[machineknight]

Ok here's the situation...

I'm trying to view some mp4 files that were encoded with an x264 codec on a PC. On QT, it just plain crashes and dies a horrible death. It's not QT pro or anything. The audio worked fine on VLC, but the video was really choppy and VLC would just die after a while.

My computer stats (prior):
Quicksilver G4 2002
933MHz
NVidia GeForce 4MX? (64MB)
1.25GB of RAM
300+60GB HD
10.4.5 i think? whatever newest
QT 7.0.4 (NOT pro)

My first solution:
I just recently upgraded the video card to ATi 9600 Pro 256MB. My video playback is hella better, but during fast-moving scenes, VLC dies saying 'computer too slow?'... MPlayer and QT die when trying to play the first second. Pfft.

So the Question!!

What should I do to be able to play these x264 codec'ed files??? I don't want to have to go through the hassle of decoding then re-encoding.... I just want to view the files.

Do I have to upgrade my processor to either a dual G4 or 1.x GHz G4 ??

(If you could keep the answer in layman's terms, that'd be great)

Thanks in advance!

[stevesnj]

I have a 1 Ghz PowerBook and I have problems with some files being choppy. But they are mostly HD files. H.264 files are very high bandwidth files so the processor is probrobly crapping out on you. If you plan to keep that system stuff the fastest processor you can afford into it. The video files in the next few years will need a faster processor to play them for sure.

[rjt1000]

With the Mac, you can see how busy your processor is during slowdowns using the Activity Monitor utility in OS X. Not sure if there is something equivalent in the windoze world. In any event, I agree that the cpu is the likely bottle neck.

[mduell]

What resolution and bitrate are the files? Your G4 is too slow to play anything higher than 480p (even that may be a stretch).

[Eug Wanker]

Here are Apple's QuickTime H.264 system requirements:

480p 24 fps: G4 1.25 GHz
720p 30 fps: G5 1.8 GHz
1080p 24 fps: Dual G5 2.0 GHz

Here are some real world tests, and here are my comments (blog) about them. (Heh: "970GX" and "7448" PowerBooks )

[machineknight]

Thanks everyone. Been a real help! I was thinking of upgrading, but at this rate, I might hafta get a new computer.... well, not anytime soon tho.

Thanks again!