Hardware vs Software DVD decoding

[RamonGTP]

Whats the difference??? Well let me rephrase, I know the difference, but which is preferred? What are the pro's and con's to each one? I'm currently using software, and my processor utilization very rarly goes above 30% it's usually around 20% or less. Would there be any advantage by going hardware?

Thanks,
-Ramon

[rh71]

It depends on your processor speed mostly. If you have anything above a 350MHz or so, you should be perfectly fine with software decoding. The only benefit to going with hardware decoding is to save on the CPU cycles... that, and you get to spend some of your hard earned cash. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Go with the real gauge... if playback is choppy, you need hardware decoding.

[eagle1]

definitely agree with RH.!!!

If you need special features from a decoder (like the tv out or something), then go with it but software it's fine with me.!

[RamonGTP]

Thanks guys, I don't think I need hardware, video is perfectly smooth and i'm running a T-Bird 1.33Ghz so I think I should be ok with the software.

-Ramon

[marc666]

Have been using software on everything I've built over the past year or so and thats been from 500 cpus to 1.4 cpus mostly AMD a few INTELS been working just fine I'd have to say its one of the best ways to go for the buck

[Kuasimodem]

I have a Radeon LE (tweaked) that has hardware DVD decoding, I did notice an improvement in the quality of the picture, but that could also be the ATI card's superior pic quality too. Prior to that I was using software decoding (PC Friendly & Power DVD). There was no stuttering in the pic, but it seems that the hardware decoding produces more lines of resolution. I could see horizontal black lines in the picture (kinda like playing DVD's on my normal TV), but with hardware decoding, the lines weren't there, much more clarity of detail in the picture too.

[DanU]

I have to agree with Kuasimodem. Software decoding is fine, but hardware decoders seem to be slightly better. If I disable hardware assistance in Cinemaster (using DVDGenie) the picture doesn't seem quite as sharp or fluid. Also remember that not all hardware decoders are the same. The ATI Rage128 and Radeon cards have a better built-in decoder than Nvidia's cards. That's one of the things I missed when I traded up from a Rage128 to a GF2MX.

[eagle1]

Definitely agree. The Ati cards have great visual quality and clarity.!!!

[RamonGTP]

What about the stand alone decoder cards like the Dxr3 and other similar cards??? How would those compare to the ATI, NVIDIA, and software decoding? I'm pretty happy with my software+GF2MX picture quality so I don't plan on doing anything different. This is more for knowledge than anything else.

-Ramon

[Apostle 83]

Ramon,

I'd say that if you have the money, you can pick up an older ATI card and go dual grfx card. You should be able to pick up a used one, and ATI has very nice DVD playback.

I think you'll notice a difference.

[jpheg]

I had a Dxr3 installed on my comp for a long time and the picture quality wasn't that great. When I later made another upgrade to my computer I needed an extra PCI slot, so I took the decoder out. I found that DVD picture quality actually improved after taking the card out. My Voodoo3 seemed to do a better job of it on its own. I guess I should have gone with an ATI decoder card.