NV/AMD Video playback acceleration for windows players and flash?

[CakeMonster]

I seem to remember reading about graphics card support for video playback for the last 15 years, but I've never specifically found out how it works. Does the player have to have specific support for specific hardware functions or is it all done through windows/dx? Will I miss out on specific functions that improves image quality/scaling or cpu usage if I don't use a NV/AMD approved player?

Also, a bonus question: I'm currently using SVP for motion interpolation in MPC for windows playback, is something similar available for flash video in browsers? Both AMD and NV brag about flash "acceleration" but what exactly does that mean?

 

[lyssword]

A quick test playing 1080p youtube video: hardware acceleration on, both my dual cores are around 8% usage. Hardware acceleration off: 50-60 % usage on both cores and seems a little more choppy.

cpu/video: 2.6ghz g630/ati 5770

*edit: hardware acceleration also applies ati control panel video settings (such as tone correction/brightness) for flash video.