Running Windows Media Center @ 2160p/4K !!!!!

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IT Troll

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#61

Post by IT Troll » Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:55 pm

DavidinCT wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:25 pm Still using this plugin with MPC-HC and I get every video format that I have tried(HDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision, etc) with all HD audio formats.
I thought Windows 10 was required to get HDR support.
Are you a Recorded TV HD user or want to give it a try? Check out the new community-made update; Recorded TV HD v2.1.1

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#62

Post by DavidinCT » Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:03 pm

IT Troll wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:55 pm
DavidinCT wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:25 pm Still using this plugin with MPC-HC and I get every video format that I have tried(HDR, HDR10, Dolby Vision, etc) with all HD audio formats.
I thought Windows 10 was required to get HDR support.

Windows 10 has native HDR support(OS level support), Windows 7, or 8.1 do not. Using MPC-HC as you player, it will play back HDR, HDR10+ etc movies fine. This worked in Windows 7 and it works under 8.1....

I am watching full 4K movies with HDR+ and HD audio through the WMC movie library using the that MPC Plug-in....with NO problems at all. Works flawlessly, sounds and looks awesome.

To get a movie to play, once installed, I just had to add a folder to the movie folder and it plays through MPC-HC, with media controls working from the WMC remote...
-Dave
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Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

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#63

Post by IT Troll » Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:07 pm

DavidinCT wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:03 pm Windows 10 has native HDR support(OS level support), Windows 7, or 8.1 do not.
I thought you needed that OS support (WDDM 2.2) and an appropriate GPU driver for an app to switch into HDR mode.
Is the TV definitely detecting it as HDR? If so that is surprising.
Are you a Recorded TV HD user or want to give it a try? Check out the new community-made update; Recorded TV HD v2.1.1

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#64

Post by DavidinCT » Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:54 pm

IT Troll wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:07 pm
DavidinCT wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:03 pm Windows 10 has native HDR support(OS level support), Windows 7, or 8.1 do not.
I thought you needed that OS support (WDDM 2.2) and an appropriate GPU driver for an app to switch into HDR mode.
Is the TV definitely detecting it as HDR? If so that is surprising.
Yep, my TV goes right into HDR when playing the movie. No question, If I play inside Media Center, you can tell it's a HDR movie because the colors are flat(AKA, non HDR mode) but, running them in MPC-HC, the TV goes right into HDR, HDR10+ or Dolby Vision (I have a 2019 LG 65" 4K tv)

Trust me, you can tell the difference and even the desktop looks bad in HDR.... I am running HDR movies from Windows 8.1....
-Dave
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Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

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#65

Post by IT Troll » Mon Jan 25, 2021 11:05 pm

I just read that madVR is the secret sauce. It uses vendor specific APIs in the GPU driver to switch the mode to HDR on Windows 7/8. Very cunning indeed.
Are you a Recorded TV HD user or want to give it a try? Check out the new community-made update; Recorded TV HD v2.1.1

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#66

Post by DavidinCT » Tue Jan 26, 2021 2:19 pm

IT Troll wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 11:05 pm I just read that madVR is the secret sauce. It uses vendor specific APIs in the GPU driver to switch the mode to HDR on Windows 7/8. Very cunning indeed.
Yep. It's nice to get HDR on my TV...
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Twitter @TheCoolDave

Windows Media Center certified and WMC MVP 2010 - 2012

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#67

Post by pungo » Tue Feb 02, 2021 1:16 am

IT Troll wrote: Mon Jan 25, 2021 11:05 pm I just read that madVR is the secret sauce. It uses vendor specific APIs in the GPU driver to switch the mode to HDR on Windows 7/8. Very cunning indeed.
Yup, I've been using potplayer with madvr and lav on win7 GTX1060 6G to play UHD HDR atmos movies on a LG OLED for years. Takes a little setup and tuning, but once configured, it looks and sounds awesome.

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#68

Post by Paul Anderegg » Mon Jun 14, 2021 1:09 am

Update to what I posted previously...if you set your desktop to 4K or whatever, then launch into WMC and go into TV screen configure, you may select a resolution that WMC will toggle to when it launches full screen. It will retain that setting even after closing or rebooting. The "720p" selection is 720p59.94 (or 50p in PAL), and the "1080i" option is 1080i59.94 (50i PAL).

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#69

Post by IT Troll » Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:43 am

However, under certain circumstances, Media Center will change this setting to match the desktop resolution. If you find this happening, one trick is to change the the permissions on the relevant registry settings so that it "locks in" you preferred settings.
Are you a Recorded TV HD user or want to give it a try? Check out the new community-made update; Recorded TV HD v2.1.1

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#70

Post by stevethebrain » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:13 pm

Recently connected a 4K viewsonic 727 4K it’s not a true 4K but a upfitted pixel shifting type.https://www.viewsonic.com/us/outlet/sho ... -4k-s.html

Still using older equipment specs sean at specs. I’m playing recorded TV PC is source and it’s 1080p. some programs appear much clearer than regular 1080p.other seam like regular 1080p.I've not yet played any real 4K content so I can't compare.
So what resolution am I watching.

forgive me I haven't yet read the entire thread will later.

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#71

Post by SoNic67 » Mon Jul 05, 2021 4:37 pm

1. Display Port interface is not recognized as DRM compliant, so shows broadcast with that flag on, will not be played via a DP connection. Only native HDMI is accepted.
2. DP to HDMI won't solve the DRM problem. Also, if they are not active adapters, they just suck because can't do more than 2160p/30Hz/RGB. They can do 60Hz only in YUV 4:2:0, but who wants 4:2:0 ?
3. HDMI 2.0 on video cards up to nVidia GTX 10 or RTX20 series maxes out at 2160p/60Hz/8bpc. Running the cards down to 1080p allows 12bpc and 120Hz (for the displays that support that).
I don't know what's better...
Only the RTX30 series have HDMI 2.1: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/ne ... -hdmi-2-1/

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#72

Post by DavidinCT » Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:57 pm

SoNic67 wrote: Mon Jul 05, 2021 4:37 pm 1. Display Port interface is not recognized as DRM compliant, so shows broadcast with that flag on, will not be played via a DP connection. Only native HDMI is accepted.
2. DP to HDMI won't solve the DRM problem. Also, if they are not active adapters, they just suck because can't do more than 2160p/30Hz/RGB. They can do 60Hz only in YUV 4:2:0, but who wants 4:2:0 ?
3. HDMI 2.0 on video cards up to nVidia GTX 10 or RTX20 series maxes out at 2160p/60Hz/8bpc. Running the cards down to 1080p allows 12bpc and 120Hz (for the displays that support that).
I don't know what's better...
Only the RTX30 series have HDMI 2.1: https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/ne ... -hdmi-2-1/
If you want to use WMC, forget display port. I think you get HDM 2.0 on GTX 970's and higher if I remember. You don't really need HDMI 2.1 but, if you have means, go for it (gaming at least). WMC will not take advantage of it. Video card prices are crazy right now. Remember Windows 8.1 was the last WMC was saw, and it was not upgraded from Windows 7. So getting 4K out of it is kind of a hack, as 4K was not even a thought when WMC was made.

I have a GTX1050ti in my HTPC, and that runs everything I need. 4k 60hz. Never tried 120hz but, my display does support it.
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#73

Post by The Mac » Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:12 am

I cant get my damn 4k TV to say in 4k Mode.

Seems to work fine right until i try to do live tv. The TV helpfully tries to "optimize the video signal" and poops out, disconnecting the HDMI connection and forces the WMC box into 1024x768

lol

Using an nvidia 1030, cheapest GPU you can find right now with HDMI 2.0 and 264/265 hardware decoders.

