[Solved] h.264 hardware decoding on an AGP card in Linux?

It's harder for those of us with older hardware because all the new recommendations are useless to us. Especially when you use Linux as it seems everything is talking about directX and Vista or Windows 7 which mean nothing to me.
AGP 8x
will be doing h.264 decoding and occasional editing
1920 x 1080 resolution LCD (dvi or hdmi)
dual head would be a plus for later but not vital.
Not a gamer at all.
Needs to work well with Linux, of course.
I'm running on an old P4 3.0 Ghz so if I can get the encoding/decoding offloaded (especially for flash) on to the GPU this would be a huge help.
Price < $70 on Amazon or Newegg (possibly more if it's really worth it)
I've been looking at a Radeon 2400 Pro 512MB Agp on Amazon but wanted to see if anyone had a better suggestion before I pull the trigger so to speak.
[06/17/2010 - changed subject from "Which AGP Video card would you recommend?" to "h.264 hardware decoding on an AGP card in Linux?"]
Last edited by davidm (2010-06-19 17:41:56)

Someone asked me for an update via email so I just realized that I forgot to post as I promised. It's working out pretty good. I can play 1080p h264 movies using mplayer with only about 10-30% use of my 3.0 P4 HT CPU using VDPAU. I wasn't able to get it (x.264 GPU decoding) to work with vlc or the system ffmpeg though. At least when I set this up many months ago. So if anyone is just looking to be able to play 1080p h264 videos I definitely would give a VDPAU capable PCI card a shot if you have no other viable choices for your old hardware. Using mplayer with VDPAU properly configured I don't experience any stuttering at all on my old hardware, believe it or not.
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G98 [GeForce 8400 GS] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Device 19f1:0a5e
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
Memory at fb000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at f8000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
I/O ports at ec00 [size=128]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at fafe0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidia, nouveau, nvidiafb
Last edited by davidm (2010-10-28 20:07:36)

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H.264 DirectShow decoding in WEC2013

We are developing a WEC2013 device based on the i.MX6 processor family.
I need to be able to playback H.264 encoded video, but I can see from
this page that the BSP does not support H.264. Does anyone know of any third parties that will provide H.264 support for the i.MX6 and WEC2013?
And if no third parties provide that support, where would one get started (documentation) to write a DirectShow filter that would use the on board H.264 decoder?

Someone asked me for an update via email so I just realized that I forgot to post as I promised. It's working out pretty good. I can play 1080p h264 movies using mplayer with only about 10-30% use of my 3.0 P4 HT CPU using VDPAU. I wasn't able to get it (x.264 GPU decoding) to work with vlc or the system ffmpeg though. At least when I set this up many months ago. So if anyone is just looking to be able to play 1080p h264 videos I definitely would give a VDPAU capable PCI card a shot if you have no other viable choices for your old hardware. Using mplayer with VDPAU properly configured I don't experience any stuttering at all on my old hardware, believe it or not.
03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G98 [GeForce 8400 GS] (rev a1) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Device 19f1:0a5e
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 21
Memory at fb000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at f8000000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32M]
I/O ports at ec00 [size=128]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at fafe0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities: [60] Power Management version 3
Capabilities: [68] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [78] Express Endpoint, MSI 00
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidia, nouveau, nvidiafb
Last edited by davidm (2010-10-28 20:07:36)

How to get dolby hardware decoded sound in xtreme ga

I bought the creative xtreme music when xfi first came out for use in my htpc. I connected the sound card with my creative gigaworks s750 speakers to watch movies on my 42 inch plasma.
After the xtreme music died. I went out and bought creative xtreme gamer(as xtreme music was no longer around) without realizing that xtreme gamer did not hardware decode dolby. ?
Since the replacement of xtreme music with xtreme gamer; I have always had a problem with the clarity of dialogue in movies.
It was only a few days ago that i stumbled upon this issue of "hardware vs softwer" decode of dolby sound in creative sound cards while reading about daniel K fiasco., So now like any audio head, i desperately want hardware decoded sound from my xtreme gamer sound card for dvd's in my htpc.
As per release notes of the new xfi drivers (see below), I won't have hardware decoded dolby sound even, if i install the new drivers released by creative which supposingly allow hardware decoded sound as i own xtreme gamer.
Sound Blaster X-Fi Series with DVD-Audio Playback and Dolby Digital/DTS Decoding
So is there any moded driver out there which can help me get hardware decoded dolby sound from my xfi xtreme gamer sound card.
Thankyou in advance.

