HD Video Decoding on GPUs with VLC 1.1.0
by Ganesh T S on June 25, 2010 4:35 AM EST- Posted in
- Home Theater
- HTPC
VLC has taken the important first step towards enabling GPU acceleration for various codecs commonly used in high definition videos. However, they have been crippled by their application structure, resulting in the fact that they are unable to provide the same amount of acceleration as other methods like DXVA using MPC-HC / Windows Media Player. While the untested Arrandale provided around 5% CPU usage improvement for VC-1 decode, PureVideo VP2 had speed-ups of around 60% for H264 and 20% for VC1. PureVideo VP4 turned out to be the best of the lot when GPU acceleration is enabled. CPU usage was lesser by a factor more than 65% for H264 and 36% for VC1.
Are these numbers good enough for the occasional HD video watcher? I would say, yes, as soon as the GPU vendors fix their drivers for the remaining minor issues. But, for the HD enthusiast with terabytes of Blu-Ray backups, I would still advise sticking with MPC-HC / Windows Media Player / favourite software Blu-Ray player.
GPU vendors should get their act together and work with the VLC developers to ensure smooth interaction between their drivers and VLC. This has already been done between the MPC-HC / mplayer - VDPAU developers and Nvidia / Intel. VLC, being much more popular, should not have much trouble in this respect (as indicated by how long it took CatalystMaker to tweet regarding Catalyst support for VLC). The vendors and developers should also look into ways to further the performance gains that have been realized with this first release. It will probably not be long before all GPU vendors support this type of acceleration at the basic level. That would be time for the VLC developers to enable GPU acceleration by default, and take away the experimental tag associated with it.
On other HD media aspects related to VLC, it is heartening to note support for WMAPro audio in the past few releases. Would it be wishful thinking to see audio passthrough / HD audio bitstreaming implemented internally in VLC? Hopefully not! Anandtech takes this opportunity to thank the VLC developers for creating and supporting one of the best open source softwares of all time.
Note: Don't forget to check out the update section on the next page, where I have tried to address some comments from readers (both here, and also in private communication)
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vfigueira - Monday, June 28, 2010 - link
1201NI have a 3g Usb Modem (ZTE MF622) and a bluetooth mice (Genius Navigator BT905).
I use the 1201N manly for internet and movies on the move.
If i only use internet, the battery lasts a little more than 3 hours.
If i only use it for movies (hd content) i last more than 2 hours but less than 3.
The user experience is not bad, but could be better.
I had for a little time a Acer 1810T with a SU2300 and the experience was better.
Windows Media Player with K-lite, played Hd content flawless and smooth, and battery life was way better than 1201N.
The atom 330 is always at full power.
Asus should be working in a bios version, which could downclock the processor and support AHCI. The only 2 faults worth mentioning.
All the players i used, are the latest version.
smartalco - Sunday, June 27, 2010 - link
I still always have VLC installed because I have yet to find any video it won't play in 4 years. I very rarely watch movies on my computer (never blu-ray), and have a decent quad core, so CPU usage isn't a problem. When I find a video that VLC can't handle, I might consider something else. In the meantime, on with the performance increase!MrSpadge - Sunday, June 27, 2010 - link
Personally I don't like VLCs interface much and prefer ZoomPlayer. But seeing them adress this important topic with its diverse problems is very good and will ensure that I also keep VLC installed for all the cases ZoomPlayer can't handle.And thanks to Anandtech for testing - this is certainly not a trivial task. As becomes obvious to me when I consider all the abreviations in this article which don't tell me anything, except "probably somehow video related".
archer75 - Sunday, June 27, 2010 - link
It has everything built in! And it's still the preferred player of choice for HTPC's.Shadowmaster625 - Monday, June 28, 2010 - link
I have many avi files from 2005-2009 that used to play just fine on VLC. Now they don't work. It is retarded. I complain how WMP doesnt play certain mp3's, but this is just as annoying.david007 - Monday, June 28, 2010 - link
Mpc hc supports most of the codecs except few odd ones (real and quicktime) out of the box without having to install the codec packs, so why use vlc for other formats than mkv?Nx6 - Monday, June 28, 2010 - link
Interesting article, but it would be much more useful if there was some comparison to other CPU-only and/or GPU-assisted decoders such as CoreAVC.PR3ACH3R - Tuesday, June 29, 2010 - link
Thanks for the review, & for mentioning just how badly ATI have neglected their Blue Screening, Lockup Causing, DPC Spiking horrible DXVA drivers.I would be eternally grateful, if/when the fixed ati drivers ever come your way, if you can also check for these problems, that have been ignored in Anandtech for way too long:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18...
ganeshts - Thursday, July 1, 2010 - link
Thanks for the forum post link.I will try to take these issues up with ATI once I have a testbed with their new card set up.
PR3ACH3R - Saturday, July 3, 2010 - link
Thank you very much for your reply.God bless you for taking it on, this has been going on since the 5xxx launch & has been ignored here so far.
Please fill us all in on this when possible,
All The Best.