"Built-by-ATI cards not HDCP enabled"

    30 April 06


    In conversation with PowerColor technicians about X1900CrossFire,
    X1900XTX, and X1900XT Graphics Video Cards I was told....


    "It is important to note that HDCP is currently not a standard used in PC
    monitors, and almost none of these displays have Component inputs.
    Although PC monitors are HDTV capable, HDCP encryption limits this type
    of use."


    "We've been able to confirm that none of the Built-by-ATI Radeons
    support HDCP including the most recently released Nvidea Geforce Video
    Cards."


    I asked for their assistance because I am shopping for my next LCD
    monitor/tv. The HDCP issue has made it difficult to determine which Video
    Cards work with which LCD Screens and in what native resolution. I had
    hoped for one Screen in the 32" to 42" range but what I am hearing is
    confusing the issues. I asked the following...


    Question: I understand that PowerColor Video Graphics Cards do not
    support HDCP. Do these cards support other monitor functions in a monitor
    that is HDCP enabled?
    Answer: "Not at all"


    This post has been edited 1 time(s), it was last edited by yelloweye: Today, 01:24.

    Hi!
    Actually, (here in Europe, that is) there are currently two cards available supporting HDMI .
    One being the 128MB X1600 Pro card by Sapphire, and the other card being the All-In-Wonder X1800XL by built by ATI.


    And quite frankly, that's two cards too many.
    I'm still hoping that HDCP will be met with consumer refusal, as I regard it as a "technology built to prevent technology". But hey, that's just me.
    </rant over>

    I moved the longer version of the posting you made on the German-speaking board section over here to the English, and deleted the original there.
    I hope that's ok with you.
    Btw: What's with the double registration? ?( =)


    01 May 06

    "What's with the double reg?"

    I started the post Built-by-ATI in the computer hardware section. The post became corrupted by the pop-up and I lost
    access under the name y eye. I reregistered and again found no access to the hardware section. I moved to Review
    and continued on... It does not matter to me that you deleted the original unless it is better suited for Hardware rather
    than Review. Your call move it if you choose.

    y eye, pronounced y is an abbreviation of yelloweye which is my nickname.

    you're right, it is in fact better suited for the Hardware board.
    I believe our board sections will be diversified further as the user base of the English board keeps growing. Currently, English hardware related questions go into the 'Help' section most of the time. So, I guess that's where its new home gonna be for now.


    As to your question:


    Zitat

    ... I understand that PowerColor Video Graphics Cards do not
    support HDCP. Do these cards support other monitor functions in a monitor
    that is HDCP enabled?
    Answer: "Not at all"


    The person you spoke with must have confused it with something else, or otherwise he is simply misinformed. The right answer would have been:
    "Yes, they support basically every function you can think of (PC use) with the exception of dealing with specific content that was encrypted using HDCP".


    Cards that don't support HDCP - like the one from PowerColor - (and basically every other graphics card being in use on this planet right now) will have absolutely no problem running on any HDCP TV or monitor. HDCP comes into play when you e.g. insert a copy-protected HD-DVD or, more generally, playback HDCP-protected content via any other form of media distribution (certain HDTV channels, future Internet streams, etc.). Most of this is still in the future (see Windows Vista) and has yet to arrive in everyday user reality. So, at least as I see it, there is currently no point in waiting for cards that are capable of HDCP (or to be more exact: cards equipped with an HDMI output) .
    HDMI is backward-compatible with DVI. This means that a DVI source can drive an HDMI monitor, or vice versa, by means of a suitable adapter or cable.
    If it's got DVI, you're good to go.

    I am relieved to hear that the technician from PowerColor misintrepreted my question. I also would like to second your
    boycott of HDCP products. Let the boycott continue here x_________________x.


    It is important for me to keep the HDCP issue in focus for a bit to determine which is HDCP enabled and which is not. It
    has been said that resolutions may be curbed by the HDCP embedded device by 25 percent, meaning the native resolution
    will be reduced by 25 percent. It may be smoke and mirrors and it may not.


    So, "first generation" means to me all components and periferals that are not HDCP enabled.

    I returned to prade.de last week to view a list of monitors that were previewed in a news letter. I was looking for tags or
    identifying statements about which monitors are HDCP enabled, but found no HDCP references. It would
    be a quick and handy tool for selecting my next monitor if they were identified as HDCP enabled.

    Einmal editiert, zuletzt von y eye ()

    Zitat

    It has been said that resolutions may be curbed by the HDCP embedded device by 25 percent, meaning the native resolution
    will be reduced by 25 percent. It may be smoke and mirrors and it may not.


    I heard about this, too, and afaik, the above is true, again, for HDCP content only. The HDCP embedded device won't scale down DVI signals of normal PC use. The reason they announced this "possibility" of still being able to watch HDCP content at reduced resolutions (and that is not via DVI, but analog signals only) was to fight off arguments complaining that customers wouldn't be willing to make another purchase given that many have just recently shelled out a lot of money for their home cinema systems.
    So it basically comes down to HDCP signals only, - at least for now. It's really hard to say what the future might have in store, particularly in the light of Windows Vista.



    cheers

    I just received this PM from you, but your profile settings pervent you from receiving any PMs. Thus I'm answering this way.



    send me the new text of the post and I'll edit it for you.


    03 May 06

    I prefer to edit my posts. If you are blocking my access by using the 720 min edit rule and failing to remove the block
    after 24 hours and suggesting that you will edit the post if I send you information by private message for you to edit
    then you are invoking censorship. It is not acceptable forum behavior. Remove the block and we can continue to
    communicate.

    Y eye


    03 May 06

    x_____Dell monitor number3007WFP is HDCP enabled_____x




    y eye

    uhm,... censorship would be if I edited somebody's post against his/her will. Whereas not being able to edit something that oneself said is more like... hmm...maybe real life? People can't go back in time and undo what they said. I think the reason that this rule had been laid down back then was to ensure the integrity of the discussion process. Besides, I don't have the administrative options to change the 720-minute limit anyways.

    Look, just for proving your theory wrong I would really like to remove the 720 min limit for you but I simply can't. And I don't see how anyone can feel insulted because of this. There is no evil intent behind it, nor is there any sinister censorship going on . If anything, it's more like the opposite. I voluntarily spent my time here talking about and helping people out with LCD stuff, without getting anything out of it (apart from the "helper's high" effect maybe ;)).


    peace mate