nVidia DVD decoder 1.00.67 have anything on nVidia DVD decoder 2.55?

[XanderF]

I bought a rather low-end Personal Cinema set rather 'way back in the day' that had nVDVD with nVidia's DVD decoder on it (that could be updated to 2.55).

It's been working fine on all the nVidia cards I've had, including the BFG 5700 Ultra I'm using right now.

Million dollar question is, though, does this new DVD decoder 1.00.67 that was released with all the PureVideo hoopla actually offer anything new over the DVD decoder 2.55 (that I already have)?

I haven't really been able to find any information on that, since all the reviews seem to be concentrating on the GeForce 6-series cards and their 'PureVideo' features - neither relevant here.

My basic question is simply - do nVidia's DVD decoder 2.55 and nVidia's DVD decoder 1.00.67 differ substantially?

[ATI_Dude]

The main differences:

1. NVDVD 2.55 can decode multi channel Dolby Digital audio. The new nVidia DVD decoder only supports downmix to stereo or SPDIF passthrough.

2. The new nVidia decoder supports all PureVideo features while NVDVD only supports MPEG2 hardware accelleration.

[fivefeet8]

The purevideo DVD decoder also supports DOlby Digital2 SS Audio decode. It's listed in the release notes.

[ATI_Dude]

The purevideo DVD decoder also supports DOlby Digital2 SS Audio decode. It's listed in the release notes.

I don't think you understand what these terms actually mean. The nVidia DVD decoder only supports "Dolby Digital Surround Sound decoding" by downmixing to stereo (2 channels), which I pointed out in paragraph 1 in my first post. I''l give you a hint: "2" is referring to a footnote at the bottom of page 2 in the release notes ;)

[crainger]

Nvidia DVD Decoder does support full Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, only if you buy the more expensive packages. I think it also will only work through WMP and not through nStantMedia.

So basically if you have a 5.1 soundcard and a 5.1 speaker setup you will get full Dolby and/or DTS sound, if you purchase the right package.

[FraGTastiK]

I can hear full 5.1 surround sound of the Star Wars Episode II DVD using WMP10+DVD decoder 1.00.67 on My 6800U+Audigy2ZS thru All 6 analog speakers.(Man it blows My other DVD Players away Pretty hard)

But also the HULK and LOTR Return of the king just use Fronts.kinda odd.

[joeyddr]

and dont forget some people will get a nice black screen with the decoder while the 2.55 will play the same video fine.

[fruitopias]

So basically if you have a 5.1 soundcard and a 5.1 speaker setup you will get full Dolby and/or DTS sound, if you purchase the right package.

Wait, don't we have to use Digital output in order to get DTS ? Thus we have to set it through SPDIF passthrough and let our speakers encode it?
So why do we need that features ?

[ATI_Dude]

Nvidia DVD Decoder does support full Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, only if you buy the more expensive packages. I think it also will only work through WMP and not through nStantMedia. So basically if you have a 5.1 soundcard and a 5.1 speaker setup you will get full Dolby and/or DTS sound, if you purchase the right package.

Incorrect. Read for yourself here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/decoder_faq.html

Quote:

"What audio feature do I get with the NVIDIA DVD Decoder?
The NVIDIA DVD Decoder supports Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding downmixed into 2-channel stereo, Dolby Pro Logic surround sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS S/PDIF digital output. If you plug in stereo speakers or headphones into your computer you will hear all of the audio in stereo mode out of two speakers. In order to use surround sound 5.1 speakers you will need to use an external audio decoder and change the NVIDIA DVD Decoder audio properties to S/PDIF mode."

In other words you need a software or hardware decoder to get full multi-channel surround sound.

The upcoming "Multimedia Application" software will supposedly support decoding of Dolby Digital, DTS and Pro Logic II.

[ATI_Dude]

I can hear full 5.1 surround sound of the Star Wars Episode II DVD using WMP10+DVD decoder 1.00.67 on My 6800U+Audigy2ZS thru All 6 analog speakers.(Man it blows My other DVD Players away Pretty hard)

But also the HULK and LOTR Return of the king just use Fronts.kinda odd.

Your Audigy2ZS is doing the decoding, not the nVidia DVD decoder.

[crainger]

Wait, don't we have to use Digital output in order to get DTS ? Thus we have to set it through SPDIF passthrough and let our speakers encode it?
So why do we need that features ?

