What's a Good Program For Running MPEGs/AVI files?

[IamAnoobieCheez]

The video file types I run are: MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, and DivX.


I've been using Windows Media Player, PowerDVD, and Elecard MPEG2 decoder which is made in germany.


None of them satisfy me.:(


- Windows Media Player lacks in features of displaying the viewable screen, such as being able to modifying resolutions/ratios(4:3, 16:9, etc) but play video files very smoothly. It is so smooth I feel like I'm in heaven.


- PowerDVD plays MPEG2, avi, and other types of video files pretty nice and does have pretty good options in adjusting the picture size, but has some serious problems... Sometimes it plays the video with jerks, quick pauses, etc. It does not run smooth... (already tried uninstall/reinstall but does not work)


- Moonlight Elecard MPEG2 player works ok... plays video files better than PowerDVD but it still has some problems... video quality isn't good in some video files I run. It doesn't give "quick pauses" like PowerDVDs do, but this one doesn't deliver as good picture quality, like i've said, in *some of the video files*.


It appears NONE of the programs I ran are working perfectly.

Is there a program that is better? I don't care how much it costs.... i'm not just looking for free versions... costing as much as $500 is fine as long as it *does* the job.

Anybody?...

[gillll]

k-lite mega codec pack

includes between all also mplayer classic

enjoy

[QuikSilver]

winamp is awesome

[IamAnoobieCheez]

thanx for the replies guys..

k-lite mega codec pack vs. winamp.. which one's better? Should i try both?..

[gillll]

k-lite is just a very good codec pack
and mpc within it is tweaked very good and plays most of codec well and without lagging.

remmember to read which codecs to install out of the list.

edit: after installing k-lite all a/v progs will play the codecs that were installed .

[IamAnoobieCheez]

k-lite is just a very good codec pack
and mpc within it is tweaked very good and plays most of codec well and without lagging.

remmember to read which codecs to install out of the list.
Do they produce good video quality too? I want smooth play and good PQ..

Does it have free trial version? Can you give me a link to it please?



edit: after installing k-lite all a/v progs will play the codecs that were installed .
ok

[gillll]

hehe codec are always free ;)

the smooth and laggy depends on your comp and windows

http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/

[IamAnoobieCheez]

hehe codec are always free ;)

the smooth and laggy depends on your comp and windows

http://www.k-litecodecpack.com/
i'm not concerned about speed of my computer and windows... i'm running a dothan2.0@ 2.68ghz w/ tight timings & dual raptors@ raid0. windows i use are win2k, xpPro, & server2003. The question I asked about "smoothness" is regarding on video program itself... like PowerDVD is laggy in some video files, but the elecard mpeg player run smoothly on all video files. my compuer isn't the problem... ;)


thanx for the help though. :)

[[XC] Duc]

Want a great player? Try BSPlayer (http://www.bsplayer.org/) ... there's a free and a Pro version.
I use the free one, does everything I want.

Ps: I always advice against installing complete codec-packs... instead install only the codecs you need to play a file whenever it shows the 'codec not installed' message. Codec-packs screw up your pc by installing to much stuff you don't need.

[CNCL]

The best I've used thus far is Storm Codec. It's more than just installing a bunch of random codec like some codec packs tend to do, try it and you will see the difference.

[IamAnoobieCheez]

thanx guys.. :)

[b|gf|sh]

Media Player Classic (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Media_Player_Classic_for_Windows_2000XP/1045531002/1)

+

X Codec Pack (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/X_Codec_Pack/1103671567/1)

No competition :cool:

[notoriousformula]

Media Player Classic (http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/Media_Player_Classic_for_Windows_2000XP/1045531002/1)


Another vote for Media Player Classic.

[ripken204]

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

dont need codecs for this! has its own built in

[einCe]

vlc media player (videolan) it plays damn near anything even dvd's and itsonly about 2-3 megs

*edit* oops didnt read last post :D

[Reflex1]

hmm, so many to chose from ...so which is best?

[DZVlad]

there's LightAlloy, Media Player Classic, they are quite good at playing videofiles and do that with less CPU usage and faster. I have tried them and I must say those are great!

I can't be bothered to ind the links at the moment, so just google the names.

[perry_78]

I like BS Player, plays just about everything.

Though I can confirm that from what I have seen VLC and classic play everything :)

[krille]

VLC VideoLAN Media Player (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) (freeware, as been mentioned a couple of times) plays it all. However, I find downloading the right codec and then using your favority player gives the best result (image quality wise). WMP might be just fine for this with the right codec.

AVIcodec (http://avicodec.duby.info/) (freeware) is a good utility to use to find out what codec(s) a video file is using, and whether you currently have them installed or not. Also provides links and all info you need to get any missing codecs. Extremely convenient and useful.

For DVDs I use PowerDVD too, which gives me by far the best result. I've tried several other DVD players, like WinDVD, but they've all been missing some vital feature (WinDVD wouldn't give me any surround with my SB Audigy4 Pro - no matter how much I played around with the settings, had problems with surround on other players too). This one is not freeware though, but you already have it?

All in all, I suggest you get VLC media player (since it plays it all and is free) and AVIcodec, in addition to what you use currently.

Edit: Bull"Banana Spam" player (hehe) and Windows Media Classic (with them Real Alternative (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm) and QuickTime Alternative (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm) additions) are good too. Do get WMC to play Real and QuickTime media files (could the "real" players get any more annoying)?

Links again:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
http://avicodec.duby.info/
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/QuickTime_Alternative.htm

[red_dragon]

BS player or Zplayer are both top notch players. They play much faster than wm10.

[IYP]

VLC....not sure if its avalible for PC but ive been able to play even corupted files with it

[DZVlad]

Well, VLC is used for playing not fully downloaded/corruted files in the first place, even eMule uses it for incomplete files by default. And yes, it IS available for Windows! :)

[jack47]

VLC Player or BsPlayer for BS player you need some codecs.
K-Lite codec pack is my favorite
the best way to watch all your Movies.
PEaCE

[geoff2k]

Yet another vote for media player classic -- not the prettiest beast, but gets the job done with minimal fuss.

[freak22]

nobody is gonna bring up the divix player?

am i the only one that uses it? :confused:

[alexio]

BSPlayer is the best of the best ;) It plays more types of files than ANY other player.

[dward3]

mplayer for windows (no controls) works well for me. I guess everyone has there own personal preference. :p: