What format is best for video (HTPC)

ben62670

What format do you guys use for video storage on your PC's? I have been downloading some AVI's to test video quaility, and it is much better than the old DivX. I don't run HDTV. The native resalution of DVD's is just fine for now. I run my music via FLAC with no audiable loss in SQ. What I was wondering is what is the Video equivalent of FLAC? Also what free program would be best to convert DVD to the format you recommend?
Thanks
Ben

jinjuku

ben62670 wrote: »

What format do you guys use for video storage on your PC's? I have been downloading some AVI's to test video quaility, and it is much better than the old DivX. I don't run HDTV. The native resalution of DVD's is just fine for now. I run my music via FLAC with no audiable loss in SQ. What I was wondering is what is the Video equivalent of FLAC? Also what free program would be best to convert DVD to the format you recommend?
Thanks
Ben

Handbrake to h.264 for me. You just need some decent procesing power (I have a octo-core AMD box for just such occasions)

nadams

I second h.264. What kind of processing power do you have?

Just keep in mind for a hi-def BluRay rip, you're looking at 8gb for a 2.5 hour movie.

ben62670

I am running a Q6600 OCed from 2.4 to 3.0ghz quad core intel. The ram is 2 gigs of 800mhz. I am running Win7 64bit. I can't get my processors to max out even using Prime95. I will take a look at h.264. Just keep in mind that I am not doing any BlueRay anything for a while.

ben62670

OK so the little reading I have done has brought up a few concers. CAn it be played in WMC? Also I am pretty sure .avi can be played on a PS3, but can it play h.264?

ben62670

One more thing. I don't want anything but the 2 channel version

ben62670

ben62670 wrote: »

One more thing. I don't want anything but the 2 channel version

Edit: I am doing my second movie already. This is the first program(handbrake) to actually max out all for cores. It is very friendly though. I can do other things while running the program with no issues.
Thanks
Ben

cokewithvanilla

if you are doing dvd, why not just back them up as either ISO's or .ts? WMC will handle either of those, and you won't lose the dvd menus and all that. Unless you want to lose them. All my video is in HD, I either use x264 w/mkv container or .m2ts.

WMC will play just about anything with Shark007's codec pack. use his suggested settings to start, and you may have to make a few minor adjustments, but after that, most everything will play.

ben62670

I want them to be playable on a PS3 also. I don't really care about anything but the movie. What I am trying to do is shrink the size so I can load everything on my PC. I will still have the DVD's around for backup. I just don't want to be stuck with a file type that is not universal. So far it is averaging 20 minutes to convert a DVD to AVI. Not too bad

renowilliams

I just converted a 7.54 gig .mkv to a h264 avi. The completed avi ended up 1.5 gig and quality still looks good on my tv.

ben62670

Amazing how small the files compress to in SD to AVI. The textures are still very good. Like the hair on the animals in Open Season. Very pleased except for the occasional artifacts. I will have to do a little research on that I guess.