Nero DVD Decoder

[ClamsTheCat]

Has anyone played with this MPEG2 decoder in BTV? Is it any better/worse than the SnapStream decoder? I tried it using SD and it looked about the same, but that is to be expected on an HDTV.

Mainly curious to see if there is any improvement in HD performance.

[mlomker]

I've tried Nero, Intervideo, and Nvidia codecs and I can't tell the difference with my display. I suspect that you'd need a front projector sized screen to really see the difference.

[htpc_nut]

I have two DVICO Fusion 5 cards and for most of 2006 I used the SnapStream decoders. These worked great with my ATI Radeon 9250 video card and LCD-TV.

Then I switched TVs and video cards, to a 46" RP HDTV w/ DVI input and an NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS. I bought the NVIDIA decoders.

The NVIDIA decoders--which unlock the video card's hardware-based decoding--are indeed the shit. I will never go back to ATI cards or Nero, PowerDVD, or BTV decoders. PureVideo Turned my BTV setup from feeling like a computer to feeling like a consumer set-top box--we're talking milliseconds more responsive, but it makes a difference.

I don't like shilling for any company, but when they deliver, I give them props, and imho, the NVIDIA dvd decoders are worth their weight in gold for an HD HTPC. They cut my processor usage in half, which is no small feat.

I found the performance to be outstanding using overlay and fairly good using 3D.

Don't get me wrong, everyone else is adequate, but for me, I wanted more than adequate and I had severe hardware limitations (AGP, 3GHz machine, all sort of at the bottom end of what HD requires).

[ClamsTheCat]

I am using the PureVideo on my desktop machine. It is indeed amazing with HD content. I downloaded a 1080 clip and I was floored. That machine is running a 7800GS with a 3.2 P4. It has a 24" CRT (for gaming). It runs smooth as ice.

Once I have a reliable way to get HD content on my HTPC I will be upgrading it o something that is "hd certified" according to NVIDIA's site. Until then i will haev to dream. I can't wait until Blu Ray and HD DVD become reasonable on a PC.

[Fickey]

Hmmm... should I do it? Should I post a fanboyish ATI comment? Well, I'll tone it down to just say you don't have to buy extra decoders for top-notch video playback with an X1000 series ATI card. I understand why Nvidia does it that way, why would a gamer want to pay for what they won't use? But ATI chooses to spread the cost around to everyone, which is just fine with me. And of course, it's virtually a quantum leap from a 9250 to any decent current generation card. OK, that's enough, not looking for a debate, just a little balance, movin' on now.

[ClamsTheCat]

I don't know anyone personally with a current generation ATI card, but I would have to see it to believe it when it comes to it being better than the NVIDIA decoder.

And I am not an NVIDIA homer. I have a 9800 ATI in my HTPC and it works great.

[Mamba]

Originally Posted by ClamsTheCat

I can't wait until Blu Ray and HD DVD become reasonable on a PC.

From what I've been reading, don't hold your breath. The DRM complications (for example, a monitor without HDCP won't work with HD-DVD even thru an HDMI cable...and of course a HDCP videocard is needed too), driver and player issues, etc. will keep this too complex/expensive for quite awhile. And DRM schemes will also disable/interfere with attractive PC playback utility such as still captures and recording. Of course the hackers will figure out workarounds, but again that'll take some time. Quality-wise, the majority of BR movies are still encoded using MPEG-II so don't expect to have your hair parted by the PQ.

[Maximo]

OK I'll bite. This seems like a good place to jump in. I bought an Nvidia 256 mb fx 6200 video card thinking that pure video came with it. Now I find out that I need to shill out an extra $50 to get good hd video. Is it really worth it? Sounds like it any way. Anyway, how does the pure video unlock the hardware decoding? I can download a 30 day trial of it. MY BTV setup is smooth. Except for HDTV which (surprise surprise) jitters, stutter, etc..

I also have NV DVD and Power DVD sitting here. Which I might try.

[ClamsTheCat]

I see no real improvement on SD with the nvidia decoder. If you tweak it a lot, I am sure you could make some little improvements, but I haven't messed with it a lot. I am mainly referring to actual HD content that I downloaded from Apple.

[Maximo]

Well my system is still new and not a lot of tweaking has been done, but I did not see a whole lot of improvement using nero's dvd decoder. I installed Nvidia Purevideo and that seems to have been exactly what my computer wanted. Very nice HD feed.