New NVIDA Drivers with PureVideo HD in XP

[lobosrul]

I just read on avsforum that there's a new nvidia beta driver out (163.16) that supports h.264 accel in XP. Its supposedly much stabler than 165.01. I'll be trying it out this weekend.

Links:

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=96092
http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?p=2374355

[HawgGuy]

The new drivers result in unwatchable jerky playback with r5000-hd/h.264 here. Only 5-10% cpu usage though.

Downgrading to Nvidia 162.18 restores smooth playback (albeit with 50-55% cpu usage).

I should have tried it with non-Dish/r5000-hd files to see if PAFF interlacing was the problem.

[toricred]

But it really helps with the usage for h.264 files compressed with EP's auto-compression.

[HawgGuy]

Originally Posted by toricred

But it really helps with the usage for h.264 files compressed with EP's auto-compression.

You're right. But re-testing again, finds that SageTV playing back h.264 files from the h5000-hd with the new drivers loaded doesn't work - but works with the older (162.18) Nvidia drivers. Explanation?

Why should the video drivers affect the ability of Sage to play h.264 files?

WinXP, Nvidia 8500GT, SageTV 6.2.5

[toricred]

I don't have Dish network so I don't have any idea why that is an issue. The drivers provide access to turn on the hardware acceleration for h.264 and can really help the CPU usage.

XP SP-2, 8500GT, 6.2.5.

[mikesm]

Nvidia drivers have been crap for some time now. I've basically given up on them and are going to Intel and ATI.

Thanks,
mike

[Shield]

Originally Posted by toricred

I don't have Dish network so I don't have any idea why that is an issue. The drivers provide access to turn on the hardware acceleration for h.264 and can really help the CPU usage.

XP SP-2, 8500GT, 6.2.5.

So, have they helped you then? Anyone trying these drivers with an 8X00 series of Nvidia cards?

Shawn

[toricred]

They've been working great. Significantly dropped CPU usage on H.264 and made viewing XVid possible for me.

[popechild]

What drivers are you guys currently using with the 8x00 series? I've got the 8500gt and am starting to wonder if my frequent Sage freezes have more to do with the nvidia drivers than Sage.

Does anyone have a recommendation for the 8500gt (on XP) that's been rock solid for them with Sage?

Thanks!