The shield will do Dolby TrueHD and DTS-MAHD. The Roku ultra will not. Everything else is up to the app developers. Some apps work better on one device than the other at different times. You won't get 24fps Netflix on Roku but you can get it on the Shield.
Help choosing between Roku Ultra and Nvidia Shield Tube/Pro
I built a NAS device out of an old HTPC and will be using it to set up a plex server. I want a streaming device that will play netflix/hulu, etc., but also play files from my server. I plan on downloading only 4k remuxes, but I currently have a 1080p TV. The two options I am considering are the Roku Ultra and the Nvidia shield tube/pro. I do not plan to game at all, this will be strictly streaming and Plex.
My question is, since I only have a 1080p TV now, and probably wont upgrade for a couple years, is there any benefit to getting the shield at this time? Will I benefit from the better hardware/performance when using Plex or Netflix since my TV is only 1080p, or will there still be a noticeable difference when playing 4k remux files?
For the past few years I have just been using the HTPC to play netflix from the web, or download small 2gb 1080p webrips, but since I bought a couple 12TB drives, I want to start building a 4k media library now for when I eventually upgrade my TV and invest in surround sound.
My question is, since I only have a 1080p TV now, and probably wont upgrade for a couple years, is there any benefit to getting the shield at this time? Will I benefit from the better hardware/performance when using Plex or Netflix since my TV is only 1080p, or will there still be a noticeable difference when playing 4k remux files?
For the past few years I have just been using the HTPC to play netflix from the web, or download small 2gb 1080p webrips, but since I bought a couple 12TB drives, I want to start building a 4k media library now for when I eventually upgrade my TV and invest in surround sound.
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Do you think it's worth the extra 50 bucks for the shield pro if I'm not going to be gaming at all? Will the regular shield stutter when I direct play 4K remuxes in the future?
***I loved my Roku Ultra for a long time but switched over to the Nvidia Shield Pro and haven't looked back. The remote, once you get used to it, is very easy to use AND is backlit. Tremendous advantage. It's lighting fast and I've completely unhooked my Roku from my main theater room. Yes - I think it's worth an extra $50 bucks.
Shield/proDo you think it's worth the extra 50 bucks for the shield pro if I'm not going to be gaming at all? Will the regular shield stutter when I direct play 4K remuxes in the future?
2GB/3GB
8GB/16GB
MicroSD/USB Ports
That is the difference for the $50. As far as media playback, I dont see how one would be any different than the other.
Will that extra gigabyte of RAM make a difference for direct playback of Blu-ray rips?Shield/pro
2GB/3GB
8GB/16GB
MicroSD/USB Ports
That is the difference for the $50. As far as media playback, I dont see how one would be any different than the other.
Sorry, I dont know for sure. My Roku ultra plays 4k blu-ray rips just fine and it only has 2GB of RAM. Shield may be better or worse with memory requirements.Will that extra gigabyte of RAM make a difference for direct playback of Blu-ray rips?
Having said that, I have not seen any posts on here complaining about the Shield tube playing anything because of lack of memory. You might go ask that in the Shield 2019 thread.
No. A Windows PC works perfectly to playback Blurays with only 3GB RAM and a Shield will be much more RAM efficient than that.Will that extra gigabyte of RAM make a difference for direct playback of Blu-ray rips?
Okay, said to be clear you're saying but it's not really worth the 50 extra dollars to get the pro for me? Or rather I won't really benefit from that extra RAM? I don't care about the USB ports. Is 8 gigabytes of internal storage enough to store a handful of apps and have a custom UI?No. A Windows PC works perfectly to playback Blurays with only 3GB RAM and a Shield will be much more RAM efficient than that.
It is well worth it to go with the Pro. The Tube is only 32 bit, the Pro is 64 bit. Might not make a difference now, but probably in the future. The tube will also struggle on high bitrate 4K files.Okay, said to be clear you're saying but it's not really worth the 50 extra dollars to get the pro for me? Or rather I won't really benefit from that extra RAM? I don't care about the USB ports. Is 8 gigabytes of internal storage enough to store a handful of apps and have a custom UI?
That is definitely a reason to go pro.The Tube is only 32 bit, the Pro is 64 bit.
I have the tube and wish I had bought the pro. 95% of the time the playback for Bluray bitrate content has worked fine for me but the tube is super unresponsive as a result. Pause/FF/RR act very poorly.Do you think it's worth the extra 50 bucks for the shield pro if I'm not going to be gaming at all? Will the regular shield stutter when I direct play 4K remuxes in the future?
The other 5% the kodi/plex whatever hangs and is a nightmare to exit.
HBO max also has issues with the 32bit version of the tube. I hear it's fine on the x64.
Get the pro if it's in your budget.
I haven't had any issues with the '19 Tube being used purely for streaming content, including Netflix, Prime, Disney+, HBO Max, etc... there were some issues with HBO Max not outputting HDR10 correctly for DV titles, but it's since been fixed. I retired my Plex server when I upgraded from my '17 Pro to the '19 Tube (mostly for Atmos on Netflix and D+). If I'd waited a few more months for apps on the Chromecast GTV to catch up to the hardware's capabilities, it would have been plenty for that use-case though.
The vast majority of my rips (1080p or 4K) aren't high-bitrate 1:1 rips, so I'm fairly confident I could still enjoy my collection if I wanted to take the time to set up a new server on a PC elsewhere in the house... but I realized I hadn't really utilized it in quite some time and have reverted to a roughly 50/50 mix of streaming and physical media, with no desire to put in the work to rip the discs I've acquired since the last time I did a bulk-rip project (plus I don't even have a physical disc drive left in the house).
If high-bitrate 1:1 4K rips are a priority, though, I'd probably lean towards going with the Pro.
The vast majority of my rips (1080p or 4K) aren't high-bitrate 1:1 rips, so I'm fairly confident I could still enjoy my collection if I wanted to take the time to set up a new server on a PC elsewhere in the house... but I realized I hadn't really utilized it in quite some time and have reverted to a roughly 50/50 mix of streaming and physical media, with no desire to put in the work to rip the discs I've acquired since the last time I did a bulk-rip project (plus I don't even have a physical disc drive left in the house).
If high-bitrate 1:1 4K rips are a priority, though, I'd probably lean towards going with the Pro.
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