[ccfoodog]

Considering that video cards with HDCP capability are starting to come out and some of us are interested in HDCP capable cards, I'd like to propose a thread to start collecting a list of HDCP cards.


One of the things I'm particuarly interested in is trying to get some sort of second point of validation regarding the claims of HDCP support. For example, there have been articles claiming that the MSI 7600GT and 7900GT cards support HDCP. I've also seen discussions about the 7950GX2. However, I'd like some sort of warm fuzzy that if I order mfg PN XYZ that I'll really get a card that can support HDCP. Maybe a second source, or preferably a statement from an authorative source, preferably on the mfg web page.


I assume we are also on the crux of DX 10. It would be good to highly this feature as well.


Here is my proposed format. Suggestions welcomed, as well as discussion of the various cards.


Thanks!


-john



- - - - - - - - - - - [ basic info ]

1) Card MFG

2) Card Model

3) Mfg PN(s)

4) Link (URL) to HDCP claim

5) HDCP claim substantiated? Link to verification?

6) Availability

- - - - - - - - - - - [ useful info ]

7) Interface (AGP/PCI-E)

8) Multi-card support (SLI)?

9) Direct X version

10) Number of DVI interfaces

11) Number of Dual-Link DVI interfaces

12) Amount of RAM

- - - - - - - - - - - [ extended info ]

13) Number of VGA interfaces

14) Number of HDMI interfaces

15) Number/Type of other interfaces (component, composite, s-video)

16) Video in? Type?

17) Tuner? SDEF/HDEF?

 

[jhoff80]

DX 10 support won't be around on the ATI end until R600, which I believe won't debut until first quarter 2007. However, I believe (I might be wrong on this) that Vista will require HDCP for digital content, so it'd be safe to say that anything that supports DX 10 (a key Vista feature) should support HDCP.


Edit: Actually from what I heard, it won't be called DX10, for the record but instead Direct3D 10. The other DX components probably won't be updated.

 

[ccfoodog]

My understanding was "DX 10" support is needed to fully support the GUI, and HDCP support was needed for DRM HD content playback. AFAIK, they aren't related, but admittedly, I haven't been paying much attention to the DX 10 issue other than the general notion that "its a good thing" for Vista.


I assume some existing cards will support DX 10, but aren't listed as such since DX 10 isn't released yet?


Certainly tho, in addition to the HDCP for HD DRM stuff, it seems like it would be nice if my next card fully supported the GUI for Vista.


-john

 

[MSmith83]

No current graphics card supports DirectX 10. In order to have support for DirectX 10, the card must have support for the entire feature set. Current cards that support DirectX 9 will work just fine with Windows Vista, but won't be able to utilize DirectX 10 features. There is no relationship between HDCP and DirectX 10.

 

[skepticon]

I don't think jhoff was implying a relationship between DX10 and HDCP, but just stating that if a card supports DX10, it would be a birth defect of the card if it did not also include HDCP...I agree.

 

[jhoff80]



Quote:
Originally Posted by skepticon /forum/post/0


I don't think jhoff was implying a relationship between DX10 and HDCP, but just stating that if a card supports DX10, it would be a birth defect of the card if it did not also include HDCP...I agree.

Yes exactly what I meant.

 

[ccfoodog]

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.


But at least we do have some cards now that appear to support HDCP lf we can verify the claims.


-john

 

[ccfoodog]

- - - - - - - - - - - [ basic info ]

1) Card MFG: Sapphire

2) Card Model: RADEON X1600 Pro HDMI

3) Mfg PN(s): ??

4) Link (URL) to HDCP claim:
http://www.dailytech.com/Article.aspx?newsid=1129

5) HDCP claim substantiated? Link to verification?

Seems reasonable as they appear to quote a press release.

6) Availability

Unknown. I don't see it listed at newegg. It is listed as a product on sapphiretech.com however.

