Choosing video card for Comcast DRM/H.264 issue
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Choosing video card for Comcast DRM/H.264 issue
Since a lot of us are affected by Comcast's switch to H.264 and the associated issues with DRM channels, I though we should make note of what setups work.
So, how about telling us what card you use and how well it works with these concerns:
0. what OS, video card, driver version do you use?
1. can you watch DRM H.264?
2. can you switch from one DRM to another DRM? To a non-DRM?
3. can you skip forward and back on live TV, quickly without issue?
4. can you do the same with recorded DRM/H.264 material?
5. can you fast forward/backward smoothly on DRM recordings?
If you think there are issues to address let us know.
As for me:
0. Win7, Asus AMD HD5450, Catalyst 15.7.1, 2D driver 8.01.01.1500
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
DRM-non DRM works fine.
3. mostly yes but freezes often. Need to close WMC window and reopen to recover. Slightly pausing between skipping button works fine.
4. same as #3
5. a bit choppy on fastest FF/RW but works
So, how about telling us what card you use and how well it works with these concerns:
0. what OS, video card, driver version do you use?
1. can you watch DRM H.264?
2. can you switch from one DRM to another DRM? To a non-DRM?
3. can you skip forward and back on live TV, quickly without issue?
4. can you do the same with recorded DRM/H.264 material?
5. can you fast forward/backward smoothly on DRM recordings?
If you think there are issues to address let us know.
As for me:
0. Win7, Asus AMD HD5450, Catalyst 15.7.1, 2D driver 8.01.01.1500
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
DRM-non DRM works fine.
3. mostly yes but freezes often. Need to close WMC window and reopen to recover. Slightly pausing between skipping button works fine.
4. same as #3
5. a bit choppy on fastest FF/RW but works
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
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0. Win7, Nvidia Quadro FX580, driver 331.82
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky forward at highest speed
I need low power cards, 19-25W, as well as low profile, so these below fit the bill. It appears Nvidia is much better at resolving the skipping issue, n fact solving it, than AMD. There is still the #2 issue, but I can live with that. The skipping issue is more important to me so I'm switching from AMD 5450 to Nvidia GT710.
0. Win7, Zotac ZT-71301-20L, Nvidia GT710, driver 359.21
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky forward at highest speed
0. Win7, MSI GT710-1GD3HL, Nvidia GT710, driver 359.21
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky and skips too many frames forward at highest speed
1. yes
2. yes
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky forward at highest speed
I need low power cards, 19-25W, as well as low profile, so these below fit the bill. It appears Nvidia is much better at resolving the skipping issue, n fact solving it, than AMD. There is still the #2 issue, but I can live with that. The skipping issue is more important to me so I'm switching from AMD 5450 to Nvidia GT710.
0. Win7, Zotac ZT-71301-20L, Nvidia GT710, driver 359.21
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky forward at highest speed
0. Win7, MSI GT710-1GD3HL, Nvidia GT710, driver 359.21
1. yes
2. DRM-DRM, yes, mostly.When going from 800 region DRM channel to 200 region, video freezes with previous 800 region channel, audio continues with new channel. Need to switch to non-DRM channel and then back to 200 region DRM for it to work.
3. yes
4. yes
5. yes backward, a bit jerky and skips too many frames forward at highest speed
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
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0. Win7, HIS 6570, latest available driver (which is old)
1. Sometimes "blocky"
2. not tested
3. mostly yes but freezes often. Need to close WMC window and reopen to recover. Slightly pausing between skipping button works fine.
4. same as #3
5. not sure
Also, on the hunt on an equivalent replacement for the AMD card - looking for ideas....
1. Sometimes "blocky"
2. not tested
3. mostly yes but freezes often. Need to close WMC window and reopen to recover. Slightly pausing between skipping button works fine.
4. same as #3
5. not sure
Also, on the hunt on an equivalent replacement for the AMD card - looking for ideas....
