nVidia 6600 display tips?

Grasshopper · #1 07-10-2005, 08:35 AM

Hi,

I'm experiencing some flaws in playback and am hoping someone can offer configuration tips or suggestions. The flaws include some mild tearing on pans, and occasional mild jumpiness/non-smooth playback (about 1 hiccup per second). My hardware:

Athlon XP 2200+
Sage Client
nVidia 6600 AGP card
Analog output to 27" CRT set at either 1024x768 or 800x600 (doesn't matter which, same symptoms)
New beta nVidia DVD codec
Standard DVD recording setting

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

mlbdude · #2 07-10-2005, 08:55 AM

Sorry, the nVidia cards don't have very good VMR9 performance. Try using Overlay for now.

Grasshopper · #3 07-11-2005, 01:14 PM

Okay, that'd be fine, except (oddly) I don't get any video on Overlay. What should I check?

something fishy · #4 07-11-2005, 07:14 PM

I was unable to get smooth video using a 6600GT or 6200A with a 2GHz P4 using VMR9.

I upgraded the processor to a 3.06GHz P4 and doubled the RAM (512 -> 1024Mb) and now get perfectly fluid playback using the current "Purevideo" decoders and the 76.44 nvidia drivers and the 6200A.

I don't know if it was the RAM, the extra processor speed or the fact that the 3.06GHz P4 is hyperthreaded (the 2GHz isn't).

Sorry not much help to you as an athlon user but at least an extra datapoint.

I will say that it's worth persevering, the pixel adapative deinterlacing deinterlacing gives a much sharper picture than I was getting with the overlay.

mlbdude · #5 07-11-2005, 07:44 PM

You can get Pixel Adaptive with an ATI too. Also, the preformance issues with VMR9 don't exist on an ATI. For the nVidia try sticking with a low resolution for now. If SageTV ever supports VMR9 FS Renderless then the nVidia will come in handy.

How does Default (VMR7) work?

something fishy · #6 07-11-2005, 08:48 PM

As mlbdude notes, using Catalyst 5.6 enables pixel adaptive deinterlacing on ATI cards.

I was using it prior to putting the 6200A back with mostly good results. 95% of the time it was indistinguishable from the nvidia but without the stutters, but for 5% of the time I got pretty major artifacts (full screen zooms with high contrast images would take on the appearance of being displayed through fluted glass).

It was really only on one or two shows (the same ones - I don't know if there was some problem in the source) and an old Ati 9600, Cat 5.6 and the nvidia decoders VMR9 worked with no stutters or tears using my old hardware.

I agree that VMR9 doesn't work as it should on the nvidia cards, I think the extra CPU and RAM I threw at mine represent a patch rather than a genuine solution.

I am running at 720*576@50Hz btw (I am in a PAL area) so a very low resolution. I would also recommend reclock (which will sync the MPEG/DVD playback off the video card's clock rather than the clock in your sound card) in your search for smooth playback.

Cheers
eric

Grasshopper · #7 07-12-2005, 06:59 AM

I'm going to try Reclock as per your recommendation. A possibly unrelated question: What screen resolution would you suggest? I'm in NTSC-land. I watch TV and DVD's -- no HD material. I'm watching through a 4x3 CRT capable of up to 1024x768.

Thanks!

mlbdude · #8 07-12-2005, 07:05 AM

If you are outputting to an SDTV then that means it will accept 480i. This is traditionally 640x480 or 720x480. Anything higher and the video card is just scaling it back down and reducing IQ.

gplasky · #9 07-12-2005, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlbdude

Anything higher and the video card is just scaling it back down and reducing IQ.

So it just gets dumber or did you mean PQ?

Gerry

mlbdude · #10 07-12-2005, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gplasky

So it just gets dumber or did you mean PQ?

Gerry

Image Quality, Picture Quality, same thing

.

gplasky · #11 07-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Oh-right. I need to check my IQ.

Gerry

Grasshopper · #12 07-12-2005, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlbdude

If you are outputting to an SDTV then that means it will accept 480i. This is traditionally 640x480 or 720x480. Anything higher and the video card is just scaling it back down and reducing IQ.

I'm not outputting to an SDTV. I'm outputting to a 27" CRT via the good ol' VGA cable. It's a monitor, capable of 1024x768.

mlbdude · #13 07-12-2005, 06:13 PM

In that case and since you don't watch HD, I would go with 480p.

mikesm · #14 07-12-2005, 11:16 PM

I don't understand. In linux, a fx5200 can display a 1080i signal without tearing. A 6600GT is much faster, so why can't it keep up in windows? And if using VMR9 renderless exclusive is so important, why doesn't Sage provide that as an option?

Thanks,
Mike

ukmgranger · #15 07-13-2005, 03:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikesm

I don't understand. In linux, a fx5200 can display a 1080i signal without tearing. A 6600GT is much faster, so why can't it keep up in windows? And if using VMR9 renderless exclusive is so important, why doesn't Sage provide that as an option?

Thanks,
Mike

These are all good questions!

Anyone have the answers?

mlbdude · #16 07-13-2005, 05:57 AM

The nVidia drviers for windows are really bad at VMR9 (note Overlay and other renderes work fine). At high resolutions you need to squeeze out every bit of GPU you can get to 1080i working in VMR9 and with the nVidia the best way to do that is with FS renderless. The reason Sage has not supported it yet (and most players) is that it is a pain to code and imposes some big limitations on the user experience. I think for Sage though these limitations are minimal except for those that don't use it full screen.

The real fix for this problem is for nVidia to fix their drivers. Until they do you are limited to a few players that support this one playback method for good performance.

Kanati · #17 07-13-2005, 09:19 AM

can't believe no one has suggested to install the 4in1 drivers off your motherboard cd. Or the AGP drivers depending on what they want to call them this week. Even the highest end cards can be hobbled if you don't have the agp motherboard drivers installed correctly.

Make sure those are installed and then reinstall the latest drivers for the card. That could clear up the entire mess.

Grasshopper · #18 07-13-2005, 09:28 AM

Hmm. My board is an nForce2 by Shuttle (the wee one, the MN31/N). Should I be using drivers from Shuttle (dated June of 2003) or from nVidia (dated Sept of 2004)? Also, none of those driver packages mention an AGP driver...

Kanati · #19 07-13-2005, 12:19 PM

http://global.shuttle.com/Download/D...sp?Item=MN31/N

The chipset driver here will include the AGP port driver.

I'd use that one first.

Grasshopper · #20 07-13-2005, 12:34 PM

You think that one would be better, even though the nVidia website offers a more recent nForce2 driver package?

Not doubting you, just confirming.

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