High end cpu needed for playing avi files?

[Nicklas]

Hi all,
Instead of converting avi TV recordings to VCD and play them im my standalone DVD player I'm thinking of playing my avi files directly from a computer connected to the TV in my livingroom. Does anyone know how much CPU power/RAM I need to do that? Can I use my old pentium 200MHz with 32 MB RAM just to play the avi files? Where is the bottleneck when you are just playing avi's? CPU, RAM, HD or the graphics card?

PS. The captures will still be done on my "server" wich is a high end computer. I use MJPEG/HUFFYUV avi files with a resolution of 640x480 pixels.

Thanks,
/Nicklas

[mijman]

Well, let's put it this way, my p4 1.4ghz 'puter plays uncompressed AVIs from a capture with a stutter. I would think that a 200mhz would have problems too. I haven't tried it on my old 200 mhz, because I assumed it was doomed from the start. But try it and see.

[jwhitlow]

I have not watched my CPU load during playback of an uncompressed AVI, but I would assume that the hard drive speed would be more relevant than the CPU speed for playing an uncompressed AVI.
My video capture machine can play full size 720x480 uncompressed AVI files without any stutter & unlike your machine, mine is only a PIII 1Ghz (at least 40% slower), but the hard drive I am playing it from is a 4 drive RAID-0 stripe on an Adaptec 2400A controller.

[holistic]

Greetings Nicklas

I presently do what you are now thinking of doing.
My old 233mmx ,64Mb Ram, ATI video with TV out, Sb AWE32 sits in my media room.
The *.avi (DivX) movies i make i edit/cut for one 700Mb Cd [I don't bother with more than 1CD per DVD .If i like it i buy it]
Average is about 140KB/sec for the codec i use. The machine seems to handle the playback ONLY IF all other resources are shut down. I try to start movie with 94% or better system resources free. There is the occasional 'stutter' which i know is not the disk since it plays OK on my other computer.

***** To anwser your question - NO. Do not believe that 200 with 32MB RAM has enough power to decode your movies smoothly. Bottle neck appears to be the CPU in this case.

When i overclock my 233 to 266 the 'stuttering' is minimized.
Suggest 300Mhz or better 64Mb RAM or better

[Nicklas]

Thanks Holistic!
I actually started to configure my old 200mHz machine yesterday but stopped when the Windows ME installation guide refused to continue due to my slow CPU!

I guess I'll just have to spend some more money on this..

By the way, Would you go for a TV-out graphics card or get a VGA-TV converter?

/Nicklas

[holistic]

Already have a TV out card so it is a moot point. Have not used a VGA converter so cannot comment. Since you are upgrading ,look at the following - it is last years model but a good one - MATROX G400 with TV out

____________Looks like an inexpensive upgrade_____________

BUT since you have an old socket 7 board it will be pointless to upgrade that component.

Money best spend on at least a second hand slot1, socket 370 (or if AMD is you choice slot A) ATX motherboard. NOTE : you present case/power supply most likely will be AT format so you will need to change it also. Pc100 & 133 Dimm is the cheapest it ever gonna be ! Get 128 at least.

Win ME . don't bother . Win98SE will do the job quite well.

Transfer your harddrive, CD/DVD rom, sound card(if PCI) to the 'NEW' machine if necessary to save money.



O !!! this may be an option. Am looking at doing a setup like this for my next multimedia machine (when the old one finally dies)
http://www.viahardware.com/sv24_1.shtm





<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: holistic on 2001-11-29 20:51:07 ]</font>