after having slept a couple of hours and read about a bit about pulse and jack the general feeling I get is that they cause people trouble.
Understanding how to write a good .asoundrc seems to be the best option, but a bit complicated. Since I didn't actually want sound from both cards, but merely a simpler way to switch, I've given up for now. I wrote a simple script to do it for me, and running that is actually simpler than fiddling in alsamixer, finding and muting/unmuting channels/cards
I don't feel I've solved the issue, since I didn't get what I asked for (sound from both cards at the same time) but I have what I want (a simple way of switching) and I know where to look (finding out how alsa handles virtual cards, setting one up and send all sound that goes there to my actual cards or configuring pulse/jack this thread was sort of helpful as it begins to explain a .asoundrc) if I feel a need for it in the future.
Thanks anyway for all the help. After 4 years of Arch use (and more then I can remember on linux) I still feel like a noob sometimes. It's good to have a community.
here is my, almost, solution
#!/bin/bash
#creating or uncreating the .asoundrc config file by renaming it
if [ -f $HOME/.asoundrc ]
then mv -v $HOME/.asoundrc $HOME/.asoundrc-no-use
echo "this should give audio to your speakers"
echo "more specificly, audio from the motherboard (default) soundcard"
elif [ -f $HOME/.asoundrc-no-use ]
then mv -v $HOME/.asoundrc-no-use $HOME/.asoundrc
echo "this should give sound from the HDMI on the graphicscard"
else
echo "this script doesn't do your setup"
fi
#restarting alsa is needed to read(or not find) the .asoundrc config file
#and to do that you need privileges
sudo /etc/rc.d/alsa restart
exit 0
combined with
~/.asoundrc
pcm.!default {
type hw
card 1
device 9
Last edited by openess (2012-08-18 20:08:26)

How to tell if H.264 hardware-accelerated playback is working?

Hi everyone,
I noticed that when playing an 864x480 H.264-encoded file with Quicktime X and then with VLC, while checking the Activity Monitor app at the same time, I get CPU usage of 20~25 % with QTX and 15~20 % with VLC. This makes me doubtful that my MacBook is actually using the much-touted Snow Leopard H.264 hardware acceleration.
How can I be completely sure? And if it's indeed not working for me, how can I fix it?
Thanks in advance.

Both movies tested appear in the QT inspector as H.264, so what's the difference?
What do you know about the encoders that were used with them?
Did you make them from scratch and process them to their current state or did you pick them up from some other source?
Until you test with something you have control over and know the underlying details, you won't learn much more I think.

Software Decoding vs Hardware Decod

I know this has been brought up in several other threads previous to mine (http://forums.creative.com/creativel...y.id=605#M2688) but so far, I haven't found out the answer to my questions. So, maybe if the moderators could participate in this topic as well, that'd be great.
I currently have a SoundBlaster Li've 5. X-Gamer and I just recently got Logitech X-530 speakers. I'm playing a movie, and I'm absolutely amazed how much better it sounds with a 5. system. I was using Power DVD 6.0 to play this movie and it was set to 6 channels, so I think this was <EM>software decoding</EM> and not hardware decoding. Or am I wrong? Anyhow, my question is as follows:
) What is are the differences between software and hardware decoding?
2) To use hardware decoding on my SB Li've 5., how do I enable it's
3) I'm not using a receiver, so is this really Dolby Digital?
Thanks for reading this.

"but so far, I haven't found out the answer to my question"
read the stickies.
"I was using Power DVD 6.0 to play this movie and it was set to 6 channels, so I think this was <EM>software decoding</EM> and not hardware decoding"
You're right
"What is are the differences between software and hardware decoding? "
CPU usage
"To use hardware decoding on my SB Li've 5., how do I enable it's"
read the stickies: be sure that your SPDIF setting is set to decoding and set your DVD software audio output to SPDIF.
"I'm not using a receiver, so is this really Dolby Digital?"
Dolby Digital is sound format as any other, so no relation with a receiver.

