I use a Quad core 8200 and it is useless for video playback. The media players are not optimized to use multi-cores, so you'll see only 1 core running at 100% while the other 3 cores sit there twiddling their thumbs. On some videos, the video jerks and runs goes out of sync with audio.
I've resolved it with the DXVA - it uses GPU to decode instead of CPU. My CPU now sits idle at near 0% while the GPU does the work - flawlessly I must say. Here's more information about DXVA
http://www.kmplayer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1905To use DXVA, you'll need:
1. Media Player Classic (the only player I know that can run DXVA easily. Some got KMPlayer and others to run DXVA but I've failed)
2. Microsoft Direct X 9c and above (on command prompt, run dxdiag to check)
3. AMD graphic cards
At the time of research a few months back, NVIDIA graphic cards can't or doesn't support DXVA 100%. My mom's PC uses an ATI Radeon HD 4200 series graphics card (costs RM110 only). I use a 4600 series (RM250) because I play some games. If you want HD video playback only (no games), just get the 4200 series because I can't see any difference. And because the GPU does all the work, it doesn't really matter what kind of CPU you use.
You'll know MPC is using DXVA because you'll see the word DXVA at the status bar at the bottom of the MPC window. Also you'll notice your CPU idling at just 1%-2%.
With DXVA, you'll be able to run m2ts well. And nowadays, the encoders make sure their MKVs and even 1080p WMVs are compatible with DXVA.