AIW and M$ Media CEnter Edition

johndorsch3 · Nov 11, 2003, 04:54 PM

i have a Radeon AIW 8500dv and Windows Xp Media Center Edition, has anyone got that card to work with MCE tv. I know theres some software encoder called ATI encode i found some drivers (dell's site) for it but they only work for the 9000. Please help.

tintruder · Nov 29, 2003, 12:19 PM

According to ATI, they will officially only support Encode on the 9600/9700/9800. (oops, 9200, 9600, 9800 per MMC Oracle in a later post....she should know, she's the ATI MMC Manager, Marilyn Maguire)

They require a HT CPU of 2.4ghz minimum.

Unofficially, folks have MCE running with "Encode" and ATI AIWs on Athalons.

Mostly these are 9xxx series.

However, the 8500DV is a R200 core just like the 9200 series, so it ought to run.

From speaking with ATI, they concede that the 8500DV can work, but they won't help make it so, even for the folks in the Encode Beta program. (This info given publically by Phil Taylor of ATI who described the number of pipelines and presence of DDR memory as limiting factors)

The install sequence is:

Custom WDM for MCE
Radeon Driver (the Encode Beta is playing with a Catalyst 4.x release candidate)
Encode App
PowerDVD

(The ATI DVD player itself is NOT MCE compatible)

Also, you CANNOT install other elements of the ATI software, meaning if you choose to use MCE, you DO NOT install Control Panel or the rest of MMC.

Now, if you happen to get your hands on the entire Dell package, or the "hacked" version of the Dell drivers which includes some parts of the release candidate v5 (RC5) eHome Wonder package, you ought to be able to fiddle with the PnP IDs in the WDM .inf files so that you can install on the 8500. (Again, publically provided info from ATI)

Basically, you need to allow lower PnP IDs to install, as the current numbers include the 9800,9700,9600, eHWonder, and maybe 9500, 9200OEM, 9000OEM. I would probably edit the list to go as low as PnP ID 22 or 23.

The Driverheaven tool that alters Catalysts to run on mobile Radeons may utilize techniques useful in getting this stuff to run on other R200 and better ATI cards. Not use of the tool, per se, but rather the modification techniques which allow it to run on different ASIC IDs.

repeat · Dec 5, 2003, 07:41 PM

Hi.

Thats some really useful information there.
I read ATIs press releases for the endode software (its pretty much the only hits you get when you google for it).
I've searched high and low for encode-enabled drivers, and learning that they're still at release candidate stage explains why I can't find them.

You sound like you really know this sort of suff, so hopefully you'll be able to tell me if there's any timescale (or best estimate) as to when the encode-enabled dtivers will eventually trickle down into the consumer catalyst releases (if at all?).

Unless you're Dell, or part of the encode beta team, is there any way to get your hands on encode-enabled drivers for the 9x00AIW series today that will work with MCE ?

Thanks.

John

MMC Oracle · Dec 8, 2003, 10:21 PM

Repeat, John

It is encouraging to see the enthusiasm out there for Microsoft's application, and always encouraging to know that ATI ALL-IN-WONDER owners continue to leverage the investment they have in their product.

Officially, ATI supports an MCE Encode solution on All-IN-WONDER 9200, 9600, and 9800 families. Dell provides an interesting and unique system using a special ALL-IN-WONDER that is a 9000 series product. Other OEM's have built systems that use RADEON cards from the 9200 to the 9800.

Support for older ALL-IN-WONDERS or selling an upgrade for those older ALL-IN-WONDERS is being considered. Weighed into that decision are the specific requirements of the application itself, potential upgrade customer base and support considerations.

Microsoft's own requirements restrict the use of a software based encode solution to a hyperthreaded cpu, and many hardware based systems are being sold with hyperthreaded cpu's (check out HP's MCE systems).

In the meantime, if you do find any drivers and software claiming to provide MCE support on an ALL-IN-WONDER, they are extremely 'unofficial' and should be treated with appropriate caution.

