h.264 Decode

[geo]

The recent Hexus interview with Godfrey Cheng has him answering that h.264 decode will be ready "by the end of the year". However, I just saw a MaximumPC preview of the new X1800XL AIW that says ATI told them that h.264 decode will not be available in the drivers until February 2006.

So, which is it?

[Mike K]

H.264 has to approached from two (three) sides. The hardware must accelerate it - done, the driver must support it - December 2005, there must be players supporting it (in hardware) - depends.
Currently there are updates available on existing software for a few bucks, like e.g. Power Encoder:
http://www.cyberlink.com/multi/produ...in_43_ENU.html

Quicktime 7 is H.264 as well, but both players are running with pure CPU decoding.

So please be patient, it will most probably much earlier than February 06.

[geo]

Thanks. So on side three, the Feb reference was contemplating an ATI MMC update that may or may not come a little earlier?

[CATALYST maker]

Originally Posted by geo

Thanks. So on side three, the Feb reference was contemplating an ATI MMC update that may or may not come a little earlier?

as Godfrey said "before the end of the year" ... now it wouldnt be fun if i told you the exact date would it?

[geo]

Originally Posted by CATALYST maker

as Godfrey said "before the end of the year" ... now it wouldnt be fun if i told you the exact date would it?

Fun for which of us, Terry?

See, now you just went back the other direction from Mike, suggesting that MaxPC was a little pessimistic.

Tho I hear there's an aggressive new broom "inspiring" in the multimedia software team these days, so perhaps that is the reason it will be earlier.

[geo]

Originally Posted by CATALYST maker

as Godfrey said "before the end of the year" ... now it wouldnt be fun if i told you the exact date would it?

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=28216