Nvidia or ATI for media playback?

Zardon · Nov 16, 2009, 11:33 PM

This is directed more to forum members who have used both ATI and Nvidia hardware and their relevant drivers for media playback - whether its HD or DVD.

Which do you think does a better job with media via your TV, id love to hear your views. I have my own but ill keep them quiet for the time being.

BlueMak · Nov 17, 2009, 12:26 AM

Latest experience between Geforce 8800GTS and Radeon 4870X2, for some reason media playback feels better on the Radeon. Colours especially feel better.

**Mousey** · Nov 17, 2009, 01:41 AM

I've noticed that in comparison to my mate's computer who runs a 9600GT i think it is, My Radeon 3850 does seem to have smoother and more vibrant playback, We tested both on the same monitor one night. Can't remember specific model but it was a 22" LCD Running DVI

Lowfat · Nov 17, 2009, 03:22 AM

For 95% of the people out there, chances are they aren't using DXVA anyways. So the only difference is going to be the small visual difference.

For ATI cards, the only way to get DXVA playback w/ h.264 content downloaded from the internet is to use MPC-HC and set it up to use DXVA properly.

W/ Nvidia cards all you need to do is purchase CoreAVC which can use CUDA. Then you'll be able to use any DirectShow program out there. Which is the reason why I use an Nvidia card. This way I can keep CPU usage less than 5% while watching a movie instead of using nearly an entire CPU core.

All 4-5 ATI cards I've used in my HTPC cause me serious headaches when it was hooked up to my receiver (Onkyo TX-SR606). Like the wrong resolutions, display would never come back on when switching inputs. However going a bit off topic here.

Chaos · Nov 17, 2009, 03:49 AM

I have similar thoughts, I love ATI cards but I think NVIDIA cards just seem to work in this area while ATI cards can be a real problem to configure at the best of times

duncan880409 · Nov 17, 2009, 05:31 AM

i may well go for ATI card too like what lowfat says. For the adequate level of card, it is NVIDIA been owen by ATI. and NVIDIA renaming issues has make me change my view toward them too

Cow_160483 · Nov 17, 2009, 08:30 AM

Well i have not really had any problems with my ATi card especially in media playback but then again the only VNVIDIA card i have ever owned was a GeForce 4 MX which i was very disappointed with

Bolletje · Nov 17, 2009, 03:52 PM

They both do quite fine, although I noticed some frame stutters while playing a Full HD movie with a 9500GT. They aren't there when I use the CPU. Then again, I don't know it's a NVIDIA only problem. I had a HD3470 a while ago, but I didn't tested HD playback..

Lowfat · Nov 17, 2009, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolletje

They both do quite fine, although I noticed some frame stutters while playing a Full HD movie with a 9500GT. They aren't there when I use the CPU. Then again, I don't know it's a NVIDIA only problem. I had a HD3470 a while ago, but I didn't tested HD playback..

9500GT will easily handle a 1080p movie if DXVA is being used. What playback software and codecs are you using?

Bolletje · Nov 17, 2009, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowfat

9500GT will easily handle a 1080p movie if DXVA is being used. What playback software and codecs are you using?

I was using Media Player Home Classic with the standard codec. It lowered the CPU load though.

I had a similar 'problem' with a G105M (GPU in a notebook).

Judas · Nov 17, 2009, 08:41 PM

atm for my Highdef blu-ray playback.. still using the FIRST LG blu-ray/HD-DVD drive with no firmware updates applied...

Combined with ATI radeon OR Nvidia + PowerDVD 9

Considering i've both a nvidia 9600GT and a ATI Radeon 5770 installed in the system at this moment, moving the powerdvd playback from radeon to nvidia.. i find the nvidia playback to be .... lifeless in comparison? It's very suttle though, like unless i had done that myself, with both cards installed and being able to stop, move play and see the difference.. i wouldn't have initially noticed emediately.

I've also found i've liked the ATI 2d/3d/media color/clarity more then nvidia.

Jac · Nov 19, 2009, 10:18 AM

I have in the past owned an ATi card but usually go with Nvidia. I use my 9600GT for Bluray playback and it is flawless. I also play 1080mkvs using MPC-HC and again I have no problems.

I find it hard to believe that videos would look 'different' on different cards

unless they have had some unnecessary processing applied to them.

The reason I stopped using ATi cards was because their control panel UI was terrible. This was years and years ago, looked like some kid had coded it in BASIC for a school homework project. Don't know what it looks like now.