Nov 11, 2003, 04:54 PM	#1
johndorsch3 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	AIW and M$ Media CEnter Edition i have a Radeon AIW 8500dv and Windows Xp Media Center Edition, has anyone got that card to work with MCE tv. I know theres some software encoder called ATI encode i found some drivers (dell's site) for it but they only work for the 9000. Please help.

Nov 29, 2003, 12:19 PM	#2
tintruder DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 7 Rep Power: 0	According to ATI, they will officially only support Encode on the 9600/9700/9800. (oops, 9200, 9600, 9800 per MMC Oracle in a later post....she should know, she's the ATI MMC Manager, Marilyn Maguire) They require a HT CPU of 2.4ghz minimum. Unofficially, folks have MCE running with "Encode" and ATI AIWs on Athalons. Mostly these are 9xxx series. However, the 8500DV is a R200 core just like the 9200 series, so it ought to run. From speaking with ATI, they concede that the 8500DV can work, but they won't help make it so, even for the folks in the Encode Beta program. (This info given publically by Phil Taylor of ATI who described the number of pipelines and presence of DDR memory as limiting factors) The install sequence is: Custom WDM for MCE Radeon Driver (the Encode Beta is playing with a Catalyst 4.x release candidate) Encode App PowerDVD (The ATI DVD player itself is NOT MCE compatible) Also, you CANNOT install other elements of the ATI software, meaning if you choose to use MCE, you DO NOT install Control Panel or the rest of MMC. Now, if you happen to get your hands on the entire Dell package, or the "hacked" version of the Dell drivers which includes some parts of the release candidate v5 (RC5) eHome Wonder package, you ought to be able to fiddle with the PnP IDs in the WDM .inf files so that you can install on the 8500. (Again, publically provided info from ATI) Basically, you need to allow lower PnP IDs to install, as the current numbers include the 9800,9700,9600, eHWonder, and maybe 9500, 9200OEM, 9000OEM. I would probably edit the list to go as low as PnP ID 22 or 23. The Driverheaven tool that alters Catalysts to run on mobile Radeons may utilize techniques useful in getting this stuff to run on other R200 and better ATI cards. Not use of the tool, per se, but rather the modification techniques which allow it to run on different ASIC IDs. Last edited by tintruder; Dec 16, 2003 at 10:15 PM.

Dec 8, 2003, 10:21 PM	#4
MMC Oracle DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Clarification Repeat, John It is encouraging to see the enthusiasm out there for Microsoft's application, and always encouraging to know that ATI ALL-IN-WONDER owners continue to leverage the investment they have in their product. Officially, ATI supports an MCE Encode solution on All-IN-WONDER 9200, 9600, and 9800 families. Dell provides an interesting and unique system using a special ALL-IN-WONDER that is a 9000 series product. Other OEM's have built systems that use RADEON cards from the 9200 to the 9800. Support for older ALL-IN-WONDERS or selling an upgrade for those older ALL-IN-WONDERS is being considered. Weighed into that decision are the specific requirements of the application itself, potential upgrade customer base and support considerations. Microsoft's own requirements restrict the use of a software based encode solution to a hyperthreaded cpu, and many hardware based systems are being sold with hyperthreaded cpu's (check out HP's MCE systems). In the meantime, if you do find any drivers and software claiming to provide MCE support on an ALL-IN-WONDER, they are extremely 'unofficial' and should be treated with appropriate caution.

Dec 5, 2003, 07:41 PM	#3
repeat DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	Hi. Thats some really useful information there. I read ATIs press releases for the endode software (its pretty much the only hits you get when you google for it). I've searched high and low for encode-enabled drivers, and learning that they're still at release candidate stage explains why I can't find them. You sound like you really know this sort of suff, so hopefully you'll be able to tell me if there's any timescale (or best estimate) as to when the encode-enabled dtivers will eventually trickle down into the consumer catalyst releases (if at all?). Unless you're Dell, or part of the encode beta team, is there any way to get your hands on encode-enabled drivers for the 9x00AIW series today that will work with MCE ? Thanks. John