No, you just need the Gold or Platinum package, a 5.1 speakers and a soundcard which outputs to 5.1. No need for digital

Forget what ATi_Dude is quoting. That FAQ refers to the Bronze package and the previous version of the decoder. The new one does decode DD and DTS to analogue no problems. I know I have the Platinum version and it works perfect, and this is with the option to let my sound card decode off. So its Nvidia Decoder decoding it.

This also explains why the prices for the Gold and Platinum versions are higher. They have had to licence the decoding tech and need to pay for it.

Just remember you need the Gold and Platinum version and use WMP (not NstantMedia). If WinDVD and PowerDVD work for you then Nvidia DVD will work too.

[crainger]

Incorrect. Read for yourself here: http://www.nvidia.com/object/decoder_faq.html

Quote:

"What audio feature do I get with the NVIDIA DVD Decoder?
The NVIDIA DVD Decoder supports Dolby Digital 5.1 decoding downmixed into 2-channel stereo, Dolby Pro Logic surround sound, Dolby Digital 5.1, and DTS S/PDIF digital output. If you plug in stereo speakers or headphones into your computer you will hear all of the audio in stereo mode out of two speakers. In order to use surround sound 5.1 speakers you will need to use an external audio decoder and change the NVIDIA DVD Decoder audio properties to S/PDIF mode."

In other words you need a software or hardware decoder to get full multi-channel surround sound.

The upcoming "Multimedia Application" software will supposedly support decoding of Dolby Digital, DTS and Pro Logic II.


Yes, but thats for the previous version and the Bronze package. Check the specs when you go to buy it. There are more than one version and the Gold and Platinum versions will do the decoding for you if you wish.

[fruitopias]

No, you just need the Gold or Platinum package, a 5.1 speakers and a soundcard which outputs to 5.1. No need for digital

Forget what ATi_Dude is quoting. That FAQ refers to the Bronze package and the previous version of the decoder. The new one does decode DD and DTS to analogue no problems. I know I have the Platinum version and it works perfect, and this is with the option to let my sound card decode off. So its Nvidia Decoder decoding it.

This also explains why the prices for the Gold and Platinum versions are higher. They have had to licence the decoding tech and need to pay for it.

Just remember you need the Gold and Platinum version and use WMP (not NstantMedia). If WinDVD and PowerDVD work for you then Nvidia DVD will work too.

Oh, the thing is I do have a digital speaker and Audigy 2 (if that matters) so I guess I only need the bronze edition then.

[ATI_Dude]

Yes, but thats for the previous version and the Bronze package. Check the specs when you go to buy it. There are more than one version and the Gold and Platinum versions will do the decoding for you if you wish.

True, but the question was concerning the previous version (1.00.67) not the new Bronze, Silver and Gold products.

[ATI_Dude]

Oh, the thing is I do have a digital speaker and Audigy 2 (if that matters) so I guess I only need the bronze edition then.

Your Audigy2 can decode DD 5.1 (and DD-EX) in software and with hacked Audigy2ZS drivers it can decode DTS as well. All you need to do is to set the nVidia decoder to SPDIF and enable DD/DTS decoding in the Creative AudioHQ.

[XanderF]

Alright, since I'm using Soundstorm and only have a digital connection to my speakers, S/PDIF passthrough is no problem at all.

Sounds like the Bronze version will do me fine.

In fact, I tried the demo of it.

For starters, not being able to use nvDVD anymore (the new decoder doesn't work with their own player!) is a little annoying, but watching DVDs in WMP using the older 2.55 decoder vs watching them in WMP using the new 1.00.67 decoder....

WOW

There is *quite* a quality difference.

I mean, it's ENORMOUS. I would never have guessed you could have such a chasm in quality.

[fruitopias]

Your Audigy2 can decode DD 5.1 (and DD-EX) in software and with hacked Audigy2ZS drivers it can decode DTS as well. All you need to do is to set the nVidia decoder to SPDIF and enable DD/DTS decoding in the Creative AudioHQ.

ok I understand now, so the next question would be, which one is better Audigy 2 ZS decoder or my speaker decoder (I have Z-5500 btw) through Digital output. So far I always use SPDIF throughout using Power/Win DVD.

[ATI_Dude]

ok I understand now, so the next question would be, which one is better Audigy 2 ZS decoder or my speaker decoder (I have Z-5500 btw) through Digital output. So far I always use SPDIF throughout using Power/Win DVD.

Use your speaker decoder. It is hardware-driven (= higher quality) and since you don't have a 6.1 or 7.1 speaker system you won't be able to take advantage of your Audigy2's DD-EX or DTS-ES decoding anyway.