[MPlayer-users] minimal CPU requirement to play high bitrate 1080p video in software?

[Reimar Döffinger]

On Tue, Aug 07, 2012 at 01:28:53PM -0500, Ron Johnson wrote:
> On 08/07/2012 10:59 AM, Marc MERLIN wrote:
> >I thought it would be an FAQ, but some searching didn't turn anything up.
> >
> >My HTPC has an intel GM35 which does not support libva/vaapi from what I was
> >told.
> >
> >The CPU is a dual core duo 3Ghz (E8400) and playing 7MB/s 1080p 20MB/s
> >encoded H264 mkv just isn't fast enough.
> >
> >I noticed that decoding is only done on one of the two CPUs. Is there a way
> >to switch to a codec that can use both CPUs?
> >If not, here's mplayer -v output if that helps. If there are other compile
> >options I could use, or a different codec or video output I could force, let
> >me know.
> >(for instance, is 'xv' still my best output option?)
> >
> [snip]
> >>VDec: vo config request - 1920 x 1080 (preferred colorspace: Planar 420P 10-bit little-endian)
> >>VO: [xv] 1920x1080 => 1920x1080 Planar YV12  [zoom]
> 
> If your case supports it, I'd install a (small, cheap, fanless)
> Nvidia G210 card, since with vdpau and the binary driver it supports
> almost everything except 10-bit video.

As I said, his use case is exactly 10-bit video.
So unless the built-in card has problems with -vo gl
(I think it doesn't as long as you use the latest Mesa drivers)
that would be a waste of time, money and electricity.