Snow Leopard - H.264 for 9400M?

[FSMBP]

So, as I go through the tech specs for Snow Leopard, I realize one requirement for Quicktime H.264 Hardware acceleration is a 9400M (Shown below).


So does that mean that Apple is too lazy to write code for other graphics cards or that the 9400M has a special ability not found in other graphics cards?

 

[kasakka]

Since the 9400M is used on so many models I suppose it's easier to state that as a minimum requirement for H.264 HW acceleration. It should also work on for example the 8800 and 8600 series found on older iMacs since as far as I know the 9-series was just faster rather than bringing in new features.

 

[MikhailT]

So, as I go through the tech specs for Snow Leopard, I realize one requirement for Quicktime H.264 Hardware acceleration is a 9400M (Shown below).


So does that mean that Apple is too lazy to write code for other graphics cards or that the 9400M has a special ability not found in other graphics cards?

I would think that Apple would use OpenCL to do this and OpenCL is compatible with 8600MT and above with some ATi cards. I may be incorrect in assuming that and Apple may be just taking advantage of the built in decoder that only 9400M has?

 

[FSMBP]

I would think that Apple would use OpenCL to do this and OpenCL is compatible with 8600MT and above with some ATi cards. I may be incorrect in assuming that and Apple may be just taking advantage of the built in decoder that only 9400M has?

I would assume that too but the features requirements for Snow Leopard list all compatible GPUs. It's only for the Quicktime Hardware function that it only lists one specific requirement, the 9400M.

I mean, it makes sense to tailor it to the 9400M. Every Mac, except the Pro, has a 9400M in it. But, I have to assume the 8600MT has more power than a integrated graphics chip.

 

[iBug2]

I can confirm that 8800gt does not work for that. I'm ADC member and no build, including yesterdays, uses hardware acceleration on my 8800gt for quicktime.

 

[FSMBP]

I can confirm that 8800gt does not work for that. I'm ADC member and no build, including yesterdays, uses hardware acceleration on my 8800gt for quicktime.

Ah...my worst fear came true . Thanks for the info though.

I guess there must be something really special about the 9400M. Or classic Apple not caring about people who purchased anything before 6 Months ago.

 

[Cabbit]

It will most likely be to do with the programable shaders on the cards, If the 8600m which is a rebranded 7600m uses a older programable shader version than the 9400m which is a much newer part.

Though i think shaders(used to be pixel and vertex) are now called streams or something else.

 

[MikhailT]

Ah...my worst fear came true . Thanks for the info though.

I guess there must be something really special about the 9400M. Or classic Apple not caring about people who purchased anything before 6 Months ago.

9400M is the first integrated solution to support HD decoding. That's all I know.

I do think that there's a difference between nVidia built in HD decoding acceleration and the OpenCL telling any GPU to accelerate the decoding.

 

[Riemann Zeta]

It will most likely be to do with the programable shaders on the cards, If the 8600m which is a rebranded 7600m uses a older programable shader version than the 9400m which is a much newer part.

Actually, the 9600 is just a re-branded 8600--both are DX10-level cards with the same architecture. All of the 9XXX cards are just 8XXX GPUs with a little higher clock speed / faster memory.

 

[iBug2]

9400M is the first integrated solution to support HD decoding. That's all I know.

I do think that there's a difference between nVidia built in HD decoding acceleration and the OpenCL telling any GPU to accelerate the decoding.

Well on the PC side, all 8xxx series of nvidia cards support hardware decoding on windows AND on linux through vdpau. So if Apple wants to implement their version of hardware acceleration at least they can implement it on every card which has support for it.

 

[MikhailT]

Well on the PC side, all 8xxx series of nvidia cards support hardware decoding on windows AND on linux through vdpau. So if Apple wants to implement their version of hardware acceleration at least they can implement it on every card which has support for it.

Maybe it'll come in an update, I hope.

 

[alphaod]

If Apple ever decides to write the drivers for it, they can enable hybrid SLI and therefore you can choose the 9600M (or whatever you have) and still be able to access the functions of the 9400M without logging out. You can also perform functions the other way around.

 

[buckyballs]

The 9400M has an Nvidia technology called PureVideo HD built into it to allow for hardware decoding of h.264 video.

Problem is, the 8600M, 8800, etc ALSO support PureVideo HD. This is a conscious decision by Apple to alienate "old" customers

PureVideo HD support table (PDF) - http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_43029.html