Abstract: A noise filter for a video processing system includes a block selector, a cost calculator, a cost table, a cost comparator, and a coefficient filter. The block selector is coupled to receive data from the quantization unit and selects blocks for additional filtering. The selected blocks are provided to the cost calculator determines a cost for each of the coefficients in the block using the cost table and the costs are summed. The cost comparator compares the total to a threshold, and filters the coefficients using the coefficient filter if the total is greater a preset threshold. The noise filter to the VLC unit then outputs the filter data.