Which Power DVD decoder for h264? Mp freezes up on me

[lugiber]

TV Server Version: Revision 16607
MediaPortal Version: V0.2.3.0 (also tried Revision:16607)
MediaPortal Skin: Xface 1.3
Windows Version: XP SP2 with all updates etc
CPU Type: Pentium 4
HDD: Sata
Memory: 1gb
Motherboard:Can't remember
Motherboard Chipset:Intel 875p
Motherboard Bios: latest
Video Card: Ati 2600HD pro
Video Card Driver: Catalyst 7.11
Sound Card: M-audio Revolution 7.1
Sound Card AC3: Coax
Sound Card Driver: Latest, cant remember
1. TV Card: Technotrend 1500C
1. TV Card Type: DVB-C
1. TV Card Driver: 4.4.10.18
2. TV Card: Technotrend 1500C
2. TV Card Type: DVB-C
2. TV Card Driver: 4.4.10.18
3. TV Card: Hauppauge Wintv-PVR USB2
3. TV Card Type: Analog Hardware encoder
3. TV Card Driver: 2.2.73.24117
MPEG2 Video Codec: Cyberlink Video/SP BD-HD Decoder (PDVD7.3)
MPEG2 Audio Codec: Cyberlink Audio Decoder
CableTV Provider: Comhem
Cooling: 3 12" Papst fans running at full speed
Power Supply:Antec 600W
Remote: MCE
TV: Sony KDL-46w3000
TV - HTPC Connection: HDMI

I'm having some trouble watching h264 videos with media portal, both with the internal movie player and while watching tv. The thing i find strange is that when i watch the movies in power dvd they play just fine only using 5-8% of the cpu. But when i try to do the same in media portal the screen goes black and mp hangs.
My guess is that i use the wrong decoders since there are so many to choose from. Which ones are you guys using? Are there some tricks to get them working properly?
These are the ones i've tried:

Cyberlink Video/SP BD-HD Decoder (PDVD7.x)
Cyberlink Video/SP Decoder (PDVD7)
ATI MPEG Video Decoder
Cyberlink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD7)

Any input would be very appreciated.

Thanks!

/Peter

[ThaClown]

hi you have almost the same setup as me... I have a HD2400Pro.
You can check wich codecs are used with GraphEdit.
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/do...hedit_141.html

have MP try to play the file in a windows, and press Ctr-G in GraphEdit.
You can now see wich codecs MP uses with this file.
For me it's Cyberlink Video/SP BD-HD Decoder(video) and FFDAudio (audio).

If you want to change codecs that are used, use GSpot.
http://www.headbands.com/gspot/
here you can see all codec and change its merit (this is an order in wich they are used).
I gave Power DVD codecs a 0080000 merit, and simply lowered the codecs (used for HD files in GraphEdit) to a merit of 00640000.

Be careful wrong merits can &^%$# up your system. So make a backup or write down what you change.

Also make sure that you update the PowerDVD, there has been a very good HD/BlueRay patch....
Good luck with it!

[lugiber]

Thanks for the help! (Great choice of computer!)
It turns out that MP is using the "Cyberlink H.264/AVC Decoder (PDVD7)" which is not hardware accellerated (on my system) and there is no way of choosing the "Cyberlink Video/SP BD-HD Decoder (PDVD7.x)" as a h264 decoder from the media portal configuration. I'm sure it was in an earlier version but i might be wrong. Is there some kind of registry tweak required in order to use hardware acceleration for the h.264 decoder?

/Peter