I signed up for the Intel Retail edge bundle that comes with E6300, motherboard, Windows Vista Ultimate. When I get it , I want to upgrade my video card as well as monitor. In order to use it with Vista, I have to get one that is HDCP compliant right? And If I don't, I won't be able to play videos or what?
![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
question about HDCP and Vista
- Thread starter Wich0
- Start date
In most cases, you should still be able to watch video with a non-HDCP setup. However, you will be limited in maximum resolution, preventing you from watching some types of HD video at the highest quality level.
To have a HDCP compliant system, you need both an HDCP-compliant vid card AND an HDCP-compliant display. If you get the card, but not the display, you'll be equally limited.
There are quite a few caveats here, though. From what I've read, the resolution limit for non-HDCP compliant hardware is 960x540 lines. This is still more than good enough for many sources of video. So if you don't need 1080i/p video on your PC, not a big deal. DVD's should still look pretty good (indeed, many are lower resolution than 960x540).
Note also that the HD content you view must also be set with a DRM flag to limit your resolution or disable play. Most current media shouldn't be affected. It also is extremely unlikely that big content will use the DRM flag to entirely disable play in the near future, considering the backlash. Industry analysts and vendors have currently indicated they have no plans to disable playback through HDCP --I read this as meaning it is unlikely they'd even consider it before 2009-2010 (which also coincides with the FCC mandate on digitally-tuned-TV).
Finally, if you're really concerned, you could stay with Windows XP for awhile and wait and see how this shakes out. This is one of several reasons I won't be considering Vista for some time to come, even though I'm beta-testing RC2. I think the wise choice is to wait 6-12 months after release before doing the install. XP still works fine, and Microsoft is releasing Windows Media Player 11 for it (although since versions 9 and 10 work just fine, as well as open-source alternatives, I don't know that it is really necessary, unless you plan on buying a Zune MP3 player).
To have a HDCP compliant system, you need both an HDCP-compliant vid card AND an HDCP-compliant display. If you get the card, but not the display, you'll be equally limited.
There are quite a few caveats here, though. From what I've read, the resolution limit for non-HDCP compliant hardware is 960x540 lines. This is still more than good enough for many sources of video. So if you don't need 1080i/p video on your PC, not a big deal. DVD's should still look pretty good (indeed, many are lower resolution than 960x540).
Note also that the HD content you view must also be set with a DRM flag to limit your resolution or disable play. Most current media shouldn't be affected. It also is extremely unlikely that big content will use the DRM flag to entirely disable play in the near future, considering the backlash. Industry analysts and vendors have currently indicated they have no plans to disable playback through HDCP --I read this as meaning it is unlikely they'd even consider it before 2009-2010 (which also coincides with the FCC mandate on digitally-tuned-TV).
Finally, if you're really concerned, you could stay with Windows XP for awhile and wait and see how this shakes out. This is one of several reasons I won't be considering Vista for some time to come, even though I'm beta-testing RC2. I think the wise choice is to wait 6-12 months after release before doing the install. XP still works fine, and Microsoft is releasing Windows Media Player 11 for it (although since versions 9 and 10 work just fine, as well as open-source alternatives, I don't know that it is really necessary, unless you plan on buying a Zune MP3 player).
Phelptwan
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2002
- Messages
- 6,921
This is actually one of those things thats really been bugging me about vista. Therefore i will be one of the late adopters to this operating system when it decides to come out.
mentok1982
Supreme [H]ardness
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2004
- Messages
- 4,385
Don't worry about this folks. More and more HDCP ready video cards are coming out all the
time. In fact almost all the new video cards that have launched recently are HDCP ready.
Card------------HDCP ready
X1950 Pro ---Yes
7950 GT-------Yes
7900 GS-------Optional (6 out of 36 retail cards are HDCP ready)
7900 GTO-----Optional (I only have info on 2 retail cards and they are not HDCP ready)
X1950 XTX-----Yes
X1650 Pro------No
So things are looking up. Soon all the new video cards will be HDCP ready by default.
Check out this thread for an up-to-date list of all the video cards which are HDCP ready.
time. In fact almost all the new video cards that have launched recently are HDCP ready.
Card------------HDCP ready
X1950 Pro ---Yes
7950 GT-------Yes
7900 GS-------Optional (6 out of 36 retail cards are HDCP ready)
7900 GTO-----Optional (I only have info on 2 retail cards and they are not HDCP ready)
X1950 XTX-----Yes
X1650 Pro------No
So things are looking up. Soon all the new video cards will be HDCP ready by default.
Check out this thread for an up-to-date list of all the video cards which are HDCP ready.
SeetheSeer
Weaksauce
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2006
- Messages
- 126
The only thing that HDCP affects is blu-ray / hd-dvd movies...sheesh. You make it sound like the computer just plain won't work without it!
"This is actually one of those things thats really been bugging me about vista. Therefore i will be one of the late adopters to this operating system when it decides to come out."
Blame the Studios, not MSFT. So, don't buy any hd-dvd / blu-ray movies. Buy vista if you want to. That is a more effective way to vote with your dollar that you don't like hdcp
Here's the breakdown:
If you're using a non-HDCP:
Digital Display / Connection, you probably won't even be able watch it... If the publishers decide to let you, it will be at a reduced resolution.
Analog Display / Connection, you will most likely be able to watch it in full resolution untill 2009-2010.
I think I have that right. I'm 90% sure that Analog restriction is wholly separate from digital restriction.
"This is actually one of those things thats really been bugging me about vista. Therefore i will be one of the late adopters to this operating system when it decides to come out."
Blame the Studios, not MSFT. So, don't buy any hd-dvd / blu-ray movies. Buy vista if you want to. That is a more effective way to vote with your dollar that you don't like hdcp
Here's the breakdown:
If you're using a non-HDCP:
Digital Display / Connection, you probably won't even be able watch it... If the publishers decide to let you, it will be at a reduced resolution.
Analog Display / Connection, you will most likely be able to watch it in full resolution untill 2009-2010.
I think I have that right. I'm 90% sure that Analog restriction is wholly separate from digital restriction.
http://www.digitalhome.ca/content/view/1608/98/1/1/
Finding a monitor that will display full resolution HDCP will probably more difficult than finding a videocard that will.
With Dell, only the more expensive 2407WFP or 3007WFP will do HDCP, the older 2405 will not.
Finding a monitor that will display full resolution HDCP will probably more difficult than finding a videocard that will.
With Dell, only the more expensive 2407WFP or 3007WFP will do HDCP, the older 2405 will not.
CrimandEvil
Dick with a heart of gold
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2003
- Messages
- 19,670
It's not that hard: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-5123ZenOps said:
The new Dells ending in 7 seem to work, that 207 is brand new. Any of the 2005 models (ending in 5) won't.
But personally I prefer the ones ending in 5 because they do not have the colour banding issues of some "7" models. There is no point in getting HDCP if you have colourbanding.
But personally I prefer the ones ending in 5 because they do not have the colour banding issues of some "7" models. There is no point in getting HDCP if you have colourbanding.