Video Playback on GPU in Linux!
One of the major new advancements in nVidia drivers has been the ability to playback video on the GPU instead of the CPU. This is freeing up CPU usage, and putting all the work on the powerful GPUs. However, one of the major problems is getting the correct software to do the job.
In Linux, it appears that there is only one media player which fully supports VDPAU, which is the Linux API developed by nVidia which decodes video on the GPU. Gnome MPlayer supports this technology, which allows both 720p and 1080p video to play on the GPU, without the CPU usage going too high. This technology has allowed me to play HD videos on my Acer Aspire Revo, which if you tried to play on Totem (which renders video on the CPU), the CPU hits 100% and the video very choppy. In Gnome MPlayer, it can playback without a problem with the CPU sitting at 20%.
This is a plea to Gnome to implement VDPAU into Totem!
nVidia ION is Brilliant!
Have been playing around with the capabilities of my Acer Aspire Revo. I have tried out some 1080p HD videos and 3D games, and it has coped with the issues what so ever!
1080p videos played perfectly, no shutter at all! The CPU usage sits at 7%, while playing these videos. 3D games have played fine, still keen to try out a few Source games and Company of Heroes! All this is possible, thanks to the nVidia ION, you have to remember that all the ION is a GeForce 9400 card, so it is very powerful.
To show you how brilliant the ION is, this video shows you the ION playing a 1080p video and Call of Duty 4 at 30-40fps!
Me!
Ed Hewitt, 19, Studying @ Derby Uni, Blogger, Ubuntu user, Columnist & Podcaster for FCM, Gamer, Admin on Gfire.- Spotify is saved. Usa by the end of the year!
- Back home from work. 2:30am, time for IT crowd!
- Half way through my shift. Time for a double expesso.