Is and will hardware decoding of DTS be working in future driver releas

I have an Audigy 2 ZS card that when I had windows xp both AC3/DD and DTS Hardware decoding was working, now I have been running Windows Vista 64 ultimate with SP and using the recent beta drivers from creative I am getting Dolby Digital hardware decoding only but no DTS decoding from my hardware as like from before with XP, is anyone else getting hardware DTS decoding in Vista 64 or is this a feature still lacking untill the final driver release comes to be Available (crossing fingers) in July?

I turned to him, I was sent to [email protected]
my messege -
Hello, dear DEV's
I want to inform you that the new update 5.0.2 Lollipop there are errors / defects
about them, I want to tell you that in the next update you corrected them ..
also I would like to offer a few ideas.
So, can i contact with you ?
With good wishes
Antonio.
Hi Antonio,
Thanks for your email. You can report the errors to our consumer forum at talk.sonymobile.com.
Thanks so much!
Best regards,
Developer World
so what do i do ?

Hardware Decoding!

hi does anyone knw if the PCI-E Creative SB Titanium does Hardware decoding of Dolby Digital, DD EX, DTS, and DTS ES?
Thanks
Message Edited by Zaim on 0-3-2009 06:0 [email protected]

As I know no sound card ever had Hardware Decoding it's all by software with PC, hardware dsp that will do decoding?have no point you have software + cpu so it is using present?hardware?with software [email protected]

Hardware missing (it's not the agp card)

I installed final cut 4, and I am getting an error that says (power mac g4/350 mgz, or faster). I already changed the code for the agp card and that went away, but when I tried changing the code for this problem, I get another error that says (unknown value for key). please I need some help, I spent hours trying different things, but nothing seems to work. thanks a lot.

I have a project due on monday
Then Now is kinda a bad time to start attempting a non-standard installation, isn't it?
As the instructions say:
After installation and before launching any of the programs, open each application package (Final Cut Pro, Compressor, Soundtrack, etc.) that was installed inside the Applications folder, and edit the Info.plist file inside of the Contents folder of the application with TextEdit or your favorite plain-text editor. Simply delete the lines and tags that would prevent running on your machine. For example, to get it to run on a G3/300, you would delete the following lines, or simply change them to match your system:
<key>AELRequiredCPUType</key>
<string>G4</string>
<key>AELMinimumCPUSpeedSingle</key>
<string>350</string>
to open the application package, ctrl/right click on the app and select Show Package contents... from the popup.
Patrick

Xserve AGP card

Hi,
I recently purchased a 2nd hand Xserve (one of the original 1GHz single processor models).
It came with the standard PCI graphics card in the dual PCI riser and a PCI Ethernet card in the single PCI/AGP riser.
I want to remove the Ethernet card and put an AGP Graphics card in (need the DVI connection as it will be connected to a 20" Aluminium Cinema Display).
I realise I need to buy an AGP riser and swap out the PCI riser (they appear to cost about USD $10 so this is acceptable).
I have on hand 2 AGP cards that I could put into the Xserve - one is a Nvidia Geforce4 MX 32MB from a Dual Processor 867MHz MDD - the other is an ATI 9000 PRO 64MB (from my Dual Processor 1.25GHz MDD (FW800) that I replaced with a modified ATI Radeon 9600XT 128MB).
Will either the Nvidia or ATI 9000 work succesfully in the Xserve?
Everywhere that I have looked mentions the ATI Radeon 8500 as the card that Apple provided as CTO for the Xserves but these are hard to find in Australia and I would prefer to use a card I already have on hand. I would probably prefer to use the ATI 9000 Pro if this is at all possible.
I will be installing the client version of OSX 10.4 (10.4.6).
Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Xserve original 1GHz single processor Mac OS X (10.4.6)
PowerMac G4 MDD (FW800) - Xserve 1GHz - eMac 800MHz - iMac 600MHz Mac OS X (10.4.6)

This forum wouldn't like me linking to them.... but have a search around the OSX86 / "hackintosh" sites ... a lot of people tried a lot of hardware in their attempts to get their mits on the shiny X!
As a result there are wiki's full of what chipsets give Quartz / QE
gl

Where to put an AGP card for my G5?

