DailyTech - NVIDIA Announces HDCP-Aware PureVideo HD

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Hardware NVIDIA Announces HDCP-Aware PureVideo HD
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - June 9, 2006 5:44 AM

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11 comment(s) - last by cochy.. on Jun 9 at 11:33 PM

Available on select GeForce 7-series

NVIDIA this week announced what it calls PureVideo HD, a HDCP variant of its current PureVideo video processing technology. This week at Computex, DailyTech reported that several NVIDIA board partners announced boards with full HDCP support. Manufacturers included ASUS, MSI and several others showed off HDMI equipped graphics cards and many of them included the necessary Silicon Image chip to support a full HDCP-HDMI or HDCP-DVI signal.

With PureVideo HD, NVIDIA touts that better quality video can be seen, but essentially, PureVideo HD is an HDCP-aware version of its current technology. NVIDIA says that while the technology will be available in its GeForce 7000 series of GPUs, not all cards and products will support it, as not all boards will include the necessary HDCP transmitter. The following products are on NVIDIA's list of PureVideo HD compliant products:

GeForce 7600 GT
GeForce Go 7600
GeForce Go 7600 GT

NVIDIA's press release also claims "Available on HD DVDs and Blu-ray discs, high-definition movies are bringing an exciting new video experience to PC users. NVIDIA PureVideo HD technology lets you enjoy cinematic-quality HD DVD and Blu-ray movies with low CPU utilization and power consumption, allowing higher quality movie playback and picture clarity."

Several laptops are also including the above GPUs as well as support for full HDCP output. Sony's VAIO AR notebook series and RC desktop series will be the first to let users experience PureVideo HD. Toshiba is also releasing its Qosmio G35-AV650 laptop with integrated HDCP-enabled GeForce Go 7600. NVIDIA says its PureVideo HD allows a computer to accelerate HD video (such as H.264, VC-1 and MPEG-2) with low CPU utilization and power consumption.

Currently it is unknown whether or not if PureVideo HD will be available to other NVIDIA graphics cards that do not use the above listed GPUs, but do come equipped with an HDCP-enabled DVI transmitter.

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7950GX2

By LoogieXX on 6/9/2006 1:14:07 PM , Rating: 2

So my brand new 7950GX2 which Nvidia assured end users were HDCP compliant is not HD capable ?.. I'm confused now. I take it the HDCP bit is just for SD then right ?

I'm getting more and more convinced that for every single bit of feature you require with Nvidia, you need to buy a card

RE: 7950GX2

By Motley on 6/9/2006 1:20:44 PM , Rating: 2

No, it means that they don't have PureVideo working on that model yet. Yes, it will display HD content with HDCP just fine, but it'll use more CPU than if they had PureVideo (Hardware assisted decoding).

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RE: 7950GX2

By LoogieXX on 6/9/2006 8:24:43 PM , Rating: 2

So my card can't do HW decoding of HD yet ?
They can kiss my a**

http://www.nvidia.com/page/7950_features.html
"NVIDIA® PureVideo™ Technology
The combination of high-definition video processors and decoder software delivers unprecedented picture clarity"

There is no mention that this doesn't apply on HDCP.

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As far as I know...

By cochy on 6/9/2006 5:46:16 PM , Rating: 2

Without HDCP bulit into the graphics board, watching a Blu-ray or HD-DVD on your pc will result in half resolution loss. I believe that the 7950GX2 do not have proper HDCP support, i may be wrong. The PS3 for example has an HDCP-HDMI output. Most if not all home theater HDTV have the HDCP inputs.

RE: As far as I know...

By LoogieXX on 6/9/2006 8:21:33 PM , Rating: 2

So we are 8 months back then. Because 8 month ago all vendors had HDCP part of the specs. Which was quietly removed when people started questioning it.

Ps keep this quote in mind
"While we have not spoken with every vendor, NVIDIA assures us that every 7950 GX2 will have HDCP key hardware onboard. "

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2769...

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RE: As far as I know...

By cochy on 6/9/2006 11:33:41 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
While we have not spoken with every vendor, NVIDIA assures us that every 7950 GX2 will have HDCP key hardware onboard. "

As I suspected, I was wrong about that. Best to still make sure b4 buying.

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HD??

By Alphafox78 on 6/9/2006 11:21:09 AM , Rating: 2

So I guess my 6600GT outputing to a 1080i HD TV isnt really HD... I will have to get one of the new cards so I can actually have HD!!

RE: HD??

By rrsurfer1 on 6/9/2006 11:46:57 AM , Rating: 2

Na, it's just not DRM laden crap.

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Does it matter?

By epsilonparadox on 6/9/2006 2:01:27 PM , Rating: 2

Since HDMI w/out HDCP will not lower the image quality. I mean if Sony is saying that their lower end PS3 will do HD w/out loss of image on the component connections when playing Bluray movies does HMDI w/ HDCP matter any more?

It seems to me that these companies are reacting to the HDCP fiasco article on Firingsquad and passing the licensing cost to consumers unnecessarily.

RE: Does it matter?

By bersl2 on 6/9/2006 3:13:31 PM , Rating: 2

HDCP is still a trap.

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Not on high end cards?

By dice1111 on 6/9/2006 9:33:19 AM , Rating: 2

Come on... How about some 7900GT / GTX love?

I think these cards would more likely be used for a quality, high end media center. As well, since both Dell the BenQ now have HDCP complient 24" monitors, I wouldn't build a system without a highend card with proper HDCP support. Complete future proofing if I'm going to be spending all that money. I really hope they get on it. *crosses fingers*