AMD X2 240 2.8ghz can't play 1080p?

[hatrack]

I just built a new Media Centre PC on the cheap using:

AMD x2 240 2.8ghz dual core
Asus M4A785D-M Pro
1 x 2gb PC 6400 DDR2 800 SD (they messed up the order, was supposed to be 2x 1gb)
1TB 7200rpm Hdd
Onboard ATI 4200 GPU with supposed h264 hardware decoding
Im using the HDMI out

I put on a 1080p video, CPU utilisation shoots to 100% and the video is stuttering. I've installed all sorts of drivers, nothing is running in the background. Surely a dual core can decode 1080p h264 by itself? I also have a Macbook pro C2D 2.5 and it handles 1080p with about a zillion things runing in the background no probs.

I think I'm doing something majorly wrong here but I can't figure it out. Running win 7 32 bit. Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers

[SiM]

What is the video format/codec?
What media player are you using?

Either the video format or the media player does not support DXVA.

[Ulti]

That is seriously odd, the main things I'd install are the latest CCC drivers so that means the 10.3 drivers and CCCP.

If those don't work then I'm at a loss.

[hatrack]

I've tried:

VLC (standard download)
Media player classic with the CCCP codecs
Quicktime

Surely a dual core can decode 1080p in any of those programs though? Maybe I've made an hasty assumtion here...

[Cornholio]

I've tried:

VLC (standard download)
Media player classic with the CCCP codecs
Quicktime

Surely a dual core can decode 1080p in any of those programs though? Maybe I've made an hasty assumtion here...

Whats the video format buddy ?

[scaryjim]

Grab CPU-Z and make sure the CPU is running at its rated speed. Windows 7 has some odd ideas about power management which may be setting the CPU permanently at its lowest speed (i.e. 800MHz)...

[hatrack]

Sorry, trying to play a 8024kbps h264 .mp4 1920x1080 23.94fps off a 7200rpm hdd.

[SiM]

VLC = no hardware decoding when I last checked
CCCP = ffdshow, no hardware decoding
quicktime = sucks big time

Try Media Player Classic HC:
http://www.xvidvideo.ru/media-player...-svn-1774.html

Remove CCCP, you do not need it. You can install ffdshow/haali seperately if needed.

Is the video h.264 L4.1?

Your CPU will decode h.264 with CoreAVC (it's not free) but it will struggle with the codecs that you have tried.

[hatrack]

Your CPU will decode h.264 with CoreAVC (it's not free) but it will struggle with the codecs that you have tried.

You're kidding me! I would have thought a dual core <anything> would have eaten 1080p for breakfast. I've been reading about this particular CPU and it seems that people are using them in HTPCs and can decode 1080p. I'm thinking about reinstalling windows and going to 64bit.

If you're right, I've made a major blunder here. Bought that cpu and mobo combination for the sole purpose of 1080p video playback!

[Cornholio]

You're kidding me! I would have thought a dual core <anything> would have eaten 1080p for breakfast. I've been reading about this particular CPU and it seems that people are using them in HTPCs and can decode 1080p. I'm thinking about reinstalling windows and going to 64bit.

If you're right, I've made a major blunder here. Bought that cpu and mobo combination for the sole purpose of 1080p video playback!

IF you cant get it working, although i imagine you will...all is not lost, you could just whack a passive gpu in there and get your playback that way .

[SiM]

You're kidding me! I would have thought a dual core <anything> would have eaten 1080p for breakfast. I've been reading about this particular CPU and it seems that people are using them in HTPCs and can decode 1080p. I'm thinking about reinstalling windows and going to 64bit.

If you're right, I've made a major blunder here. Bought that cpu and mobo combination for the sole purpose of 1080p video playback!

Well I am not certain, as I have not tried. But if you are using a single thread decoder, I reckon it will struggle (dual core won't help).

CoreAVC is multi-threaded - a lot of people use that with low end systems.

Or, use a player that supports hardware decoding, like the one I linked to above

[hatrack]

I have just played the same video on my Macbook pro C2D late 2008 in quicktime and sure, it's probably using hardware decoding but it's consuming 10% cpu!

VLC uses about 90% but that's just one core according to Activity monitor.

I'm just hoping I haven't made a mistake with this hardware combo here!

[scaryjim]

I'm just hoping I haven't made a mistake with this hardware combo here!

No, I think your mistake is not listening to the very good advice that SiM is trying to give you.

Also, I take it you have checked your power management settings and that the CPU is ramping up to full speed under load?

[Cornholio]

No, I think your mistake is not listening to the very good advice that SiM is trying to give you.

Also, I take it you have checked your power management settings and that the CPU is ramping up to full speed under load?

+1, cpuz that shiz

[SiM]

Yup, nothing wrong with hardware. I am using a lower spec CPU on my HTPC and I can play any 1080p.

I even got most 1080p working well on a single core A64

[Terbinator]

1080p plays back fine on my Sempron 140, 2GB 1066, and 4200IGP. MPC, a decent codec pack (i recommend k-lite codec pack) and your away. When installing media player classic it will ask you do you want DXVA support - click yes.