I have a Power G5 at work, and I need an AGP graphics card to use Final Cut Pro. The problem is that this G5 only has a PCI card. When I went online to look at manuals to figure out what kind of card I needed and where it should go, I became very confused because all of the info on the Apple support site says that Slot 1 for graphics card can ONLY take AGP cards and that all the other slots are PCI. My G5 has a PCI card in Slot 1.
If I do get an AGP card, where the heck am I supposed to put it?

Either the G5s have AGP cards in the bottom slot or (in the case of the last iteration of the machine, a PCI-express card in the bottom slot) and most will support FCP no problem, the AGP exception, probably, would be the GeFarce 5200, which is seriously underpowered.
Go to the Apple Menu and select "About this Mac" and then click the "More Info" button, which will give you a System Profiler window. Under the Hardware section in Contents, select Graphics-Displays and report the information here and we can help you decide whether you are OK (you probably are, absent the aforementioned "monkey with crayons" 5200 card). You should see something like this display with your specifics:
*NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL:*
Chipset Model: GeForce 6800 Ultra
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
Vendor: nVIDIA (0x10de)
Device ID: 0x0040
Revision ID: 0x00a1
ROM Revision: 2130
Displays:
SMB2330:
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 50 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Main Display: Yes
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
SMB2330:
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 @ 50 Hz
Depth: 32-bit Color
Core Image: Supported
Mirror: Off
Online: Yes
Quartz Extreme: Supported
Note that monkey comment is really japamac's but it is apparently so true that I had to borrow it here.
Message was edited by: old comm guy

Will the ATI Radeon 700 AGP card run two Studio 21 Displays?

I just bought a G4 MDD 1.4 GHZ Mac that has what I assume was the stock video card, which appears to be for LCD displays, since the cables from my Apple 21" Studio displays (CRTs) don't match up to it (those are called VGA monitors, right?).
On my present Mac (G4 Quicksilver) I am running both of these 21" Studio Displays, one plugged into the stock AGP card and the other connected to a PCI video card. As I prepare to switch over to my "new" MDD Mac now, I need to figure out how best to run the two monitors with this G4. (I will leave the video cards in the old Quicksilver and give it to a relative who also wants to run two monitors with it).
I notice a new Radeon 7000 AGP card being offered on Ebay which has one VGA port, and they provide an adapter so that the second (DVI) port can also run a VGA monitor. If that card would run both my 21" Studio Displays independently as claimed, it would be the ideal solution, if the performance is adequate.
I do lots of Photoshop(CS2)adjustment of digital camera images and also make video movies with Final Cut Express, iDVD, etc., with both monitors set to 1152 X 870 at 75 Hertz. Would such a card as this one be up to the task with both monitors?
Every time I try to post the link to the Ebay auction for this card, everything in this text box disappears. So I'll just copy and paste the description of the card from the auction: "ATI Radeon 7000 64MB DDR Dual Monitor capable AGP Video Card with VGA, DVI-I, and S-Video Out and a DVI to VGA adapter. The video card has ATI's latest firmware (v226) with the latest ATI Displays support. It does not have any sleep issues. The card is capable of dual true independent/simultaneous monitor support with extended desktop. The adapter allows for dual VGA operation. This model has been tested in a G4 Tower, G4 Cube, and G5 with several versions of OS X including OS 10.4/Tiger. This card is guaranteed to work in any Macintosh G4 Tower, G4 Cube, or G5 Tower with OS 9.2.2 or later that has an available AGP slot."
Sounds good---maybe too good to be true. Any drawbacks to such a setup as this?
Any advice most appreciated.
Tom

Thanks for the info Malcolm. I checked out those links you provided, and it appears that buying two adapters for the presently-inistalled video card which would allow it to run two VGA monitors looks like a workable solution, all right. But it would be more expensive than just buying that Radeon AGP card to run both monitors, if the latter would work (that's what I'm still wondering).
Also, I notice that the DVI to VGA adapter sold by Apple has some poor reviews and seems to have glitches. It is reported by several people to be unreliable and seems to turn a lot of displays magenta, and in other cases requires a lot of wiggling or careful positioning to make it work right. Sounds like Apple needs to work on the design.
I appreciate the info, but I'm still favoring the Radeon 700 AGP card if someone can tell me it might work.
As to which card my Mac has in it right now, I can't tell just by looking at it (why don't they put an identifying sticker or something on the things?) and I can't connect any of my VGA displays to it yet to let the Mac report what it has in it, so it's still a mystery.
Thanks again,
Tom

