Between NVIDIA, ATI and Intel I cannot seem to find a graphics solution that does not either have an issue with the 29/59 bug or problems with achieving black blacks (no color banding and handles full/limited RGB properly). Does the community have a consensus on a card that can handle both of those issues without problems?
It seems like all three companies have severe driver issues that go unfixed for years. Depending on the generation of graphics and the driver level its nearly impossible to make a properly informed decision. I myself have run through solutions from each company only to find severe problems with either 29/59 or RGB. I can say for sure its not my display device since I have been able to correct one issue or the other, but never both at the same time. Pulling my hair out.
I use an HD6450 because I was experiencing the 29/59 bug on some older SD programs when using WMC7. It stuttered & looked like frames were being skipped a few times per minute. Is was not the brightness fluctuation that some people talk about. Anyway the video card fixed the problem.
I tried all the full/limited settings & they all worked. I ended using one of the limited settings in order to make the HTPC black level match the satellite DVR & Blu-ray player. I never noticed any banding on my older 720P HDTV or my newer 1080 set. The HTPC outputs 1080P to the TV, according to the TV. I used the driver that came with card & never updated it. Usually I keep everything updated but some folks seem to have issues after updating so I never did. Maybe the PQ would be better with a newer driver, I don't know. But I think my PQ is great right now & I don't have any problems.
Obviously you may get different results but the HD6450 works for me. I should add that I'm only using WMC7. No 3D, no Blu-ray, no madVR, etc.
Haswell with the MadVR level tweaker to update to 0-255 support is the simplest answer.
AMD cards/iGPU do pretty well too IMO. I don't think the problem is anywhere near what you are imagining and I have a feeling a lot of your info is old and no longer applies.
The OP probably has better eyesight than I have and is more demanding. I use an AMD 7770. I am not aware of having a 29/59 problem. I also use 7MC, madvr with MPC-HC and PowerDVD. Getting a Spyder4Elite and doing a calibration on my monitor and my plasma display helped a lot with black levels and colors. I would like to be helpful but I cannot be sure that calibration will solve your problems.
The thread is titled "Discrete Graphics" but then Intel is mentioned?
With an intel igpu, have you tried disabling adaptive contrast management? Before doing so I noticed quite a bit of flicker in WMC watching Comcast HD channels, but afterwards it was no longer apparent. Also, interestingly this was only an issue with my sandy bridge i3
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mfusick /t/1528340/discrete-graphics-does-a-good-card-actually-exist#post_24630621
Haswell with the MadVR level tweaker to update to 0-255 support is the simplest answer.
AMD cards/iGPU do pretty well too IMO. I don't think the problem is anywhere near what you are imagining and I have a feeling a lot of your info is old and no longer applies.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark_Slayer /t/1528340/discrete-graphics-does-a-good-card-actually-exist#post_24633445
The thread is titled "Discrete Graphics" but then Intel is mentioned?
With an intel igpu, have you tried disabling adaptive contrast management? Before doing so I noticed quite a bit of flicker in WMC watching Comcast HD channels, but afterwards it was no longer apparent. Also, interestingly this was only an issue with my sandy bridge i3
I had the 29/59 bug with an i5 Haswell iGPU while watching Breaking Bad on AMC (Comcast HD), so Haswell isn't a perfect solution. It was very noticeable. Disabling dynamic contrast made it MUCH better, and it isnt noticable on the video anymore. The AMC logo still flickers, but I probably wouldn't notice it if I wasn't looking for it.
I thought you were kidding at first since you are a veteran around here
29 59 is a noticeable flickering that occurs on some tv channels when viewed in WMC due to a 29 59 frame rate switch during some broadcasts. I have seen it, and for me it wasn't something I could just ignore. However, disabling adaptive contrast management or dynamic contrast (whichever it's called in Intel Graphics Settings) took care of the issue for me
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dark_Slayer /t/1528340/discrete-graphics-does-a-good-card-actually-exist/0_100#post_24635158
I thought you were kidding at first since you are a veteran around here
29 59 is a noticeable flickering that occurs on some tv channels when viewed in WMC due to a 29 59 frame rate switch during some broadcasts. I have seen it, and for me it wasn't something I could just ignore. However, disabling adaptive contrast management or dynamic contrast (whichever it's called in Intel Graphics Settings) took care of the issue for me http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2658140
I wasn't - I've searched around a couple of times, but it has always lead to topics of people complaining that they are experiencing the "29/59 bug" or saying that they have fixed it, but I had not seen anything which described what the bug was.
Without knowing what it was, I would have thought it'd be related to the fact that Windows 8 will switch to 29/59 (or 23) rather than 24/30/60Hz as requested. (something which has only recently been worked around)
If it's only an issue with broadcast content, well there's your answer. I mostly use my HTPC for Blu-rays and don't have any tuners hooked up.
Anyway, thanks for actually explaining what it was.
So if rferrar1 is concerned about that, I'll leave it to people who have experience in that area.
I've had 5450, 7750, and 7850, and they ALL have the 29/59 bug. There is no cure all fix for this and Microsoft is never going to fix it because Media Center is dead.
Actually, Media Center is alive and limping along. I use it almost every day for its EPG and to record live OTA TV and as an interface with Media Browser.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Postmoderndesign /t/1528340/discrete-graphics-does-a-good-card-actually-exist/0_100#post_24637865
Actually, Media Center is alive and limping along. I use it almost every day for its EPG and to record live OTA TV and as an interface with Media Browser.
Yes, of course it still works, but Microsoft is not adding or fixing anything. It's just "there". I wouldn't be surprised if they don't include it in Windows 9.
At least some talented guys . . . krustyreturns, scarecrow420, and some guy named Jeff (not kidding) were able to create a great backend making use of all the benefits of WMC (except playready copy once drm) inside XBMC (and eventually mb3)
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