Haali Splitter 64: http://haali.su/mkv/MatroskaSplitter.exe
- When you install, install in your 64 bit program folders. The beta 64 Haali works flawlessly for me so far, no problems!

Install latest FFDShow Tryouts Beta 64: Browse ffdshow Files on SourceForge.net
- Personally I like using FFDShow for my audio. It's how I have it setup, I never have to touch it or worry about it, just works with everything. You can go in and set it up for surround etc if you'd like easily with this. Lots of different options.
- So when you install just install audio, if you want video also just in case, at the bottom I show you how to turn off video when using DXVA with MPC-HC.
- As said above, there is no need for video as MPC-HC uses the latest ffmpeg-mt h264 decoder from FFDShow already.

MPC-HC 64 Setup

Open MPC-HC 64, Press "O" for Options.

First lets setup Playback. Make sure to check auto-load subtitles


Go to Ouput, Set it to EVR Custom


Go to Internal Filters


Next double click on H264/AVC1 (DXVA). You will see config screen for DXVA.
- Currently DXVA for ATi is broken on 480p, so this will allow you to ignore SD/480p videos for DXVA
- The above options are for FFDShow's latest H264 software decoder when you are not using DXVA. Set it to 8 threads if you have i7, set it to 2 if you have dual core.


Next you can set Subtitles. I just set mine to desktop and play while buffering.
- This will allow any subtitles to be viewed at your desktop resolution. You will notice for example in 480 or 720 videos, subtitle become much crisper and high res if you have a 1080p screen for example.


Haali Setup

Compatibility Auto-Load


FFDShow Setup

FFDShow Video, set H264 to disabled.


FFDShow DXVA set to off
- MPC-HC 64's DXVA 2.0 support is vastly superior to FFDShow's right now



All done, play and enjoy. No other setup needed, you are set to go.

 

Thanks for the guide. Does this apply to KMplayer as well? Im currently using CoreAVC+KMplayer combo.

 

Or you can just install K-Lite Mega Codecs Pack and enable DXVA on the final stages of installation.

 

Yeah I would ignore this. Anyone who is interested in video encoding or quality ignore k-lite, VLC and any other junk.

What I showed above is to get the best quality DXVA available right now.

MPC-HC and FFDShow are from Doom9 support with direct support from x264 developers. x264 developers hate k-lite and VLC with a passion.

Up to you, personally don't care if you use K-Lite junk or use my guide. I personally wouldn't touch K-Lite with a 10 ft stick.

No this is for Media Player Classic Home Cinema and FFDShow which are the only choice used by x264 fanatics, supported by Doom9. Doom10, and x264 developers. The lead developer for x264, Dark-Shikari won't even talk to people who have issues if not using MPC or Mplayer (Linux).
- On Freenode and Rizon on IRC, usually you will get ignored if you have video issues if you are not using the above. Because MPC-HC and FFDShow well I already said it twice.

 

I respectfully beg to differ. K-Lite Mega Codecs is far from the garbage that is VLC, and it uses MPC as well. They have improved from mere packs to something that is very good. The settings that you show above is almost exactly the same with the default installation of the pack.

 

I'm using stock drivers and DXVA works

 

DXVA has always worked. But not L5.1 16 ref. This just means you don't watch videos using the latest that x264 has to offer. There aren't many L5.1 videos out there, only the most hardcore x264 encoders use it, can find it on high quality anime or select few HD sites.

 

Fine with me, we can agree to disagree. K-Lite I consider garbage and won't touch it. It's so bloated and full of crap it's ridiculous.

For others hope you like my guide. It's far leaner than K-Lite only what you need and so far I have had no issues. With my way you can get direct support on Doom9 and IRC if you have problems. With the above you'll probably just get weird looks or just ignored.

 

Depends on how you install it. It's actually just a compilation of many different stuff. If you wish to install Haali, FFDshow and just the MPC, well you can just tick the things you want during installation. I for one use some of the tools that comes with it

 

Yeah still has nothing to do with my guide. Please stop arguing about how awesome your K-Lite is. You will never convince me to download a bloated codec pack, ever...

This was about DXVA 2.0 L5.1 support with MPC-HC and using 64 bit. For those interested in using my guide, please stop promoting K-Lite and making this thread a mess. My guide is clean, simple without the bloat.

For those who want to download a pack. The only video/audio pack I can recommend is CCCP.
http://www.cccp-project.net/

 

I've found that using ffdshow and haali has the same effect as using k-lite, without all the garbage.

Again, ffdshow and haali will do everything a regular user needs, and without the bloat. If you're encoding videos, then you're probably not using codec packs, either ... so as far as I'm concerned, codec packs are for people who can't be bothered to do it right, but still want to be able to decode things.

Also, on windows7 with WMP, most of the necessary codecs for most formats are included, and all you need is haali.

 

Doesn't Cat 10.5 cause GSODs in gaming?

In anycase, this guide couldn't have come at a better time seeing as how I uninstalled K-Lite a few days ago (got into x264 encoding for a HD site) and streamlined my install to MPC (internal filters enabled), Coreavc, Real & QT Alternative.

This should be much more fun capitalizing on DXVA and Win764 bit.

Cheers Ziddy.

Edit:
Followed the guide to a tee and my GPU temps are a few degrees lower (58C) compared to my previous setup. Cheerio.

 

10.5 isn't an auto-GSOD. I've been using it for a bit without issue. The only time I've ever GSOD'd is when messing with underclocking the GPU and mem. Good guide Ziddy- I look forward to trying it when I get home. I don't do encoding but do enjoy the occasional anime vid and the like.

 

O wow, thanks for the guide. I just ordered my g73jh-a1 about three days ago. Soon as it arrives, I'll be taking advantage of your guide. Again, thanks a lot.

+ rep

edit - question, coreavc install makrosta splitter automatically I believe. Is it the same one u linked or an older version?

 

wait a sec, I thought nvidia focuses on nvidia. Is coreavc still superior for ati?

 

No disrespect intended but why is media classic the only player that you would use? I used to favor classic over regular wmp but once I found kmplayer, I have stuck with it since then. KMplayer can actually borrow mpc and use the decoder there. I guess I enjoy the UI of KMplayer much more than mpc.

 

I don't know if you are aware but VLC shares Open source codes with pretty much all open source players, so you are an idiot for saying that.