Just recently rebuilt the machine I'm using as my multimedia machine. What I do on that machine is PVR-ing, if there's such a word , ripping DVDs/CDs, watching recorded content, etc.

For my PVR software I'm using GB-PVR, I installed CCCP with Media Player Classic and Zoom player, QuickTime and Real alternatives, and everything is running fine.

Then I came across a mention about NVIDIA's PureVideo decoder, and decided to give it a try, and see if it would be any better than what I already have installed. However, the only time I can actually use PureVideo decoder is when in GB-PVR I explicitely set that decoder as the Video and Audio Decoder on the Playback tab of the config.

For anything else such as playing recorded content in either GB-PVR, WMP10 or MPC, playing DVDs (WMP10 or MPC), the PureVideo decoder is not used. I know that for sure since the decoder's icon doesn't appear among the icons on the right of the toolbar.

Having run WinXP video decoder checkup utility, I see 2 entries there: MPV Decoder Filter and NVIDIA Video Decoder, with the latter one set as the preferred decoder.

So my question is how do I instruct WMP10 and/or MPC to use NVIDIA's decoder? I've looked through the options on both, and didn't see where to specify that.

Alternatively, if anyone has some experience with NVIDIA's PureVideo decoder, is it worth its price as far as quality and CPU utilization go? Or should I just stick with what I got from the CCCP, and uninstall NVIDIA's PureVideo.

Thanks,

-- Alex