- Crash2009
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0. Win7 Ultimate, HD6770, Old driver 04/19/2011
1. No complaints whatsoever
2 I haven't been able to find a H.264 channel in zip 48103
1. No complaints whatsoever
2 I haven't been able to find a H.264 channel in zip 48103
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0. Win7 Home, GT730, 382.05
1, Yes, but often very blocky (credits are usually very bad)
2. Yes, no problems
3. Yes, no problems
4. Yes, though blocky, but doesn't change based on skips (it's recorded)
5. Yes, blockiness stays about the same
I would gladly replace my video card to fix this. I switched from internal video (i7 3770K) to the GT730 to get the DRM channels working, but action movies are nearly unwatchable. Tried an AMD card but it wouldn't do the HDCP handshake (AV receiver and Viewsonic projector) so nothing would show.
411-info shows that Comcast is sending H264 at about 3Mb/s which seems fine in nearly everything but action movies.
1, Yes, but often very blocky (credits are usually very bad)
2. Yes, no problems
3. Yes, no problems
4. Yes, though blocky, but doesn't change based on skips (it's recorded)
5. Yes, blockiness stays about the same
I would gladly replace my video card to fix this. I switched from internal video (i7 3770K) to the GT730 to get the DRM channels working, but action movies are nearly unwatchable. Tried an AMD card but it wouldn't do the HDCP handshake (AV receiver and Viewsonic projector) so nothing would show.
411-info shows that Comcast is sending H264 at about 3Mb/s which seems fine in nearly everything but action movies.
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I've given up trying to perfect this. Using GT710, only real issue is when switching from DRM (800 range) to DRM/not-DRM (200 range). I get no video and need to switch down 2 or 3 channels to recover. To me, this is not a real issue.
Fast forwarding not smoothly in the fastest setting (recorded or live) remains for H.264 channels only; MPEG is fine. Not a real issue for me.
I have noi issue with action movies.
Stay away form AMD, Nvidia will get you there much better. I'd like to say that more processing power will resolve this but I can't upgrade. If you can, go ahead and try out a current, fast Nvidia card. If that doesn't resolve everything, then I suspect that Comcast is not sending a standard signal, perhaps intentionally.
FYI, I also use an older Motorola from 4 years ago - basic, non-DVR, HD - and I have no issues with playback, switching. Surely there isn't a super video card in that! So, I believe more and more that Comcast is intentionally screwing us.
Fast forwarding not smoothly in the fastest setting (recorded or live) remains for H.264 channels only; MPEG is fine. Not a real issue for me.
I have noi issue with action movies.
Stay away form AMD, Nvidia will get you there much better. I'd like to say that more processing power will resolve this but I can't upgrade. If you can, go ahead and try out a current, fast Nvidia card. If that doesn't resolve everything, then I suspect that Comcast is not sending a standard signal, perhaps intentionally.
FYI, I also use an older Motorola from 4 years ago - basic, non-DVR, HD - and I have no issues with playback, switching. Surely there isn't a super video card in that! So, I believe more and more that Comcast is intentionally screwing us.
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
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And is that the black helicopters overhead I hear?artm wrote:I've given up trying to perfect this.....
FYI, I also use an older Motorola from 4 years ago - basic, non-DVR, HD - and I have no issues with playback, switching. Surely there isn't a super video card in that! So, I believe more and more that Comcast is intentionally screwing us.
You give Comcast way to much credit. Yes, they have screwed something up, but it was most surely unintentional.
- Crash2009
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Maybe we should look at Windows Updates.artm wrote: FYI, I also use an older Motorola from 4 years ago - basic, non-DVR, HD - and I have no issues with playback, switching. Surely there isn't a super video card in that! So, I believe more and more that Comcast is intentionally screwing us.
Just checked mine....Something slithered in to mine in June 2017. I'll have to look into that.
- Crash2009
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KB2999226 looks suspicious since the previous was 2014
Anybody heard anything on this one?
http://www.techvirals.com/2015/10/13/wh ... b-3083710/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... in-windows
Anybody heard anything on this one?
http://www.techvirals.com/2015/10/13/wh ... b-3083710/
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/hel ... in-windows
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Don't bother. It's directly related to when Comcast switches to H.264 that the problems begin.Crash2009 wrote: Maybe we should look at Windows Updates.
Just checked mine....Something slithered in to mine in June 2017. I'll have to look into that.
