DVD Hardware Decoder for HTPC

[ncage]

What is a descent hardware dvd decorder for a HTCP using Media Center 2005? Is the hardware decoder on the 6600 descent? If they are it would be great because i heard that some 6600 cards come with component output cables eventhough i haven't found one that does. Does anyone know of a 6600 that forsure comes with a component output cable?

thanks,
ncage

 

[Fenuxx]

All modern GPU's come with a "hardware decoder". Basically, its just hardware acceleration of MPEG-4 video. If you want something that does component output, then I suggest looking into an ATi All-In-Wonder card. Much better than NVIDIA's as far as all the TV stuff is concerned. Its actually one of the points that ATi actually outguns NVIDIA at the moment .

 

[kylebisme]

Actually you don't need a AIW for video out as most modern ATI cards support component out, so no reason to get an AIW just for that and if you do want a tuner card then using a separate one has it's advantages as well. Also, Nvidia has some really nice support for avoiding overscan issues and such built right into the drivers, where ATI's fucntionality in that area is notably lacking. Granted, whether you will even need that functionality depends on what display you are using and Powerstrip can do the trick as well, but it is still nice to have such features right in the drivers.

As for Nvidia cards with component out, most don't officially support but there are plenty that do and they are branded "Personal Cinema" cards. However, I do recommend using VGA or DVI if your TV supports either, nothing is inherently better about component and it can be a lot easier to get a PC standards working though a TV than the other way around.

 

[ncage]

Originally posted by: geforcetony
All modern GPU's come with a "hardware decoder". Basically, its just hardware acceleration of MPEG-4 video. If you want something that does component output, then I suggest looking into an ATi All-In-Wonder card. Much better than NVIDIA's as far as all the TV stuff is concerned. Its actually one of the points that ATi actually outguns NVIDIA at the moment .

Are you sure about this? Also dvd would of course be MPEG2. Like with the Nvidia cards you have to specificially use Nvidias encoder software to activate it. With XP Media Center 2005 i had to install a trial version of PowerDVD to get it working but id rather have a hardware based solution.

ncage

 

[kylebisme]

The nVidia decoder enables their purevideo features and is a nice piece decoder software in general, but I'm pretty sure that every modren decoder software supports hardware acceleration on both nVidia and ATI cards.

As for watching DVD though the PC, right now I'm rather pleased with the results I am getting with Media Player Classic wtih ffdshow. ffdshow isn't the most user friendly program in the world, but it is quite nice once you understand how to use it and this guide is a good place to start, check the next page in the article for some good before and after shots.