- - - - - - - - - - - [ useful info ]

7) Interface (AGP/PCI-E): PCI-E

8) Multi-card support (SLI): CrossFire

9) Direct X version: 9

10) Number of DVI interfaces: 0

11) Number of Dual-Link DVI interfaces: 0

12) Amount of RAM: 128 or 256MB

- - - - - - - - - - - [ extended info ]

13) Number of VGA interfaces: 1

14) Number of HDMI interfaces: 1

15) Number/Type of other interfaces (component, composite, s-video): (1) SPDIF out

16) Video in? Type?: none

17) Tuner? SDEF/HDEF?: none

 

[ccfoodog]

- - - - - - - - - - - [ basic info ]

1) Card MFG

2) Card Model: GeForce 7950 GX2

3) Mfg PN(s)

4) Link (URL) to HDCP claim:
http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=12717

5) HDCP claim substantiated? Link to verification?

Well, the claim seems solid, but I'm missing something importaint. In the past, Nvidia has stated that the GPUs supported HDCP, but the card mfgs needed to add the extra key stuff. I get the impression here they have rolled it into the GPU, so that all these cards will support HDCP, but I'd really like some confirmation about that before we say all 7950 GX2 cards support HDCP.

6) Availability: I see 7950GX2 cards at newegg and they say they are in-stock.

- - - - - - - - - - - [ useful info ]

7) Interface (AGP/PCI-E): PCI-E

8) Multi-card support (SLI)?: SLI

9) Direct X version: 9

10) Number of DVI interfaces

11) Number of Dual-Link DVI interfaces

12) Amount of RAM

- - - - - - - - - - - [ extended info ]

13) Number of VGA interfaces

14) Number of HDMI interfaces

15) Number/Type of other interfaces (component, composite, s-video)

16) Video in? Type?

17) Tuner? SDEF/HDEF?

 

[ccfoodog]

- - - - - - - - - - - [ basic info ]

1) Card MFG: MSI

2) Card Model: NX7600GT

3) Mfg PN(s): NX7600GT-VT2D256E HD

4) Link (URL) to HDCP claim
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2747

5) HDCP claim substantiated? Link to verification?

Seems solid. The MSI web site lists HDCP as a feature for this card. Beware, this is another 7600GT card listed that does not appear to have HDCP, so be careful. Newegg lists HDCP ready on the specs.
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...E_HD&class=vga

6) Availability

Newegg appears to have this card in stock.

- - - - - - - - - - - [ useful info ]

7) Interface (AGP/PCI-E): PCI-E

8) Multi-card support (SLI)?: SLI

9) Direct X version: 9

10) Number of DVI interfaces: 2

11) Number of Dual-Link DVI interfaces: ??

12) Amount of RAM: 256MB

- - - - - - - - - - - [ extended info ]

13) Number of VGA interfaces: 2 (via dongles)

14) Number of HDMI interfaces: 0

15) Number/Type of other interfaces (component, composite, s-video): s-video + ??

16) Video in? Type?: none

17) Tuner? SDEF/HDEF?: none

 

[ccfoodog]

- - - - - - - - - - - [ basic info ]

1) Card MFG: MSI

2) Card Model: NX7900GT

3) Mfg PN(s): NX7900GT-VT2D256E HD

4) Link (URL) to HDCP claim
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2747

5) HDCP claim substantiated? Link to verification?

Seems solid. The MSI web site lists HDCP as a feature for this card. Beware, this is another 7900GT card listed that does not appear to have HDCP, so be careful. Newegg appears to currently be carrying only the NON HDCP version.
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...E_HD&class=vga

6) Availability: Unknown. Newegg doesn't appear to have them currently.

- - - - - - - - - - - [ useful info ]

7) Interface (AGP/PCI-E): PCI-E

8) Multi-card support (SLI)?: SLI

9) Direct X version: 9

10) Number of DVI interfaces: 2

11) Number of Dual-Link DVI interfaces: ??

12) Amount of RAM: 256MB

- - - - - - - - - - - [ extended info ]

13) Number of VGA interfaces: 2 (via dongles)

14) Number of HDMI interfaces: 0

15) Number/Type of other interfaces (component, composite, s-video): s-video + ??

