Best AGP video card for HD

[simonen]

I am trying to make a serious jump into HD playback and have had poor results from my current ATI 9550 video card. I have read that the 6600 nvidia cards are used quite extensively, I was wondering if I could get some feedback on whether this is still a good choice or if there is a better card worth getting in AGP. My CPU is a 2.8 Celeron, and I am looking for a card that will give me NO problems with stuttering and playback issues.

[lobosrul]

I used a 6600 GT (AGP) for HD playback before upgrading to a pci-e board. It worked fine after I installed the purevideo decoder, and used full screen exclusive mode in Sage.

Rremember in sage to leave the decoder at default (not nvidia), trust me.

[AtariJeff]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

Rremember in sage to leave the decoder at default (not nvidia), trust me.

Why do you say that?

[Fluffdaddy]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

Rremember in sage to leave the decoder at default (not nvidia), trust me.

I disagree. on my ATI 9800pro, nvidia decoder works much better for HD playback

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by AtariJeff

Why do you say that?

I don't know, nVidia decoders work fine for me when I specify them in Sage, only issue is you can't access the properties via the tray icon.

The best (via a quick search of newegg is probably a 7600GT (didn't know they made them):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814122009

Save that, the 6600GT is probably the best bet.

Is there any chance you could upgrade to PCI Express? At this point I'd highly recommend a HDCP video card, and I think those are only available in PCI Express.

[blade]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

Rremember in sage to leave the decoder at default (not nvidia), trust me.

I don't see a reason to leave it as default. Doing so just means that if another decoder gets installed Sage will use it instead of Nvidia. I've heard a few people claim they had problems when selecting it by name, but the majority of people use it that way without issue. The only problem is you can't select the tray icon to make adjustments when selecting it by name.

As for the agp card I use a 6600gt, but there are some 7xxx series cards now. Here is a page showing the purevideo features for each card. It doesn't have all the latest cards though.

A higher core clock speed increases purevideo performance. For example Anandtech claims a 7600gt will do better with purevideo than a 7900gt because it's running at a higher clock speed.

I'm not sure how it translates from one card to the other though. For example the 7600gs is 400mhz and the 6600gt is 500mhz and I have no idea how you'd compare the purevideo performance of the two. I keep hoping someone will put something together one day.

[lobosrul]

Oh I am definantly suggeting to use Nvidia purevideo.

However, when I selected it in SageTV it did NOT use Nvidia. Going to default did. You can easily tell if the nvidia icon pops up on your taskbar (obviously you need to run Sage in a window to tell).

If it works for you by selecting it, then by all means do that.

I thought it was a rather common issue.

Edit: If the tray icon isnt showing up your not using the decoder. At least it sure seemed that way to me, I had massive stuttering if it didnt.

[blade]

Originally Posted by lobosrul

However, when I selected it in SageTV it did NOT use Nvidia. Going to default did. You can easily tell if the nvidia icon pops up on your taskbar (obviously you need to run Sage in a window to tell).

Edit: If the tray icon isnt showing up your not using the decoder. At least it sure seemed that way to me, I had massive stuttering if it didnt.

Not true, just because the tray icon doesn't appear doesn't mean Sage isn't using it. This is a known bug. In your case it may not have been using it for some reason.

I can tell by my cpu usage and the fact that the only decoders on my system are Nvidia and Sage and Nvidia is the only one that displays film at 24 fps and video at 60fps where the Sage decoder does 30fps.

[AtariJeff]

Originally Posted by stanger89

Is there any chance you could upgrade to PCI Express? At this point I'd highly recommend a HDCP video card, and I think those are only available in PCI Express.

I'm considering upgrading my 6200. Maybe a 7600GS because of the passive HS. What does HDCP do for you?

[Paul365]

With the purevideo decoder installed and set as the system default.

If I choose it by name it does not show the icon, I am not sure if its using it or not.

If I choose it by name but select the Post processing version, the icon shows up and I know its being used, however it doesn't use the idct NVIDIA part of my 6200 card. It shows ... "Software Mode UYVY"

If I choose default it uses it and pops up the icon and uses the "DirectX VA mode A [idct]" hardware mode - but it crashes sage or the encoder (not sure which) within 30 mins, most of the time a lot quicker.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by AtariJeff

I'm considering upgrading my 6200. Maybe a 7600GS because of the passive HS. What does HDCP do for you?

Allows you to play HD DVD and Blu-ray down the road (Unless you're using an analog connection, and then it doesn't really matter). Basically it's more future proof.

Originally Posted by Paul365

With the purevideo decoder installed and set as the system default.

If I choose it by name it does not show the icon, I am not sure if its using it or not.

I think that's the issue for most people, that they don't know, and assume it's not.

