
The h264/x264 codec is the most used codec for high definition videos today.
Microsoft integrated a very good codec into Windows 7, which is able to play h264-x264 videos.
It also makes use of the hardware decoding features offered by many gfx-cards.
The name of this codec is Windows DTV-DVD Video-Decoder.
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
This codec is free and open source.
visit the download section and download the latest version of the Stand alone Filters - Win32
If you are not familiar with how to register filters in windows:
If you want to remove the filter one day, just rund the un-register_MPCVideoDec.bat file
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
The DivX h264 codec is free and also offers hardware decoding support for todays gfx-cards. It provides good results for HD playback.
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
The CoreAVC codec is a cheap commercial codec which provides limited hardware decoding support (only CUDA - nvidia cards) for gfx-cards. It provides good results, but some users report problems with interlaced content.
run the installer with its defaults
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
In one of the service updates provided in 2009, CyberLink started to hide their h.264 codec from other applications.
So if you install PowerDVD, and you do not see their codec listed in the h.264 codec selection, then you have a version where the codec is made invisible to other applications by CyberLink.
There is no other way to get it to work in MediaPortal, than finding an older version of PowerDVD.
Visit the Cyberlink homepage and buy PowerDVD (some users reported that the trial works for them as well)
Just install PowerDVD
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
Users report very different results when using ffdshow for h.264 videos.
Some users report that it is the best codec - others that it is not working at all.
ffdshow tryouts - If ffdshow is already installed, continue with the configuration step, if not:
ffdshow was installed in above step
Besides selecting this codec for h.264 in MediaPortal Configuration, there is no additional configuration required.
ffdshow was already present on the system