NVIDIA Drivers and HD Playback

[jturner421]

Long story short, I upgraded my Sage setup the other day to 6.4.8, had problems, and decided to reinstall. I also took the opportunity to upgrade my HDHomerun firmware (that was a pain to redo my lineups) and Nvidia drivers to release 178.24, the latest. My video card is a GeForce 8600GT.

In the past, you could run Directshow Filter Manager and raise the merits of the Nvidia pieces (decoder, transport demux, etc.) to ensure they were used as a system default. I tried that the other day and no longer see them. Furthermore, they are no longer a choice in Sage. I'm also confused about Purevideo. My understanding is that the newer driver incorporates Purevideo HD by default for hardware assistance on both MPEG and H.264 playback, you don't have to purchase anything additional.

My questions:

1) How do I ensure that that I'm using the Nvidia decoders in Sage?
2) How can I double check that I'm actually getting hardware assistance during playback?

[gplasky]

You still need to install the nVidia decoders. Installing the drivers do NOT install the decoders. At one time you must have purchased the nVidia player from nVidia. That's the only way to get those decoders. You need to reinstall the nVidia player/decoders.

Gerry

[Polypro]

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...eo_decoder.htm

Just substitute your purchase info during install. .223 is the last version.

P

[quantumstate]

WAT?! I had no idea you could do this, and I asked specifically.

The above link has an awfully old version that does not include H.264/AVC. Where would I find the decoder, assuming I have the right hardware?

[jturner421]

Thanks for the responses. I'll reinstall the Purevideo decoder.

[Polypro]

Originally Posted by quantumstate

WAT?! I had no idea you could do this, and I asked specifically.

The above link has an awfully old version that does not include H.264/AVC. Where would I find the decoder, assuming I have the right hardware?

The old NVIDIA decoders were MPEG2 only, and they are no longer supported (but work well, the reason people still use them). If you want more, just use the Cyberlink decoders.

P

[quantumstate]

Looks to me like nVidia sells current decoders, here.

And wouldn't it make sense that Cyberlink and Arcsoft just buy the decoder direct from nVidia and repackages it?

I have never gotten an answer from Cyberlink whether their decoder (if bought standalone) would work in Sage. I would rather buy from nVidia anyway.

[SWKerr]

I didn't think that PureVideo supported h.264 but it appears that the "PureVideo Bronze" package of the PureVideo Decoder supports h.264 and is only $20. From the description it appears to be the Cyberlink decoder. Does anyone know what version of the Cyberlink codec this is and if it would work with Sage?

NVidia Store Link:
http://store.nvidia.com/DRHM/servlet...ctID=108174000

[gplasky]

nVidia got out of the production the decoder awhile ago. The Bronze IS Cyberlink. Look at the Tech Specs:

Video Features and Processing Technologies
Smart (Adaptive) Video Deinterlacing
Adaptive CyberLink Eagle Vision 2 (CLEV-2)
Regular CLEV-2
CyberLink Pano Vision (CLPV)

Thos are Cyberlink features.

nVidia decoder does only mpeg2. The other versions at their store tell you that decoder is NOT for use in Vista. And they TELL you to buy Cyberlink. Cyberlink is also a seperate product in THEIR own store. They are selling PowerDVD v8.
The nVidia Software Products Store

The nVidia decoders are not current. It is they same product they sold in 2006. Why wouldn't they keep selling it? People still need a decoder that can play commercial DVDs. As a matter of fact nVidia sold their hardware acceleration technology to the other decoder players. (Cyberlink and Intervideo) Both products use nVidia technology to work with the video hardware.

Gerry

[jturner421]

So it seems the two options are:

A) Nvidia decoder for MPEG-HD and DVD material & Cyberlink decoder for H.264/AVC material OR

B)Cyberlink 7 or greater decoders to handle all material

[jphhughes]

Originally Posted by Polypro

If you want more, just use the Cyberlink decoders.

P

Would like to try these but not sure how to get them. are the cyberlink decoders something you can try on a trial. Are they like the Nvidia decoders that after you try them you can buy them . I visited the Cyberlink site but cound not fine just the decoders for sale. Do you have to buy the whole DVD package to get them . Thanks

[gplasky]

You would buy the Cyberlink PowerDVD 8. I don't think they have a trial.

Gerry

[stanger89]

I think there's a trial of PowerDVD 8, just not the Ultra (with BD) version.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by stanger89

I think there's a trial of PowerDVD 8, just not the Ultra (with BD) version.

You are correct, sir. Right here: PDVD 8 trial

Use the Try Now button.

Limitations:

30 day working trial.
No DVD-Audio available during the playback of CPPM protected content.
Does not support the playback of CPRM protected content.
Does not support Blu-ray Disc playback.

Gerry

[jphhughes]

Ok thanks for the clarification. I'll give the trail a go and see how it performs.

[SWKerr]

I found this link for a trial:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/dvd_dec...223-trial.html

This post talks about how to use it with your Bronze info if you buy it later.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=949964

[jphhughes]

Ok I down loaded the cyberlink DVD 8 trial software and installed it. My purpose in trying this decoder was to have one decoder to handle recording from my HDhomeRun and HD-PVR. Previously the Nvidia decoder was used on the HDHomeRun and the Archsoft Decoder on the Hd-PVR recordings. Now I am trying to figure out how to set up SageTV to use Cyberlink for both. Immediately after installing it I tried SageTv and it was still using the Nvidia decoder even though I had set the Cyberlink decoder as preferred using the Microsoft DECCHECk utility. I then changed the setting in SageTV detailed setup under video to Cyberlink from default and after running SageTv the Nvidia icon now longer showed so assume its using Cyberlink. However I do not have a warm feeling that it is infact using it.

So My question is what is the best way to check to know for sure what decoder SageTv is using for both HDHomeRUn and Hd-PVR. Appreciatre any help on this.