H264 decoder for weak CPU pc

[video-phile]

Hi. I have a netbook with Z520 1.33GHz cpu and 2GB RAM that, surprizingly, can play excellently a 1080 50p (bitrate ~28Mbps) movie with windows media player 12. I have also another netbook with a stronger cpu (N450 1.66GHz) and 1Gb RAM, but I can't make it play smoothly that movie. Do you guys know how to identify which decoding filter wmp uses when playing a movie file?
Thank you.

[redwudz]

It's more likely the GPU (The video processor chip) that's helping with playback. WMP is not known for performance. I would try some different players such as MPC-HC player.

[El Heggunte]

Do you guys know how to identify which decoding filter wmp uses when playing a movie file?

DirectShow Filter Graph Spy:

http://alax.info/blog/777

Regarding the decoding speed: currently LAV Video is (nearly?) as fast as the abandonware CoreAVC.
And if you're not afraid of the command-line environment, Mplayer will be even faster.

[Hoser Rob]

... And if you're not afraid of the command-line environment, Mplayer will be even faster.

I'd also recommend mplayer for slow hardware but not the CLI version for most ... SMplayer is a GUI front end for mplayer and it's my default for video.

[jagabo]

Divx's h.264 decoder was reputed to be the fastest h.264 decoder. But I don't think that's going to help you. The main difference is probably the GPU's DXVA h.264 decoder. Because sub 2 GHz, single core CPUs can't decode 1080p50 h.264 in realtime.