Media Center Drivers

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trek554

[H]ard|Gawd
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Oct 2, 2005
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Is it possible to use the regular Nvidia Windows XP Video drivers on Media Center? I'm not using any of the TV input functions of MCE, basically just playback of video, etc. I'd like the latest drivers though because of performance enhancements with certain games. The latest version of Nvidia MCE drivers is 81.98. I am going to put in a 7600gt I would like to use the 84.21 drivers.
 
Yes, the only difference is that the MCE drivers go through extra testing (ISF).
 
CrimandEvil said:
Yes, the only difference is that the MCE drivers go through extra testing (ISF).
Click to expand...
Why doesnt Nvidia test ALL current drivers with MCE?? They only release drivers every couple of months anyway. The 84.21 add support for the 7600gt but I dont want to have any problems with MCE functions.
 
I have a 7800GT and MCE as well....latest set of drivers...

no problems...
 
thanks for the replies. the computer i am planning on getting this week comes with media center. i am still a little clueless on the whole media center driver version. :confused: what actually makes them different?? :confused:
 
trek554 said:
Why doesnt Nvidia test ALL current drivers with MCE?? They only release drivers every couple of months anyway. The 84.21 add support for the 7600gt but I dont want to have any problems with MCE functions.
Click to expand...
I just explained this but if I have to go into more detail then I guess I have too.

Because to be used in the MCE application and to be used in general use and for gaming are two totally different things.

The MCE drivers need extra time to test so that they can be "rock solid" under the MCE app as well as for everything else, to be used under XP for general use and gaming require a different, faster set of tests.

I told you the non MCE drivers will work fine.
 
its my understanding the MCE is basically XP Pro with just different features and stuff..

ad...IIANM, MCE is based on the XP Pro kernel...
 
Rishy said:
its my understanding the MCE is basically XP Pro with just different features and stuff..

ad...IIANM, MCE is based on the XP Pro kernel...
Click to expand...
Yes, MCE is just XP Pro with a PVR app grafted on.
 
CrimandEvil said:
I just explained this but if I have to go into more detail then I guess I have too.

Because to be used in the MCE application and to be used in general use and for gaming are two totally different things.

The MCE drivers need extra time to test so that they can be "rock solid" under the MCE app as well as for everything else, to be used under XP for general use and gaming require a different, faster set of tests.

I told you the non MCE drivers will work fine.
Click to expand...
thanks but you didnt really "explain" it the first time. i would also like to have as many opinions as possible since i am not familiar with MCE. :D
 
Just letting you know that I understand your apprehension. I have MCE2005 with 7800 GT's in SLI. It works just fine except for 1 small quirk (won't post it here as to not unwittingly jack your thread). I was wondering the exact same thing when I was installing my drivers after building my system. I installed Forceware 81.98 because they were the current 'MCE2005 drivers' from nVidia even though the newer 84.21 drivers were out.
I took a chance 1 day and installed the newer drivers.....as soon as I did my speakers were giving this nasty 'hissing' noise' (X-Fi Platinum & Logitech Z-5500's if you were wondering). No matter what I did they would not stop, even though my video was just fine. I reinstalled 81.98 and everything was fine and back to normal.....

Maybe I did something wrong or overlooked something...but those are the results I got...
 
Dark Prodigy said:
Just letting you know that I understand your apprehension. I have MCE2005 with 7800 GT's in SLI. It works just fine except for 1 small quirk (won't post it here as to not unwittingly jack your thread). I was wondering the exact same thing when I was installing my drivers after building my system. I installed Forceware 81.98 because they were the current 'MCE2005 drivers' from nVidia even though the newer 84.21 drivers were out.
I took a chance 1 day and installed the newer drivers.....as soon as I did my speakers were giving this nasty 'hissing' noise' (X-Fi Platinum & Logitech Z-5500's if you were wondering). No matter what I did they would not stop, even though my video was just fine. I reinstalled 81.98 and everything was fine and back to normal.....

Maybe I did something wrong or overlooked something...but those are the results I got...
Click to expand...
thanks for info. the 84.21 have official support for the 7600gt. i would hate to install the 7600gt with the 81.98 but i would also be nervous about the 84.21 since it is not MCE certified. what to do?? :confused: :(
 
you can usually install the xp drivers instead of the mce drivers. BUT as you can see by this screenshot under nvidia display there are damn near 6mb orf "mce display extensions" with the mce drivers that are NOT there with the xp drivers. and mce 2005 is far more than a pvr added to xp. and mce is usually cheaper to buy retail than xp pro. i still have a pc (used as a client) here using just xp, and since it doesnt have the mce gui, you cant see it from across the room on a tv screen, and it also is limited in several other ways in a mce server/client environment. so as soon as i get the time and inclin, i will install mce to it also.since i installed mce last year, and got an xbox360 at christmas, i suddenly have tons more constructive uses for my pc's.

134124227_24f2264193_o.jpg
 
I am having second thoughts on buying the pc now. I really dont need media center but it is preinstalled on a Compaq I was going to get today. If I do get it maybe i should just get an ATI card to go along with the ATI chipset. :confused:
 
i got the computer and installed the bfg 7600gt. the 81.98 mce drivers wouldnt even work. i guess the 81.98 drivers didnt like the 7600gt. i have installed the 84.21 drivers for now. i will see what happens with games and movies tomorrow.
 
make sure you have a qualified mpeg2 decoder installed. download the windows xp video decoder checkup utility from ms. nvidia purevid works, but costs around $10. the cyberlink video/sp decoder works too, and is free. if you hook up an output from your stb to it, you will really appreciate how much better mce is than a tivo or leased cable pvr. check out the htpc forum here, or go to htpcnews.com, or thegreenbutton.com.

btw, i have found that no nvidia drivers older than 84.20 will work with my 7900 gt's, and should be the same with the 7600. maybe a beta or 2, but no whql.
good luck.
 
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