[leo_ck]

Okay, I know this sounds silly but I don't really know much about the technicalities of the computers and WD TV live *(Or any other HD media players)*

So, I've got a question. How is it possible that my old computer with specs
2.99GHz Processor *(Pentium D)*
2GB RAM
512MB Video Card
1TB Hard disk space

is unable to out beat the WD TV live *or any other HD media players* with specs

500 MHz CPU,
333 MHz coprocessor,
333 MHz DSP
512 MB of DRAM
256 MB of NAND flash memory
taken from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Seeing that the specs of the WD TV live is lower than my old computer is terms of RAM, Processor speed and hard disk space... *(Not sure what DSP and coprocessor does)*
How is it possible that my old computer can't play 1080p? I switched to many software decoders in the past but nothing works. e.g CoreAVC.

Sorry this question is just for curiosity sake due to the fact that I don't see why my old computer is unable to play 1080p despite the hardware specs difference from the HD media players Is it really due to the fact of the software problem? That means if I manage to insert in the same software from the media player into my old computer it'll work as well?

[infierno]

It is because your video card doesn't support high definition resolution, I think.
Can you look normal videos [480p]?

[King Drahcir]

graphics card, noob.

[leo_ck]

Originally Posted by infierno

It is because your video card doesn't support high definition resolution, I think.
Can you look normal videos [480p]?

Yeah I can watch it till 720p

Originally Posted by King Drahcir

graphics card, noob.

Hahaha... If u're just gonna tell me the obvious answers then I can pretty much figure it out on my own... I'm just curious as too how such a device with a specs lower than my old computer can watch a 50GB Full 1080p movie smoothly....
If u say graphics card, r u saying that the graphics card of my WD TV live is better than my old computer?

[King Drahcir]

Originally Posted by leo_ck

Yeah I can watch it till 720p



Hahaha... If u're just gonna tell me the obvious answers then I can pretty much figure it out on my own... I'm just curious as too how such a device with a specs lower than my old computer can watch a 50GB Full 1080p movie smoothly....
If u say graphics card, r u saying that the graphics card of my WD TV live is better than my old computer?

feel free to post the specs of both gfx cards if your unsure. Also make sure you have codecs to the proper players.

[arif_sama]

Originally Posted by King Drahcir

feel free to post the specs of both gfx cards if your unsure. Also make sure you have codecs to the proper players.

when my old graphics card burned up, I could still run everything thru built-in gpu
just use CCCP
everything will be SMOOTH!!!!!

[yksirf]

Data reading/writing has recently changed. They are using different methods utilizing unique silicon/ nano-scale wires rather than the old methods. These new methods are better for writing and reading data smoothly. So in a sense your old card which is doing things the old method is not going to process the data in a smooth stream and is trying to do it in chunks. While your slower TV is doing things in a stream. Quite complicated to explain actually, but i hope this helps.

[Apathy compleX]

it's your GPU core clock, that's the whole point. Your GPU clock should be ~500MHz in order to decently play 1080p content.

Originally Posted by King Drahcir

feel free to post the specs of both gfx cards if your unsure...

this post should get the attention it deserves, desu.

[digritz]

I do not know if your asking a specific question regarding your system or a general question. So here's the general reason.
The answer is quite simple. Although most leaps in technology in computers since it's inception have been geared towards increased graphics performance, (mostly due to gaming demands). Computers are still required to do more then just graphics intense work. So there is a trade off with computers.

However with things like "WD TV live *or any other HD media players*" there is no trade off it's meant to do one or two things and that's it. All it's clock cycles so to speak are focused on just that thing.

It's true that there was a time that computers could do most things better, (like gaming) then you could do on a TV. But that is no longer the case.

Just look at all your computer is doing. Inputs from the mouse and keyboard. Cycles running back and forth from the CPU to the vid card then out to the monitor. And that's just to type. Remember also that RAM works differently in a computer then a TV. In a comp. the RAM stores everything. On a TV it only save the last few seconds of data. Recording shows happens in a separate box. Updates to the screen

The short answer to your question is, it's you video card.

Originally Posted by Apathy compleX

it's your GPU core clock, that's the whole point. Your GPU clock should be ~500MHz in order to decently play 1080p content.

I'm a bit curious where you got your data from? I have ran 1080 @400MHz "decently". It's called optimal configuration.

[kFYatek]

The trick is simple - those 333 MHz DSP and/or coprocessor are actually doing most of the video decoding part. It may be possible to achieve something similar on your PC, by doing the decoding on the video card (and not the CPU, as it is done by default).

Unfortunately, you haven't told us what your video card precisely is - just knowing it has 512 MB of memory is not enough. If it is a NVIDIA card, you may be able to run CUDA version of CoreAVC, which is probably the best GPU-based video decoding solution available. If that doesn't work on your card, try to use DXVA - both CCCP (and ffdshow in general) and CoreAVC support it. If your video card is new enough, it should work. Just keep in mind that subtitle rendering will not be as nice and smooth as with VSFilter, and forget about 10-bit, AFAIK there's no GPU-based video decoder capable of this available at the moment.

To enable DXVA in CCCP, open CCCP settings and check "DXVA H264" under "FFDShow Video Decoders". If it's working properly, you should see "ffdshow DXVA Video Decoder" under Play->Filters in Media Player Classic. You may need to open its properties and tweak with them a little to enable subtitles: in the list on the left side, check "Subtitles" and make sure "Substation alpha subtitles (SSA, ASS and ASS2)" and "Embedded subtitles" are checked on the subtitles configuration pane. Also, set "Post processing" to "Surface overlay" on the "Hardware acceleration" pane.

If everything's set up properly, you should experience a substantial boost in video decoding performance, possibly allowing you to play 1080p smoothly. But on the downside, DXVA decoder's subtitle rendering pretty much sucks - while it shouldn't be too apparent most of the time, it may be visible with more complicated typesetting or karaoke, and some subtitles may even not load at all. But I don't believe the WDTV has great ASS subtitle rendering, either