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#74

Post by IT Troll » Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:39 am

The Mac wrote: Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:12 amThe TV helpfully tries to "optimize the video signal" and poops out, disconnecting the HDMI connection and forces the WMC box into 1024x768
That sounds like something you should be able to disable on your TV. Perhaps you need to configure it as a PC connection?
Are you a Recorded TV HD user or want to give it a try? Check out the new community-made update; Recorded TV HD v2.1.1

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#75

Post by SoNic67 » Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:53 am

DavidinCT wrote: Mon Jul 05, 2021 11:57 pm I have a GTX1050ti in my HTPC, and that runs everything I need. 4k 60hz. Never tried 120hz but, my display does support it.
My GT1030 HDMI can do 4K, 120Hz only as 4:2:0, not full RGB 8 bit. As for 10-12 bit... nope.

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#76

Post by Paul Anderegg » Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:40 am

The Mac wrote: Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:12 am I cant get my damn 4k TV to say in 4k Mode.

Seems to work fine right until i try to do live tv. The TV helpfully tries to "optimize the video signal" and poops out, disconnecting the HDMI connection and forces the WMC box into 1024x768

lol

Using an nvidia 1030, cheapest GPU you can find right now with HDMI 2.0 and 264/265 hardware decoders.
Did you already try to set WMC resolution in the WMC Tasks menu? The desktop resolution will be set by Nvidia conrol panel, but once you are in full screen WMC, you can set an ALTERNATE resolution that is used only by WMC. When you minimize WMC or return to the desktop, the Nvidia control panel desktop resolution will toggle, and when you pop back full screen WMC the Task settings resolution you set will return.

I am using a GT1030 as well, with desktop set to 2160p59.94 and WMC set to 720p or 1080i depending on what the native recordings are in...I like prisine native output out ot the TV to upscale properly.

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#77

Post by The Mac » Fri Nov 12, 2021 10:58 pm

Paul Anderegg wrote: Sat Sep 25, 2021 3:40 am
The Mac wrote: Fri Jul 16, 2021 3:12 am I cant get my damn 4k TV to say in 4k Mode.

Seems to work fine right until i try to do live tv. The TV helpfully tries to "optimize the video signal" and poops out, disconnecting the HDMI connection and forces the WMC box into 1024x768

lol

Using an nvidia 1030, cheapest GPU you can find right now with HDMI 2.0 and 264/265 hardware decoders.
Did you already try to set WMC resolution in the WMC Tasks menu? The desktop resolution will be set by Nvidia conrol panel, but once you are in full screen WMC, you can set an ALTERNATE resolution that is used only by WMC. When you minimize WMC or return to the desktop, the Nvidia control panel desktop resolution will toggle, and when you pop back full screen WMC the Task settings resolution you set will return.

I am using a GT1030 as well, with desktop set to 2160p59.94 and WMC set to 720p or 1080i depending on what the native recordings are in...I like prisine native output out ot the TV to upscale properly.

Paul
I figured that one out.

Poor quality HDMI cable.

Now however, i have another problem

Using WMC in 4k mode, all the recorded tv and live tv is ever so slighty jerky. You can really see it in chyrons on news channels and fast motion.

Is there some need to use different decoders in 4k?

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#78

Post by Joni » Sun Jul 31, 2022 9:18 am

DavidinCT wrote: Wed Mar 29, 2017 1:06 am
werds wrote:
Putting a pin in this one here in order to figure out why it is not working for me (finally got around to trying this last night and spent way too much time fighting with greyed out permission boxes then finally after I removed inheritable permissions and tried with what was left it still kept resetting it back :(
Yep, it does, I think I posted that someplace in this thread. I battled with this for MONTHS(if not years), till I found an option that completely disables the message BUT, you will need to search for it, as don't have time to find it right now.

A quick way is to create a registry file and run a batch file to start WMC, on the first line, import the reg file and run WMC.... So when you reboot your computer, it will run the script and you wont see the message for that session. Although if you switch sources on a AVR or something, on return, it will show again.

The ONLY way I was able to FULLY get rid of it was by a HEX edit of one of the WMC files. If you have the exact version (on a updated WMC), and you can hex edit the file, then use the admin tool from the Windows 10 WMC installer, to replace the file on WMC. I got the details on how to do it one of the experts who helped on W10 WMC (or I think he did most of it) and he lists it in that thread that I replied to with the same user name (I am DavidinCT over there).