If I choose it by name but select the Post processing version, the icon shows up and I know its being used, however it doesn't use the idct NVIDIA part of my 6200 card. It shows ... "Software Mode UYVY"

That's because the Post Processor is a different filter, and disables hardware accelleration (just like ffdshow would).

[simonen]

From the link, it seems as thought the 6600gt is likely the best card for the price among nvidea. Is it really better than the 9550 from ATI. Will I definitely notice less CPU usage and better HD playback with the 6600gt than the 9550?

[lobosrul]

What does HDCP do for you?

Right now, I think thats a somewhat debatable question. It would allow HD-DVD/Blu-ray playback but only with approved drivers/software. What that software will be, I dont know. It may (I've heard yes and no on this) require Windows Vista and a 64-bit cpu for playback. You will not be able to rip a disk to the hard drive.

It could also potentially allow for HDCP encoded content to be played back on a PC via HDMI. But theres other issues there.

I was really excited about Blu-ray/HD-DVD but thats long, long past. IMO they can go **** themselves.

[Paul365]

Originally Posted by stanger89

That's because the Post Processor is a different filter, and disables hardware accelleration (just like ffdshow would).

So for best results I should use the named version instead of the named post processor version?

[blade]

Originally Posted by Paul365

So for best results I should use the named version instead of the named post processor version?

Yes.

Originally Posted by simonen

From the link, it seems as thought the 6600gt is likely the best card for the price among nvidea. Is it really better than the 9550 from ATI. Will I definitely notice less CPU usage and better HD playback with the 6600gt than the 9550?

I've never used a 9550 and know nothing about it so someone else will have to answer that.

I made a post earlier today in another thread about how lower CPU usage isn't necessarily better. For example I get lower cpu usage with the Sage decoder than I do with Nvidia for video content; however, the Nvidia decoder looks better. Basically more complex deinterlacing may increase cpu usage. Many people seem to get in the mindset that the lower cpu usage they're getting the better, which isn't always the case.

Personally I worry about smooth playback and PQ more than cpu usage

[GTwannabe]

Detailed chart of which nVidia cards support what PureVideo features:

http://www.nvidia.com/page/purevideo_support.html

[MoopZilla]

I'm using a 6600GT AGP 128MB card with the nvidia decoders and it works perfectly. I tried a 6200, a non-GT 6600, and an ATI x1300, and the 6600GT works the best for my setup.

Oh, and you can make sure the nvidia decoder is default by using this MS utility: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by simonen

From the link, it seems as thought the 6600gt is likely the best card for the price among nvidea. Is it really better than the 9550 from ATI.

Yes, by far. The 9550 is (IIRC) the verry bottom of the barrel of the DX9 ATI cards, despite being a higher number than the vintage 9500, I believe it's actually less powerfull.

To get something allong the lines of the 6600GT in an ATI, you'll need to go to the X or 1000 series cards.

Will I definitely notice less CPU usage and better HD playback with the 6600gt than the 9550?

Lower CPU usage, I don't know, better HD playback, almost certainly. FWIW, on my 6600GT (PCIe) with the 91.47 drivers, I get CPU usage playing HD of <=10% (yes, I'm rather in awe).

Originally Posted by blade

I made a post earlier today in another thread about how lower CPU usage isn't necessarily better. For example I get lower cpu usage with the Sage decoder than I do with Nvidia for video content; however, the Nvidia decoder looks better. Basically more complex deinterlacing may increase cpu usage. Many people seem to get in the mindset that the lower cpu usage they're getting the better, which isn't always the case.

All true, but if you're getting higher CPU usage with nVidia than Sage, something is quite wrong, as the Sage decoder is pure software vs the nVidia decoder which is hardware accellerated. You should see lower (significantly in the case of HD) CPU usage with the nVidia decoders than Sage decoders.

[Thomas Wischgol]

Just to add some more variables to this discussion: the resolution you are using for your monitor/display seems to be a factor as well. It seems to me from what I read here in this forum that a 6600GT works fine with 720p displays. But does it still work fine with something higher? I use a 7600GS OC (BfgTech) and still get a few stutter here and there at 1080p (which is the native resolution of my display). The 7600 has a lower clock rate than a 6600GT, though.

[Jesse]

Hi,

I have both a 6600GT and a 9800pro. I like the 6600GT better. On top of that there are problems with ATI and FSE. I have two identical machines (except for the vid cards) and the ATI equipped machine will not tolerate FSE for more than a few minutes. No problem with the nvidia equipped machine. Look here for more on this:http://forums.freytechnologies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15724&highlight=FSE

I am going to switch my 6600GT into the machine currently equipped with the ATI card and put the new 7600GT AGP I just got from newegg in the HD client machine.

Jesse