nVidia Pure Video

[darren_e]

http://nvidia.com/page/purevideo.html

I'm thinking of buying the nVidia 6600 (FXF AGP model) when I change out my ATI 9600XT card and I'm trying to find out if anyone else happens to have a GeForce 6 series card in their system using OTHER than S-Video output.

I want to know if this card provides excellent video playback and if this "pure video" works within Beyond TV. The 6600 seems like an attractive alternative to using ATI for playback...If anyone could shed some light on this subject, I'd love to hear it.

[Baylo]

I have the Leadtek 6600GT AGP card outputting via DVI/HDMI to my Sony 30" HDTV. Read the other threads here on how to get the nVidia decoder setup. It works fine for me at a res or 1776x996 (I think). At this resolution you need to use overlay rather than DX due to an issue with the current drivers at resolutions based on 1080i settings, but the 720p settings work fine w/ overlay or DX.

Overall, I'm very happy with the card.

Mark

[mikem]

Outputting to my monitor via the DVI on my 6800Ultra then I get a fantastic picture quality. It's as good as watching my regular TV. I have found though that you do want to use the 67.03 drivers off nzone though. Although they are marked on there as beta, they seem very good still, not having problems with crashing at all.

[darren_e]

So does this "pure video" work like it says it does?

I'm really leaning towards getting this ATI card replaced.

Thanks for all the insight!

[genesis]

This is all just speculation, but I think BTV will be able to take advantage of the 6600's hardware MPEG2 decompression (the most significant part of purevideo) through an updated MPEG2 codec from Nvidia. I would be suprised if you were able to take advantage of hardware decoding for any other codec though. From what I read a few months back when the 6600 debuted, it takes specialised coding to enable hardware acceleration of wmv or divx, so I wouldn't expect that to appear in BTV until we see a major new release.

Also, FYI, the Ati x800 series offers a comparable alternative to pure video, called "videoshader hd".

[genesis]

Another note I forgot, is that last I heard none of this "pure video" stuff actually worked. Nvidia needed to release new drivers and decoders to support it, and they hadn't yet. You may want to wait until it's actually available to the public, and tested before buying.

[darren_e]

I've noticed a trend going on right now, ATI seems to be pushing this new THEATER 550 Pro chip.

Looks like card manufacturers are starting to pay attention to the HTPC market...
It *IS* the next big thing if you think about it.

[mikem]

Originally Posted by genesis

Another note I forgot, is that last I heard none of this "pure video" stuff actually worked. Nvidia needed to release new drivers and decoders to support it, and they hadn't yet. You may want to wait until it's actually available to the public, and tested before buying.

Pure Video works fine. It is a combination of the Nvidia DVD Decoder 1.00.67 and Forceware 67.03 which is available on the nzone at

http://www.nzone.com/object/nzone_do..._2k_67.03.html

whilst it is still beta the 67.03 runs reliably on my 6800Ultra. With my card I don't get the WMV9 acceleration in hardware but if looking at a 6600 then that will also be in there. There are threads in here that state how to get the decoder to be selectable within BTV. Feeding out through my DVI on a 6800Ultra then the picture quality is just as good as my analogue SonyTV.

You do need these versions at the moment to allow the purevideo to work but they are available and have been since the technology was launched.

The next general release drivers from Nvidia should be pure video enabling as well.

[genesis]

That's good to hear Mikem. What sort of CPU usuage are you getting during playback of a recorded mpeg2 show?

[mikem]

I have pure video on my A64 system which has a 4000+ CPU and typically only 10 to 15% CPU usage.

[darren_e]

Originally Posted by mikem

With my card I don't get the WMV9 acceleration in hardware but if looking at a 6600 then that will also be in there.

You are saying that the 6600 versions will still have VMR9 issues or did I read this wrong?

[mikem]

Bit confusing, no the 6600 has a working WMV9 acceleration.