This fully removed this message as it disabled it at the system level. I also removed the Volume popup (when ever stopping video, the volume 50 in the corner would show up) we did a hex edit for that one too.

If you go this route and find the details, if you ever have to do a sfc /scannow it will replace the original files.

If your not very techy, I would avoid this one, as you put a wrong number in it you can damage WMC...

Edit: Depending on versions...this is Windows 7 only...

How to HEX
https://forums.mydigitallife.info/threa ... ost1204986

Then you need to check your ehshell.dll version...and this is only for x64

ehshell.dll version 6.1.7601.18968, x64
https://forums.mydigitallife.info/threa ... ost1205342

ehshell.dll 6.1.7601.19061 x64
https://forums.mydigitallife.info/threa ... ost1205623

You might need to register to that site to see the posts but, this is what I did....

and if you want the volume thing, let me know I can provide this too... I looked them up and saved to my favs, there is even away to do RDP video as well but, I think it breaks extenders.
Did anyone ever figure out what should be changed in newer version of ehshell.dll?

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#79

Post by Joni » Sun Jul 31, 2022 10:12 am

I asked Graznok on MDL if he could help us with this.

Anyway from the old posts.

6.1.7601.18968

0x190729 07 2D
16 2C

6.1.7601.19061

0x190789 07 2D
16 2C


I would think in 6.3.9600.16384 we would also need to find 07 2D and replace it with 16 2C. Only thing is that we don't know the address. In the first version its in 0x190729 and in the second it's in 0x190789 so I would think it's around there in the new version also.

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#80

Post by prsa01 » Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:01 pm

***Should note, this is in win10, Found this thread via search and didn't notice it was in win7 area

Old topic, I know. But just picked up an early-ish 4k tv and going thru this process. I am having motion judder under specific circumstances and thought you guys might have ideas that will save some testing time. Certainly possible that with this vintage/level of tv it is an issue that can't be fully resolved.

Most noticeable, in limited testing so far, when at 1.5/2.0x ff on sports (esp the crawl). Noticeable enough that my wife immediately noticed and she rarely notices tv picture related issues. We had been watching similar input without the judder the previous day with a substantially lessor pc that could only do 1080p so the upconverting was being done at the tv. The picture quality, in all other respects, was much worse in that scenario.

I believe I have all drivers updated for all hardware but will confirm.

Hardware -

TV LG UH8500 55 inch (3840/2160)
PC 6th gen i7 16gb with nvidia geforce gtx 745 gpu
I would think this combo of cpu/gpu SHOULD be able to upconvert the the source 1080/720 to 2160 fairly easily

seagate iron wolf 4tb drive in wd easystore usb3 connected enclosure

=========================
source hdhomerun atsc network tuner mp2 (1080i or 720p channel dependent)

Testing - I'm primarily using the crawl for testing since it's really easy to detect there. Is that something that just isn't going to be resolveable?

What I have tried so far that have made little or no difference -

(ongoing) vlc player vs wmc default, not yet sure if this made a difference but definitely didn't completely solve
nvidia settings
60 & 59 hz (doesn't seem to have 59.94 option that I've seen mentioned)

TV settings
Combos of motion interpolation, "true motion" 0 - 10 "anti judder" along with a few of their preset modes and disabled

Things I will be testing -
set desktop to 1080p and upconvert at the tv
maybe try the intel graphics vs the nvidia tho I wouldn't expect that to be better
more combos of tv settings
verify drivers (possibly back rev if anyone thinks that might help)
Determine whether 720p vs 1080i broadcast source is any different

I suppose it makes most sense to first drop the resolution to 1080p on this hardware to be sure the judder issue resolves in that scenario.

Other ideas, thoughts, test plans, etc are appreciated
Last edited by prsa01 on Tue Jan 16, 2024 8:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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