Judas · Nov 19, 2009, 04:12 PM

As we know in the previous (and now starting to get dated) ATI vs Nvidia in blue ray media play back when Zardon and V3 analyzed the raw image that nvidia/ati produce, there is a considerable amount of difference not initially noticed by a few but still noticeable.

All depends on how the companies deside to produce the image, be it blue percentages or reds or blacks or whatever.

Nov 16, 2009, 11:33 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 177	Nvidia or ATI for media playback? This is directed more to forum members who have used both ATI and Nvidia hardware and their relevant drivers for media playback - whether its HD or DVD. Which do you think does a better job with media via your TV, id love to hear your views. I have my own but ill keep them quiet for the time being.

Nov 17, 2009, 12:26 AM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,248 Rep Power: 328 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? Latest experience between Geforce 8800GTS and Radeon 4870X2, for some reason media playback feels better on the Radeon. Colours especially feel better. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Nov 17, 2009, 01:41 AM	#3
Mousey Synth's Long Lost Bro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Web Design Hell Posts: 7,156 Rep Power: 243 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? I've noticed that in comparison to my mate's computer who runs a 9600GT i think it is, My Radeon 3850 does seem to have smoother and more vibrant playback, We tested both on the same monitor one night. Can't remember specific model but it was a 22" LCD Running DVI __________________

Nov 17, 2009, 03:22 AM	#4
Lowfat Xtreme Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Grande Prairie, AB, Can Posts: 4,251 Rep Power: 99	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? For 95% of the people out there, chances are they aren't using DXVA anyways. So the only difference is going to be the small visual difference. For ATI cards, the only way to get DXVA playback w/ h.264 content downloaded from the internet is to use MPC-HC and set it up to use DXVA properly. W/ Nvidia cards all you need to do is purchase CoreAVC which can use CUDA. Then you'll be able to use any DirectShow program out there. Which is the reason why I use an Nvidia card. This way I can keep CPU usage less than 5% while watching a movie instead of using nearly an entire CPU core. All 4-5 ATI cards I've used in my HTPC cause me serious headaches when it was hooked up to my receiver (Onkyo TX-SR606). Like the wrong resolutions, display would never come back on when switching inputs. However going a bit off topic here. __________________ 27" iMac: i5 750 * 80GB X25-M G1 * 4GB DDR3 * HD4850 Stacker: 2600k * P8P67 Pro * 4GB DDR3 * 80GB ioXtreme * 30GB X25-E * (2) HD6950 * Asus D2 * Enermax Revo85+ HWD: (2) Xeon E5649 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * 8800GTS * 1000W Antec FT01BW: (2) Xeon E5645 * EVGA SR-2 * 6GB DDR3 * GTS210 * Gigabyte 800W Odin GT Storage: (2) Sans Digital TR8M-B * 29TB

Nov 17, 2009, 03:49 AM	#5
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,269 Rep Power: 165 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? I have similar thoughts, I love ATI cards but I think NVIDIA cards just seem to work in this area while ATI cards can be a real problem to configure at the best of times __________________

Nov 17, 2009, 05:31 AM	#6
duncan880409 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Malaysia Posts: 5 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? i may well go for ATI card too like what lowfat says. For the adequate level of card, it is NVIDIA been owen by ATI. and NVIDIA renaming issues has make me change my view toward them too

Nov 17, 2009, 08:30 AM	#7
Cow_160483 HH's only cow moooooo... Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOTSWANA Posts: 6,687 Rep Power: 280 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? Well i have not really had any problems with my ATi card especially in media playback but then again the only VNVIDIA card i have ever owned was a GeForce 4 MX which i was very disappointed with __________________ Decode! Muhahahahah!

Nov 17, 2009, 03:52 PM	#8
Bolletje HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,224 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? They both do quite fine, although I noticed some frame stutters while playing a Full HD movie with a 9500GT. They aren't there when I use the CPU. Then again, I don't know it's a NVIDIA only problem. I had a HD3470 a while ago, but I didn't tested HD playback..

Nov 19, 2009, 10:18 AM	#12
Jac HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: England Posts: 718 Rep Power: 46 System Specs	Re: Nvidia or ATI for media playback? I have in the past owned an ATi card but usually go with Nvidia. I use my 9600GT for Bluray playback and it is flawless. I also play 1080mkvs using MPC-HC and again I have no problems. I find it hard to believe that videos would look 'different' on different cards unless they have had some unnecessary processing applied to them. The reason I stopped using ATi cards was because their control panel UI was terrible. This was years and years ago, looked like some kid had coded it in BASIC for a school homework project. Don't know what it looks like now.