Is ATI clutching at straws?

[imported_X]

It seems like ATI is trying to hype H.264 in the R520 as a major feature. Personally, I couldn't care less if it has H.264 support or not. I want a faster card that is fully SM3.0 compliant, with nice IQ enhancements like SSAA in the 7800.

Is ATI just trying to cover for lack of progress on the fronts that actually matter to gamers? I really hope not.

 

[xtknight]

I'm excited to see H.264 support but it's not like I use it on a daily basis. NVIDIA said they "should" have it so ATI really has no advantage here. I don't want them to sacrifice gaming performance for it. The new SSAA/price will be the determining factor for me as either card is faster enough. I'll probably soon get a 21" LCD to get 1600x1200 res to take advantage of these cards...

I wouldn't worry too much about it...ATI will surely have something faster than NVIDIA's 7800 by the end of the year.

 

[Beiruty]

H.264 is the future HD standard. It wise ATi is supporting it now. My lonely 1.3 Ghz Celeron M notebook can do 1280x720 at 4Mbps streams just fine. CPU is 80-100%. with HW acceleration it would be like 10%.

 

[imported_X]

It's fine to have H.264 support. I just don't understand why ATI is hyping it so much, over features that would be much more compelling to the majority of their potential market. People that buy the R520 are going to be a lot more interested in speed and image quality than in having the ability to watch hd on their pcs.

Or am I just imposing my personal agenda as a gamer here? Do others actually consider this a major reason to go with the R520, especially since the 7800 already has an H.264 foundation? It worries me that ATI is clutching at straws because they are not able to deliver on the performance they were originally promising with the R520.

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: X

Or am I just imposing my personal agenda as a gamer here? Do others actually consider this a major reason to go with the R520, especially since the 7800 already has an H.264 foundation? It worries me that ATI is clutching at straws because they are not able to deliver on the performance they were originally promising with the R520.

Extra features are always nice. ATi isn't trying to sell their card on H.264 acc., the inq. just focus on it in this little article.

 

[jasonja]

I don't see ATI hyping this.... it's not on their website that I can find. Just because the Inquirer does a blurb on it doesn't mean the R520 is doomed and this is it's only good feature.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: X
It's fine to have H.264 support. I just don't understand why ATI is hyping it so much, over features that would be much more compelling to the majority of their potential market. People that buy the R520 are going to be a lot more interested in speed and image quality than in having the ability to watch hd on their pcs.

Or am I just imposing my personal agenda as a gamer here? Do others actually consider this a major reason to go with the R520, especially since the 7800 already has an H.264 foundation? It worries me that ATI is clutching at straws because they are not able to deliver on the performance they were originally promising with the R520.

Remember nVidia and their PureVideo technology?

 

[imported_X]

It's not just this article...the past few weeks it seems that every time the R520 is mentioned, it is in regard to H.264 rather than what used to be talked about (10k in 3DMark05, etc.).

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: Beiruty
H.264 is the future HD standard. It wise ATi is supporting it now. My lonely 1.3 Ghz Celeron M notebook can do 1280x720 at 4Mbps streams just fine. CPU is 80-100%. with HW acceleration it would be like 10%.

Try doing 27meg streams with TS files.

 

[flexy]

H.264 is the MOST awesome video codec.

If you ever saw a H.264/AVC movie then you would UNDERSTAND.

It makes DVD and (of course) formats like MP2 lok like cr*p !

This is ONE good thing ATI does - because H.264 will be *THE* next big thing (read my lips)...and just wait Apple launching QT7 and everyone incl. their mother will talk about H.264

H.264 hardware acceleration == best thing sincle sliced bread !

If you COMPLAIN about that ATI supports this then you have a problem

 

[imported_Rampage]

yeah its not going to make me run out and buy a ati over an nvidia card if thats what you mean.. no way

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: flexy
H.264 is the MOST awesome video codec.

If you ever saw a H.264/AVC movie then you would UNDERSTAND.

It makes DVD and (of course) formats like MP2 lok like cr*p !

This is ONE good thing ATI does - because H.264 will be *THE* next big thing (read my lips)...and just wait Apple launching QT7 and everyone incl. their mother will talk about H.264

H.264 hardware acceleration == best thing sincle sliced bread !

If you COMPLAIN about that ATI supports this then you have a problem

That Apple Crap will never be installed on any of my machines same goes for Real. Between CrApple bugging me to buy/upgrade quicktime every time it loads is worth avoiding it forever and also it installing its iTunes crap is also another reason to avoid it.

But even lower than CrApple is Real. Those hidden options that subscribe you to spam is the deal that seals their fate. FRVCK Real. I look forward to them Chap 11.

Forever HD-DIVX, WMV9, and TS. Of course accelerated by H264.

 

[Beiruty]

got download the VideoLAN... you are all set. HD DIVX is now limited to 720p and I hear Xvid is better.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: HDTVMan

Originally posted by: flexy
H.264 is the MOST awesome video codec.

If you ever saw a H.264/AVC movie then you would UNDERSTAND.

It makes DVD and (of course) formats like MP2 lok like cr*p !

