AMD A8-3850 : An HTPC Perspective
by Ganesh T S on June 30, 2011 6:20 AM EST
One of the most glaring issues we found with local file playback was the chroma upsampling error. Initially, we suspected that the MPC Video Decoder (our preferred H.264 decoder for use in MPC-HC running on AMD GPUs) was at fault.
Screenshots are not allowed while playing back Blu-rays in either PowerDVD or Total Media Theater. Thankfully, playing a mounted ISO enabled screenshots while apparently retaining the same playback quality as the original Blu-ray. Since the ArcSoft video decoder is the easiest to get working with MPC-HC, we grabbed screenshots when playing back the ISO and the M2TS files using Total Media Theater. To put things on a equal footing, we took the ArcSoft decoder from Total Media Theater 5 and enabled its usage in MPC-HC. Presented below are the screenshots from approximately the same timestamp for the three cases.
| BD ISO (TMT) | BD M2TS (TMT) | Local File (MPC-HC/ArcSoft) |
Considering that the video decoder used in all the cases is the same, the difference is only in the renderer / driver applied post processing. Even assuming that the EVR CP renderer used by MPC-HC lacks the quality of the ArcSoft renderer, there is a definite difference between the local file played back from within TMT and the ISO. It can only be concluded that the AMD drivers are enabling certain post processing steps only for Blu-ray playback. Will AMD rectify this issue? Only time will tell.
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prdola0 - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
Typical PR stuff. Just as expected. There are cheaper SB-capable boards than that, also with cheaper chipsets.But nice try.
I hate State - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
Not that I completely disagree with what you said, but why wouldn't you use an H61 board for an HTPC. H61's cost around 70 bucks and you can just tack on a graphics card. Though built in 23.975FPS is nice, I'll be waiting for either Ivy Bridge (if it has the correct playback) or the next generation of Lynx where processing power is up to snuff and hopefully better power draw figures for my next HTPC.Broheim - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
45.99$ for the cheapest H67 on newegg...H61 goes down to 31.99$
where's your god now?
MrTeal - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
Got a link to that $31.99 H61 mobo? I can't find it on newegg.Broheim - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...blunt14468 - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
OPEN BOXprdola0 - Friday, July 1, 2011 - link
59$ a brand new one. Still the same point. You?maroon1 - Friday, July 1, 2011 - link
H61 can found at $60http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...
And those are not open box
duploxxx - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
just dropped today with more then 50% now aint that funny....Broheim - Thursday, June 30, 2011 - link
it is still 31.99$ is it not? your move mr. fanboy...