Is Intel i3 what I need?

[Salty Wagyu]

Hello chaps, building a new HTPC has been on the cards for a while. I have considered building an Atom ION system (or buying the Revo 3610) but I have decided I do not want to rely solely on graphics acceleration for HD playback.

I have looked into getting a beefier CPU so I can use that instead for HD playback, and the i3 seems to fit the bill, being energy efficient too.

The reasons I don't want to depend on graphics acceleration has come from a recent experience of trying out DXVA in Media Player Classic on my PC and seeing how it can't run alongside with DirectVobSub, as I heavily use this for subtitles (I have some hearing loss).

I've found MPC's internal subtitle renderer to be crap when I tried out DXVA and I didn't like it, even adjusting the sync of subtitles didn't seem to do a thing. I need to be able to adjust the sync of subtitles as they can be out of sync by 1-2seconds sometimes.

Other things I've had to tick off the list as not suitable for me:
a) I've found out (from others) that XBMC supports the major subtitles, but doesn't have anything to adjust subtitle sync on-the-fly.
b) PS3MediaServer (yes I have a PS3), but no support for .idx/.sub nor any on-the-fly syncing options
c) Any form of ready made media players such as WD Live, Popcorn, etc. are quite vague on what they support, plus it's likely these devices would have other small issues of their own that I can't be bothered with.

I haven't drawn up a specs list yet, but I am asking if an i3 based HTPC will suit me for CPU-only rendered HD playback. I intend to install Windows 7 and the CCCP codec (which includes MPC) package to it. I will also be using KMPlayer and VLC which uses their own in-built codecs should I have trouble with certain files.

I've often wondered why some people are getting their HD content accelerated from the onboard graphics on the i3 when the CPU is capable of doing it alone? Is it something that the i3 or intel graphics driver forces natively for all media applications regardless if they do hardware acceleration or not?

Thanks for any advice - remember that it is specific to the situation I am in, if it wasn't for my hearing loss I would have probably bought/built an Atom/ION system!

 

[af22]

i've recently built two i3 HTPC's and was very unhappy with the DXVA playback with the intel graphics. I keep getting some corrupt graphics glitch on the side of the screen on one of the builds. This week i built a sandy bridge i5 with the new intel 3000 graphics and everything worked great. Although my personal HTPC is still on a nforce 8300 =(

Now, i definitely would recommend DXVA playback over cpu rendering. The problems your describing are due to your codecs. CCCP hasn't been updated very recently for windows 7 or 64 bit variants. It is not recommended for today's HPTC builds.

You should definitely be using Windows Media Center, with either the shark007 codec pack or the k-lite codec pack. You need to install both 32 bit and 64 bit codecs. I use FFDshow audio and video codecs with DXVA enabled. Haali splitter controls the subtitles, and I have not had any problems.

I watch a lot of foreign films, and most of my content contains subtitles in many languages. Haven't had any issues. MPC requires DXVA playback for the subtitles to appear, i think this may also be true with FFDshow.

Basically, the i3 would fit your need, but you should be using DXVA playback. You would not be satisfied with the atom/ion if you tried to do a lot of 1080p playback.

 

[Salty Wagyu]

Why is hardware acceleration recommended on the i3s? Is there any reason I can't just use the CPU only for playback? I didn't want to complicate my setup too much by using hardware acceleration and finding out that some codecs such as DirectVobSub don't work with it.

I did use MPC-HC standalone without CCCP before (as you said their codecs were out of date), and tried to install DirectVobSub into MPC's filters, but that refused to load when DXVA was enabled.

p.s. I had a look in FFDShow's subtitles and it's not bad, it's ok with vobsub and srt subtitles, changing sync seems to work good too. I will have to use this for a few days to see how it is.

 

[xFROSTx]

Why is hardware acceleration recommended on the i3s? Is there any reason I can't just use the CPU only for playback? I didn't want to complicate my setup too much by using hardware acceleration and finding out that some codecs such as DirectVobSub don't work with it.

I did use MPC-HC standalone without CCCP before (as you said their codecs were out of date), and tried to install DirectVobSub into MPC's filters, but that refused to load when DXVA was enabled.

p.s. I had a look in FFDShow's subtitles and it's not bad, it's ok with vobsub and srt subtitles, changing sync seems to work good too. I will have to use this for a few days to see how it is.

I think we are using the term "hardware accelerated" a little too loosely here. Hardware acceleration is pretty much a necessity if you plan on doing any sort of 1080p playback. Basically, this means the computer's processor is offloading some, if not all of the graphics acceleration to the GPU (whether it's onboard or dedicated). Lower end gpu's require more processing power from the CPU to assist with the playback. I believe the i3's simply have the GPU integrated into the core. Think of it as onboard graphics built into the CPU vs. built into the motherboard like you would traditionally see. I'm over simplifying here, but basically, you are looking at 6 of one and half dozen of another. You need the hardware acceleration, where it comes from is somewhat irrelevant in regards to your issue. The first reply is your best bet, your issue sounds like it's codec related.

 

[Salty Wagyu]

I think I understand now. I guess what I'm really asking is if an i3 HTPC can manage without the help of DXVA. Currently on my i5 system I am able to play xvids and h.264 content with DXVA disabled and pretty much want this to be the same way on the i3 when I build one

 

[xFROSTx]

I think I understand now. I guess what I'm really asking is if an i3 HTPC can manage without the help of DXVA. Currently on my i5 system I am able to play xvids and h.264 content with DXVA disabled and pretty much want this to be the same way on the i3 when I build one

To answer your question, I'm not sure if an i3 can manage without DXVA.

The real issue is why you are disabling it. You currently have a workaround, not a solution. The best analogy I can think of off the top of my head is it's like driving a car with a parking brake on. Buying a faster car is redundant when you are driving with your parking brake on.

I'm not an expert when it comes to subtitles, but I am not aware of any known compatibility issue here. My suggestion is to quit fighting DXVA and figure out your codec issue.