Intel Sandy Bridge Linux Graphics? It's A Challenge

[curaga]

Initial testing shows much better quality than CUDA or Stream based accelerators. At least for Windows (Media Espresso 6). However, since this is a dedicated ASIC, the Linux implementation will have the same quality.

Thanks. It remains to be seen then how far it is from x264, but at least it should be good for realtime encoding.

[deanjo]

Arrgh, so close intel but "no 23.976 fps playback" "The limitation is entirely in hardware".

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/t...-2100-tested/7

[V!NCENT]

Lol @ Intel; Buy Fusion.

[deanjo]

Lol @ Intel; Buy Fusion.

So far AMD's video playback support is even more dismal then intel's.

[deanjo]

Hmmm, according to Tom's and Anand, the encoding acceleration cannot be used when a discreet GPU is installed. Lots of little "gotchas" it seems with its Quick Sync it seems.


Tom's http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...0k,2833-5.html

Unfortunately, you have to be using Intel's integrated graphics core in order to take advantage of Quick Sync. Neither MediaEspresso or MediaConverter are able to recognize the pipeline with a discrete card installed. So, if you're doing media work on a gaming PC, Quick Sync might not be an option for you.

Anand http://www.anandtech.com/show/4083/t...2100-tested/9#

There’s just one hangup to all of this Quick Sync greatness: it only works if the processor’s GPU is enabled. In other words, on a desktop with a single monitor connected to a discrete GPU, you can’t use Quick Sync.

[efikkan]

nVidia's low end GT 430 performs 2.5 times better, and does not slow down the system since it's using dedicated memory, and it supports accelerated video playback as well.

[deanjo]

nVidia's low end GT 430 performs 2.5 times better

2.5 times better in what?

[deanjo]

Looks like the video encoding is better then the gpu solutions but still far from matching x264 in quality from the reviews I've been reading.

[Kano]

@deanjo

Usally when you connect a pc to a tv/tft you use 60 hz. Of course you could switch but who does that? My tft always runs at 60 hz and it looks good, no matter of 24000/1001, 25 fps or whatever... Do you really use the fps of the movie for your output refreshrate?

[deanjo]

@deanjo

Usally when you connect a pc to a tv/tft you use 60 hz.

Not so. Many people who use a HTPC match framerate to the movie when hooked up to a TV. (They wouldn't have those modes on TV's otherwise)

Of course you could switch but who does that? My tft always runs at 60 hz and it looks good, no matter of 24000/1001, 25 fps or whatever... Do you really use the fps of the movie for your output refreshrate?

Many (if not the majority) of XBMC, Boxee, etc user changes their refresh rates on their TV's to match the media content. XBMC even does this on the fly.