Re: [gentoo-user] intel HD graphics 4000 and viewing DVDs

[Michael Mol]

On Fri, Jul 27, 2012 at 4:10 PM, Allan Gottlieb <gottlieb@×××.edu> wrote:
> I am getting a new laptop. (likely dell 6430).
> The two graphics options are intel HD 4000 and nvidia NVS 5200M.
> Dell is as expected suggesting the 5200M.
>
> I do not need 3D or fast response.  Dell hinted that DVDs might not play
> with the intel HD 4000.  This seems weird to me as the 4000 is supposed
> to be a big improvement over the 3000 and I can't believe dell or others
> would have sold laptops that can't play dvds
>
> Any comments or experiences?

My Duron 750MHz was able to decode DVDs in realtime. After that, all
you're doing is blitting (or using xv) the frames to the screen. I
would be absolutely shocked if the Intel HD 4000 GPU couldn't handle
that basic of a 2D acceleration function.

Now, DVDs use MPEG2. Blu-Ray uses h.264, which is a much harder beast
to decode in realtime. It's possible the HD 4000 GPU can't handle
hardware decode of h.264, but I don't know. I've never looked into it.
(Software decode of 1080p h.264 on my Phenom 9650 worked somewhat, but
highly active scenes would cause frame drops.)

-- 
:wq