30" Cinema Display and ATI AGP cards

I recently purchased a 30" Cinema display. My G5 Dual 2.0 GHz does not have the PCI-Express slot, only a AGP slot. After doing all my research, I arrived at 2 ATI cards (one for my PC and one for my G5). For the G5, I purchased the ATI X800XT Mac Edition. It clearly states it will support the 30" at 2560X1600 and it does say it is Dual link. The G5 will not display anything on any monitor (I also have a 20" cinema display). The other card I purchased for the PC is the ATI 9600 PRO MAC and PC edition. This card works flawlessly...on the PC (2560X1600), but limits display resolution to 1280X800 on the G5. My suspicion is that my G5 (I purchased in June 2004) does not present enough power at the AGP port, but I am only guessing.
Any thoughts?

From what I understand, there are four Mac/AGP cards that are compatible with the 30" Cinema Display:
1. ATI Radeon 9600 Pro Mac & PC Edition
2. ATI Radeon X800 XT Mac Edition
3. Nvidia Geforce 6800 GT DDL
4. Nvidia Geforce 6800 Ultra DDL
(By the way, try finding that information anywhere on the Apple site. I've spent hours researching this.)
I can't find any of the above for sale anywhere, except for #4 for over $500. I'm considering returning the monitor. Will a Geforce 6800 GT from another company such as PNY or Asus work? How about the ATI Radeon X1300?
Thanks for your help, -jl

Radeon 7500 Normal AGP card Without ADC (Used before on Windows Vista PC)

Dear ...
i read in some articals on internet that you can use this kind of Cards "Radeon 7500 Normal AGP card Without ADC (Used before on Windows Vista PC)" with Mac G4 Quicksliver 733Mhz ... just u have to install it and leave Machine on for sometimes till dedicated it is thatture ?
Message was edited by: waldhin

A Radeon 7500 (as well as any other AGP graphics card) that was removed from a PC must have its EEPROM chip re-programmed to function in an Apple computer. This is usually done while the card is installed in a PC, using a compatible flash utility program and the correct ROM code taken from the Mac version of the same card.

Dual ADC AGP card supplier?

Hi,
I'm trying to assist a user who is looking to replace a dead dual ADC graphics card (RADEON blah blah) in one of the first PowerMac G5s. Can someone recommend a suitable dual ADC card and UK supplier? [Cheers]
I seem to recall that you have to be careful when sourcing AGP cards in Macs i.e. you need to get the 'Mac Edition' in the case of ATI, but am not sure about Nvidia etc. Am I barking up the wrong tree thinking that the cards in question have extra pins (for power)?
TIA
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4)

No graphics board has more than one ADC port. There is an adapter to use an ADC display with a DVI port.
<http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObjects/ukstore.woa/wa/RSLID?mco=CC1BA768&nplm= M8661>
You will need a Mac G5 version of whatever board you get. The only new ADC G5 board being made is the
ATI Radeon® X800 XT MAC Edition RoHS 256MB AGP
<http://shop.ati.com/product.asp?sku=3170810>
There are some other boards available from Apple as spare parts from
<http://www.welovemacs.com/g5video.html>
<http://www.welovemacs.com/agpg5vica.html>
Not all have ADC ports, but can be used with the DVI to ADC adapter.

Can a PC ATI X1600 XT AGP card work with my MDD..

Can a PC ATI X1600 XT AGP card work with my MDD?

I have a friend that made the mistake of buying a (new) non-Mac edition ATI card. Not the card you've specified, this was a few years ago, but everything worked for him, with OSX. His biggest issue was the loss of the ADC connection on the card, getting DVI connectors only instead. That means a trip to Apple to get an ADC-DVI converter, mine was about £100 for my second display. My friend payed slightly less. At the end of the day, it would have been cheaper for him to pay the £30 extra for the Mac edition.

[Solved] h.264 hardware decoding on an AGP card in Linux?

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