E350 set-up

[PerryM]

I've just finished a new HTPC for the bedroom (gearing up for the Olympics!) using an Asus E35M1-I motherboard with the AMD E-350 processor and a T2 TV Tuner. It is all up and running on DVBViewer and receiving UK Freeview, but the HD live play (via HDMI to a TV)is not quite there. On a recommendation I've just tried playing back an HD recording in MPC-HC and that is smooth - so we are probably definitely talking about video decoding options.

Looking through the existing posts (here and elsewhere) there is a tremendous variation of success with HD play on this E-350 platform. Would somebody who is successfully using a similar system care to share their set-up? In particular which decoders to use for H.264 and AC3? Obviously it needs to get the motherboard GPU involved to help accelerate the process.(there is no separate video card)

[QBox User]

I have a similar low-powered PC, though with Atom 330 CPU. In the absence of your support file, I'm guessing this is Windows 7. Default Microsoft codec should be fine for HD video, but AC3 will need an alternative - AC3filter is usually recommended.

[PerryM]

Sorry - yes Windows 7. At the moment it is not on the Internet so it will be a bit of a faff getting the support file up. The default Microsoft codec shows flashes of 'error blocks' but is very nearly there. The alternative 'AAC' decoder often freezes for a second or so and the audio is way out of sync.

I have not added any extra decoders - any suggestions greatfully received. As I said - they need to utilise the available hardware acceleration (VAAPI) in the GPU as apparently does MPC-HC

[mague]

Try ATI AVIVO stream decoder with different renderers, with and without Custom renderer.

[QBox User]

It's possible to waste a lot of time and mess up your system trying out lots of different codecs. I use the MS ones for video and AC3filter for AC3 audio and have been happy with that.

 

For comparison, the very latest LAV filters have been well received on this forum. I didn't find them any more efficient than the MS ones, but they are more configurable so you can try various options. I use a desktop widget for monitoring GPU use.

[PerryM]

Now attached support file. Still having no joy in finding a decoder combination that gives me good HD video and sync sound. I can get one or the other but not both together! Any further info and links to relevant downloads would be appreciated.

Thanks

support.zip

[QBox User]

Change "H264codec" to "Microsoft DTV-DVD Video Decoder"

[PerryM]

Just to update - I installed the latest 'Catalyst' video driver (a new one came in today) and it is now just about usable. To show how marginal it is on HD - I lose the lip sync if I turn the 'Channel List' on - but for normal viewing it is OK.

Thanks for the help