[mythtv-users] Lots of confusion as to which card(s) to buy for vdpau

[Robert McNamara]

On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 8:52 AM, Steven Adeff <adeffs.mythtv at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 10:39 PM, Calvin Harrigan
> <charriglists at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> The fact that it doesn't support VC-1 means that it's not a G98 or greater
>> core.
>> The ones that support VC-1 is an 8400GS, which I can find plenty of, it's
>> just that I've read that they are not powerful enough to do the high end
>> deinterlacing etc.
>> Like the subject of the thread says, it's quite confusing.
>> Right now I'm trying to decide between te 9500GT or a 8400GS.
>> How important is VC-1 decoding, isn't that a microsoft codec?  I know its
>> supported by HD_DVD and Blue Ray, but is it really that rampant in the wild?
>> All of my recordings are mpeg2 via a pvr250 and a HDHR.  I'm considering
>> replacing the 250 with a HD PVR (The new hauppauge HD usb box), that outputs
>> x.264, so I guess I need some guidance
>> as to what I really need.  Thanks.
>>
>> Calvin
>
> All the VP2 and VP3 cards support VC-1, the difference is to what
> degree they offload processing from the CPU. Only VP3 (on the G98
> chip) supports full VC-1 decoding on the GPU. Some of the VP1 cards
> have VC-1 decoding support, but only starting with the 6600.
>
> http://www.nvidia.com/docs/CP/11036/PureVideo_Product_Comparison.pdf
> http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_43029.html
>
>
> --
> Steve
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/User:Steveadeff
> Before you ask, read the FAQ!
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Frequently_Asked_Questions
> then search the Wiki, and this list,
> http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/
> Mailinglist etiquette -
> http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Mailing_List_etiquette
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>

Important to note the difference between PureVideo and VDPAU-- While
tangentally related, Purevideo is marketing name that encompasses all
their offload technologies-- VDPAU *only* encompasses those
cards/codecs which are capable of total bitstreaming of a given codec.
 For VC-1, this means a G98 or later at the moment.  Cards capable of
only partial offload of a codec will realize no gain from VDPAU.

Robert