Divx/Xvid DVD Players

[SilverBlade]

I've been trying to find the answer to this, and so far have been unsuccessful.

When a DVD player has the capability to play Divx files, can it also play Xvid files?

[ark]

Plenty are available. Look for DivX written outside. One's made in China are dirt cheap and would play DVD/VCD/MPG1&2/JPG/CDDA/MP3 + DivX/XviD. DivX3 is not supported by 99% of these players.
I got one for about $30.00 and it can play everything, not handled by my JVC home theatre that had cost about $800.00 !!!

[Krispy Kritter]

Divx/Xivd are most often referred to as the same (in an avi container). Keep in mind that there are so many encoding options within an avi container, that not all files will be playable by any player.

For best support, choose a Divx/Divx Pro certified player. There should be a list at Divx.com.

[jman98]

As Krispy Kritter states, there are factors that will cause you problems. Every Divx/Xvid disc won't play, but generally, yes, if a standalone DVD player supports Divx it will play Xvid. The following might be problems:

1) Packed bit rate files.
2) Use of QPel (Quarter Pixel)
3) Use of GMC with warp points greater than 1 (Xvid's default if you use GMC is to have 3 warp points. Many decoding chips won't play such files.)
4) Too high a bit rate for video can cause playback problems.
5) VBR audio may or may not be a problem.
6) AAC audio won't play at all.

Divx3, in my experience, is NOT a problem and I disagree with ark's 99% number. That's way way too high. My Philips DVP-642 has no problems at all with Divx3 video and it uses a decoding chip that was commonly in use at the time. In fact, I'd say that probably 99% of the standalone players that support Divx WILL play Divx3 files. He pulled that number out of the air and I've never seen any evidence to support that.

[handyguy]

My 642 doesn't play all but my 5960 does.

[Ai Haibara]

I'll add another factor to jman98's list - resolution. I can't remember the exact figure at the moment, but I believe a number of players may start to have problems if your AVI video has a resolution over... around 720, I believe.

[ronnylov]

As Krispy Kritter states, there are factors that will cause you problems. Every Divx/Xvid disc won't play, but generally, yes, if a standalone DVD player supports Divx it will play Xvid. The following might be problems:

1) Packed bit rate files.
2) Use of QPel (Quarter Pixel)
3) Use of MMC with warp points greater than 1 (Xvid's default if you use MMC is to have 3 warp points. Many decoding chips won't play such files.)
4) Too high a bit rate for video can cause playback problems.
5) VBR audio may or may not be a problem.
6) AAC audio won't play at all.

Divx3, in my experience, is NOT a problem and I disagree with ark's 99% number. That's way way too high. My Philips DVP-642 has no problems at all with Divx3 video and it uses a decoding chip that was commonly in use at the time. In fact, I'd say that probably 99% of the standalone players that support Divx WILL play Divx3 files. He pulled that number out of the air and I've never seen any evidence to support that.

I think you mean GMC (general motion correction) in section 3)

[jman98]

You are, of course, correct ronnylov. I did mean GMC. I have never used it, so I was trying to remember what it was called. I will edit my original post and fix this.