Huge increase in CPU usage while playing any video

Same here Mr.GRiM. I have very little CPU usage (3-5%) using Media Player, Media Center, DivX Player or even QuackTime (not a typo).
Seen here > http://www.lrsvc.com/images/W7_DVD_playback.jpg <

Peace

@ Snowcrash: Unfortunately, I can't use MPC HC to make my GPU decode video [aka DXVA - DirectX Video Acceleration] because my GPU is GeForce 6600. I need atleast Geforce 8 series or Radeon 3xxx series in order to get that magic working!

I read the article at Guru3d.com: Accelerate x.264 1080p movies over the GPU Guide

@ Mr.Grim and Snowcrash: I am glad to see that you dont have the problems that I have!

and @ NosferatuX: Thanks dude!

From what I can gather, the problem, atleast for now, seems to be my GeForce 6600.

I will be removing my graphics card and trying out my onboard GMA 950 to see whether it has the same problems.

I also tried switching off Aero by changing to Basic theme but the isse remains.

I would really appreciate if someone with a Geforce 6 series could confirm whether or not they are facing a similar problem!

Thank you all, for your replies!

This community is great!

I have a little bit of a skip every now and then when im decoding some sorts of movies through Windows Media Player. but there is one movie i have that will only play smoothly through Windows media player. Who knows....

But for now i would just stick with Media Player Classic. That way you it doesnt cost you a dime but whatever you wanna do.

I think I finally know what my problem is.

When I try to play videos through WMP12 and/or Winamp, the codecs which I installed are not used.

Instead the default built in codecs i.e. for an AVI file with MP3 audio, I get the following active filters:

AVI Splitter, MP3 Decoder DMO, Mpeg4s Decoder DMO.

When I play the same file with Media player Classic, I get:

AVI Splitter, ffdshow Audio decoder, ffdshow Video Decoder.

SO, my question now becomes:

How to make Winamp and/or WMP12 force to load the same decoders that Media Player Classic uses?

As far as I remember, it used to work properly when I had my first installtion of seven. But I had to reinstall and ever since I have this problem!

Please help me! I am also gonna post my problem on K-Lite Codec pack's forums.

Waiting for your replies!

Thanks for your time!