Nvidia PureVideo Version: 1.02-177 Released!!!!

[mightyt]

OK, so ... I have a USB SoundBlaster Audigy2NX sound card I am going to eventually hook up to my new Sage server. I am going to add some Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 speakers. If I get the Nvidia decoders should I get the Gold or Platinum version? I don't see any reference to dts on the SoundBlaster box so am not sure it is worth spending the extra $20? It does say it supports Dolby Digital-EX and both the Gold and Platinum support Dolby Digital. So is there anything compelling about getting Platinum with my setup??

Thanks, T.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by lovingHDTV

Are these decoders that much better than Sonic, others out there? I just bought a 6200 for my client and am using the Elecard decoders and thought they looked awesome. I'm just trying to figuer out if these will provide better viewing for my HD material.

I did try them out some months ago before I bought the 6200, so I don't think I can try the trial again.

I had the same question and honestly couldn't tell the difference on a 29inch SDTV. I then did comparison on my 2m wide screen(projector) before going out and buying the NVidia Decoders as well.

I found that the Intervideo 5 Decoders provided the sharpest image to my surprise using Bob+Weave deinterlacing.

The Nvidia decoders gave me by a small margin smoother motion.

The Sonic Decoders were about the same as Intervideo but I get frequent lockups when doing frequent FF/Rewind operations.

All the others were more stable than Sonic (again on my system).

The only problem I have with Intervideo decoders is that I cant set the audio decoder for SPDIF passthru(for DVDs) so I have to use something else but for playing SageTV recordings it's Intervideo for me.

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by mightyt

OK, so ... I have a USB SoundBlaster Audigy2NX sound card I am going to eventually hook up to my new Sage server. I am going to add some Cambridge Soundworks 5.1 speakers. If I get the Nvidia decoders should I get the Gold or Platinum version? I don't see any reference to dts on the SoundBlaster box so am not sure it is worth spending the extra $20? It does say it supports Dolby Digital-EX and both the Gold and Platinum support Dolby Digital. So is there anything compelling about getting Platinum with my setup??

Thanks, T.

BUMP!

[Mike Young]

I'm pretty sure ALL recent soundblasters have DTS. I am not an audio Expert but I belive thats what the 5.1 and 6.1 is.
DTS is pretty much the standard, thats why I found it strange that they charged $20 more. I'm not sure if anyone actually buys the Nvidia decoders for the sound, in Sage of course you can use a different decoder for the audio. as you can in ZP, so its not critical. Its a little more complex in some other apps.
If you want to get the MOST out of the Nvidia Decoders, you have to use WMP10 or MCE with a 6600GT or higher...a good reason to replace the standard Sage Media player.

Stranger89 - where did you get the info on Nvidia not decoding DTS outside of certain apps - I'm not sure thats right from the info I have, they should DECODE plain ol' DD Surround Sound in any app that supports the codec.
unless my ears are deceiving me, I am hearing Surround sound through them just fine.
However, Nvidia does have a disclaimer that DTS is only passed through (via SPDIF) to an external decoder.

mike/

[Naylia]

Any level of decoders will passthrough DD and DTS to a A/V receiver capable of decoding them. The higher levels of decoders are necessary for folks that want to use analog output from their soundcard and their soundcard is not capable of doing the decoding. Some Creative cards can, some can't. The extra charge is because you're paying to license the technology. If you have purchased a reciever that can take spdif and decode DD and DTS then you paid your license fees at that time (buried in the cost of the reciever).

[stanger89]

Except I'm 99% sure that even the higher level decoders won't decode outside WMP/MCE.

[Naylia]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Except I'm 99% sure that even the higher level decoders won't decode outside WMP/MCE.

Yeah it states that on the nvidia website if you read the FAQ. They are apparently having issues with some of the ways 3rd Party programs access decoders.

[stanger89]

Actually, I think it has to do with Dolby licensing restrictions. At least that what we were told during the decoder beta.

[Naylia]

Well, they're certaintly vague about why...

THIRD-PARTY APPLICATION SUPPORT

What applications does this product work with?
The NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder contains a video decoder and an audio decoder that are compatible with many third party applications. The video decoder is compatible with any third party application that uses Microsoft DirectShow interfaces for accessing decoders. The audio decoder is only compatible with Windows Media Player 9 or higher and Windows Media Center for DVD playback. It will not work with any other application at this time due to requirements from third-party technologies which NVIDIA is actively working to fix. However, you can still configure the NVIDIA PureVideo Decoder to use S/PDIF mode with any third-party application and output audio to an external decoder. Please follow the steps in the “How do I turn on S/PDIF mode?” FAQ.

Oh and 1.02-185 is out now!

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by Naylia

It will not work with any other application at this time due to requirements from third-party technologies which NVIDIA is actively working to fix.

I think that's the pertinent line. The explanation that we (AVS members) were given during the V3 (nVidia decoder) beta, was that Dolby wouldn't allow decoding outside Dolby Certified applications. We essentially said "We don't care, give us the decoders anyway" and fortunately they listened and made them available, but had to lock DD/DTS decoding.

[mightyt]

Thanks All ....

So, it appears what I am hearing is that the Nvidia decoders will work with my ATI video card and SoundBlaster sound card and it is worth getting the Platinum version.

Thanks again! T.

[stanger89]

Be careful there, I'm not sure what you're expecting....

Yes they will work just fine with your ATI card, as good as any other decoders out there, of course they work even better on nVidia cards .

They will work with your soundblaster card. However they will NOT, decode AC3 into multichannel analog in SageTV, or any app outside MCE/WMP. If you're only going to be using them in Sage, there is no reason to buy anything but the cheapest ones.

[mightyt]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Be careful there, I'm not sure what you're expecting....

Yes they will work just fine with your ATI card, as good as any other decoders out there, of course they work even better on nVidia cards .

They will work with your soundblaster card. However they will NOT, decode AC3 into multichannel analog in SageTV, or any app outside MCE/WMP. If you're only going to be using them in Sage, there is no reason to buy anything but the cheapest ones.

Thanks Stanger ... That's what I was really looking for ...

- Is it worth getting the Nvidia decoders considering what hardware I have?

and...

- If so, which release is best to get Bronze, Gold or Platinum?

So, Bottomline ... Yes getting the Nvidia decoders is worth it, but I gain nothing by getting more than the Bronze release.

Thanks again for the recap warning ... T

[stanger89]

Well, I'd download them and try them, but yes, basically, IMO they're worth getting, and yes, anything beyond Bronze won't get you anything.

If you need nVidia decoders with audio decoding, I believe the only way is to get TheaterTek with the advanced audio pack as those versions aren't locked (last I heard).

[AWS]

That is correct. I have TheaterTek 2.2 with Advanced Audio Pack. I play my DVDs within SageTV and once and a while I use TheaterTek for playback. I am always allowed to hear DTS and other formats (if on the DVD of course).

Edit: forgot to mention that I just play everything through my Audigy sound card out to my speakers. I don't have any sort of audio amp or receiver (no SPDIF out).

[Mike Young]

One thing Ive noticed with the latest decoder, I think they mentioned it in the release notes, that they had set the decoder to only connect to the Nvidia Demux.
I can no longer play Sage .TS recordings in WMP10 now. Before, I simply unregistered the Nvidia Demux and it picked up SageTV demux and worked fine.
It seems that Sage would have the same problem ? Yet it plays fine.

Anyone found a a fix for this ?

mike/