16) Video in? Type?: none

17) Tuner? SDEF/HDEF?: none

 

[ccfoodog]



Quote:
Originally Posted by MSmith83 /forum/post/0


No current graphics card supports DirectX 10. In order to have support for DirectX 10, the card must have support for the entire feature set.

Does anyone know when DX 10 cards will first start appearing?


Thanks,


-john

 

[jhoff80]

From what I hear, the Nvidia DX10 part will be coming around October, but the ATI DX10 card will be released early next year. One major difference between the two is that ATI's version (codenamed R600) has a unified shader architecture, similar to the Xbox 360. I haven't been following Nvidia's plans as closely though.

 

[Mystic123]

I am just wondering, at one point I heard that to be able to use a DHCP videocard to play HD movies the full digital path needed to be DHCP encoded (i.e. HD player, motherboard, videocard, etc). Is it still valid? I don't think I saw any DHCP motherboard.

 

[Naylia]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mystic123 /forum/post/0


I am just wondering, at one point I heard that to be able to use a DHCP videocard to play HD movies the full digital path needed to be DHCP encoded (i.e. HD player, motherboard, videocard, etc). Is it still valid? I don't think I saw any DHCP motherboard.

Mystic,


I'd check out this thread of news articles and read the first couple which are an interview with Nvidia in three parts.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=695655

 

[joshbish]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Mystic123 /forum/post/0


I am just wondering, at one point I heard that to be able to use a DHCP videocard to play HD movies the full digital path needed to be DHCP encoded (i.e. HD player, motherboard, videocard, etc). Is it still valid? I don't think I saw any DHCP motherboard.

According to the thread below, the H D C P chip is only required for the video card for WinDVD 8 to playback HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=692618&page=1

 

[sgibson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by joshbish /forum/post/0


According to the thread below, the H D C P chip is only required for the video card for WinDVD 8 to playback HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...=692618&page=1

So what's the latest on this thread? I currently have evga 7600GS, but discovered it's not "HDCP Enabled". Running new DIY Vista box with Duo Core E6400, 2GB Ram, an LCD "HDCP" monitor, Xbox360 add-on HD DVD player and PowerDVD Ultra. I'm aware of HDCP defeating software options, but would rather have the right hardware to do the job.I can do a trade-up thru evga for a "HDCP Enabled" video card, or try one of the other online resellers. What's my best option? Any recent HDCP video card lists?


tia,

sgibson

 

[sgibson]



Quote:
Originally Posted by sgibson /forum/post/0


So what's the latest on this thread? I currently have evga 7600GS, but discovered it's not "HDCP Enabled". Running new DIY Vista box with Duo Core E6400, 2GB Ram, an LCD "HDCP" monitor, Xbox360 add-on HD DVD player and PowerDVD Ultra. I'm aware of HDCP defeating software options, but would rather have the right hardware to do the job.I can do a trade-up thru evga for a "HDCP Enabled" video card, or try one of the other online resellers. What's my best option? Any recent HDCP video card lists?


tia,

sgibson

Anybody using a "HDCP Enabled" Vista Certified video card care to share your info/opinions?

 

[Scanman0]

My take on this whole HDCP mess is to just NOT pay into the system for it....


I use a Nvidia 7800GT, and It is more than capable of doing all the HD-DVD/Blue-ray decoding I want it to.


Why should I NEEDLESSLY upgrade for a damed HDCP serial# EEPROM to be added to the video card ?


I fully support what is happening over at doom9, and even support the release of ANYDVD-HD.


With the fine "Fair Use" coders out there, you can be free of this crap, and drag & drop HD movies to the hard drive, like any respectable HTPC user should. I'm not saying I agree with pirating, but to label all users as a pirate, and locking the software to this "HDCP serial #" in the chip is just NOT something I'll PAY MORE $$$ for.


When I bought this card, it was HDCP capable (CHOKE!)


What a load of crap.


Did I mention I can play HD-DVD titles from the xbox-360 drive attached to my htpc, without this stupidity?


I also have 15 HD-DVD movies on the hard drive for ZERO disk changes.


This can be done with Blueray as well...

 

[Fiasco]

Are there any inexpensive AGP video cards that will output multichannel audio + video over HDMI?