- Crash2009
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I guess H.264 has not arrived in zip 48103Ken H wrote:Don't bother. It's directly related to when Comcast switches to H.264 that the problems begin.Crash2009 wrote: Maybe we should look at Windows Updates.
Just checked mine....Something slithered in to mine in June 2017. I'll have to look into that.
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?Crash2009 wrote:
I guess H.264 has not arrived in zip 48103
I'm confused. Do you have any of the issues that have been discussed in the other Comcast H.264 topic?
Also, to the OP, I do not believe there is any hardware that can avoid the issues. Which is why I've managed to get Comcast to buy an HDHomeRun to do some testing. I assume you've been reading here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10486
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Ken H: Yes, I'm aware of the other thread. What's the status of Comcast's testing the HDHR? When did they undertake this?
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
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The status is I'm waiting to hear back from them. They told me they were going to do it about 10 days ago, and I haven't heard anything since. It will take time for everything to happen that needs to happen at their end and it may be another few weeks or a month before they get back to me. Who knows?artm wrote:Ken H: Yes, I'm aware of the other thread. What's the status of Comcast's testing the HDHR? When did they undertake this?
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Well, it's not an HDHR issue. It's HDHR , WMC and Win7+. Oh...and choice of video card.
Or not...maybe it's just Comcast screwing up by sending a non-standard signal. Today I'm getting pixelation on CNN, Ch 842 in Boston. no change on my end, just Comcast crap!
I've also been getting pixelation on 810, NBC, fro months. Don't watch it often so no big deal but it's there.
Or not...maybe it's just Comcast screwing up by sending a non-standard signal. Today I'm getting pixelation on CNN, Ch 842 in Boston. no change on my end, just Comcast crap!
I've also been getting pixelation on 810, NBC, fro months. Don't watch it often so no big deal but it's there.
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
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The issue is not with the HDHR, they are getting one to be able to test a PC based CableCARD system.artm wrote:Well, it's not an HDHR issue. It's HDHR , WMC and Win7+. Oh...and choice of video card.
This is my considered opinion.Or not...maybe it's just Comcast screwing up by sending a non-standard signal.
- Crash2009
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I am recording something in H264 to test FF RW etcKen H wrote:I'm confused.
totally uneffected by anything listed previously in the list.
- Crash2009
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Your first mistake is "Don't use Catalyst"artm wrote:0. Win7, Asus AMD HD5450, Catalyst 15.7.1, 2D driver 8.01.01.1500
2nd is use an older driver. Get rid of all that crap, and let windows detect and install a driver from windows update.
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1. which older driver then? I'm sure I tried several versions but can't recall right now - it was a traumatic experience that I'd like to forget.
2. I am a firm believer of "no crap". That's why I NEVER do Windows Updates. Are you sayign i can tell Windows to install the driver and it won't install anything else? Wouldn't it then install the latest driver?
2. I am a firm believer of "no crap". That's why I NEVER do Windows Updates. Are you sayign i can tell Windows to install the driver and it won't install anything else? Wouldn't it then install the latest driver?
-Art --
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
Win7 Ultimate x64 (NO UPDATES!), EPG123 v1.1.19, Schedules Direct, HDHomerun Prime,
Dell 980 SFF, i5, Nvidia GT710
Dell 780 SFF, i5, HD4000
- Crash2009
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uninstall the driver you are using right now. Do some reading on how to uninstall correctly. If you do a halfass job you get halfass result. After you get rid of all that AMD crap, pull the card out of the box and cold boot.
Start fresh and let Win7 do its job.
When you re-install the card click update driver, and let win7 choose for you. Read my first post, I am using driver from 2011. No Catalyst. works great.
The video adapter has always been the toughest part of a new build. Getting it right sometimes takes some time. My first HTPC took me a long time to get right (almost a year)
In my experience update driver installs the best...not necesarily the newest.
Start fresh and let Win7 do its job.
When you re-install the card click update driver, and let win7 choose for you. Read my first post, I am using driver from 2011. No Catalyst. works great.
The video adapter has always been the toughest part of a new build. Getting it right sometimes takes some time. My first HTPC took me a long time to get right (almost a year)
In my experience update driver installs the best...not necesarily the newest.