This is ONE good thing ATI does - because H.264 will be *THE* next big thing (read my lips)...and just wait Apple launching QT7 and everyone incl. their mother will talk about H.264

H.264 hardware acceleration == best thing sincle sliced bread !

If you COMPLAIN about that ATI supports this then you have a problem

That Apple Crap will never be installed on any of my machines same goes for Real. Between CrApple bugging me to buy/upgrade quicktime every time it loads is worth avoiding it forever and also it installing its iTunes crap is also another reason to avoid it.

But even lower than CrApple is Real. Those hidden options that subscribe you to spam is the deal that seals their fate. FRVCK Real. I look forward to them Chap 11.

Forever HD-DIVX, WMV9, and TS. Of course accelerated by H264.

Your use of "crApple" is quite ingenious :roll:.

And you will be waiting a looooong time before they file for bankruptcy.

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: HDTVMan

Originally posted by: flexy
H.264 is the MOST awesome video codec.

If you ever saw a H.264/AVC movie then you would UNDERSTAND.

It makes DVD and (of course) formats like MP2 lok like cr*p !

This is ONE good thing ATI does - because H.264 will be *THE* next big thing (read my lips)...and just wait Apple launching QT7 and everyone incl. their mother will talk about H.264

H.264 hardware acceleration == best thing sincle sliced bread !

If you COMPLAIN about that ATI supports this then you have a problem

That Apple Crap will never be installed on any of my machines same goes for Real. Between CrApple bugging me to buy/upgrade quicktime every time it loads is worth avoiding it forever and also it installing its iTunes crap is also another reason to avoid it.

But even lower than CrApple is Real. Those hidden options that subscribe you to spam is the deal that seals their fate. FRVCK Real. I look forward to them Chap 11.

Forever HD-DIVX, WMV9, and TS. Of course accelerated by H264.

Your use of "crApple" is quite ingenious :roll:.

And you will be waiting a looooong time before they file for bankruptcy.

Im looking for Real to go chap 11.

Apple just needs to stop annoying everyone with Upgrade now? Just play the darn video apple. I thought apple was supposed to be easier with just recently added 2 button mice. But I guess they are killing everyone with having to answer extra questions instead.

 

[zendari]

Originally posted by: Lonyo

Originally posted by: X
It's fine to have H.264 support. I just don't understand why ATI is hyping it so much, over features that would be much more compelling to the majority of their potential market. People that buy the R520 are going to be a lot more interested in speed and image quality than in having the ability to watch hd on their pcs.

Or am I just imposing my personal agenda as a gamer here? Do others actually consider this a major reason to go with the R520, especially since the 7800 already has an H.264 foundation? It worries me that ATI is clutching at straws because they are not able to deliver on the performance they were originally promising with the R520.

Remember nVidia and their PureVideo technology?

Or lack thereof? The 6800s didn't accelerate WMV HD, which was realistically just about the only thing that needed accelerating.

 

[flexy]

yes, i agree. thats why i use real alternative or QT alternative

But the point is that Qt7 will make H.264 mainstream.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

H.264 is cool and all, but I dont even play HD content. I'd much ATI focused on SM 3.0 and 24 pipes.

 

[imported_X]

Originally posted by: flexy
If you COMPLAIN about that ATI supports this then you have a problem

The support for H.264 isn't my concern; I just think the R520 will be a flop if this proves to be the biggest selling feature of the card.

ATI has always tried to fill the multimedia niche, as evidenced by their All-in-Wonder series. Maybe they are trying to differentiate themselves by focusing on multimedia support, but that is going to mean squat to most gamers. I want them to keep their eye on the performance/quality ball instead of chasing after Microsoft's vision of the future.

 

[HDTVMan]

Originally posted by: flexy
yes, i agree. thats why i use real alternative or QT alternative

But the point is that Qt7 will make H.264 mainstream.

Nope. Nothing will make QT more used unless they drop the nag screen.

WMP will adopt the codec and its square one.

Until them there is VLC media player. One of the only players to support TS files.

 

[MobiusPizza]

The problem is H.264 is so taxing in CPU (100% usage) that you *MUST* have a video card supporting it in order to play it smoothly.
And since HD is the next big thing I see no reason not to put this as a selling point.

Nvidia says they *might* be including the support in *future* drivers. Which you see might come ages or never come at all.

Also while 3D performance is important, they might be still tweaking their cards, etc. Since it is not officially out you have no right to expect them to release 3D mark scores etc.

 

[bjc112]

I'm glad they are putting it in..


When I can barely run a 1080p HD trailer on a athlon 64 @ 2.8ghz, I NEED HW acceleration!!

Can't wait to see Ati's offering.

 

[biostud]

apperently it runs smooth on the X2 (see jpeyton's thread in CPU's)

 

[MobiusPizza]

X2s are as expensive as a top-of-line GPU...
It's much more fruitful for gamers to get a new gen grahic card than to buy a X2

 

[SilverTrine]

yeah its not going to make me run out and buy a ati over an nvidia card if thats what you mean.. no way

No one would expect you to buy an ATi card if it beat the 7800 and solved world hunger to boot. Trust me we all know where you're coming from we've seen a ton of shills over the years.