PC spec for Cineform Playback

[Geoff Gartside]

I want to build a dedicated PC to playback CineForm (2K RGB 444) files, at the best possible quality, on a 2K monitor. The source material is mainly 4K Red.

I've looked at the readme with Neoplayer, but would welcome some advice on the following points:

1. Processor suggestions: dual, quad or i7, and speed?
2. Windows 7 compatibility for neoplayer (only XP is mentioned in Neoplayer readme)?

I suppose that the answer to question 1 is dependent on the export render quality from Premiere, and am assuming that high or film scan 1 would be best.

Comments appreciated.

[David Newman]

Filmscan 2 is best, but overkill.

2K 444 requires a quad, but nothing too fancy. 2.5ish Ghz Core-2 Quad. Yet i7s are awesome, so get on of those. Windows 7, no issues.

[Geoff Gartside]

Thanks David....

I'll go with the i7!
Can I just ask about graphics - I was told that DVI-D output is only 8bit RGB. Is that correct? If so, would a display port output be better?

[David Newman]

DVI-D is 8-bit. DisplayPort supports 10-bit, but useless you intend some custom coding, I don't know any off the shelf player that will use it in 10-bit.

[Geoff Gartside]

If the CineForm output from the PC is playing back a 10 bit file and I use a card with display port, like the FX1800, will that 10 bit resolution be passed to the monitor via the display port, (I don't understand the bit about the player)?

[David Newman]

The problem is common playback tools will only ask for 8-bit data from our 10-bit files. For 10-bit playback, the player must request pixel formats like v210 (10-bit YUV) or r210 (10-bit RGB used by Blackmagic.) This happens more often with HDSDI players (via Xena/Kona or Decklink cards), but generally not via media-players over DisplayPort. So either code your own, or find a player with supports 10-bit decoders and DisplayPort (then report back).

[Kaspar Kallas]

Hi

How about playback from FirstLight (the new GL surface)? Will that do 10bit?

-Kaspar

[David Newman]

Kasper, not yet, but that is planned. We had to do the OpenGL work for 3D, but the bonus is we can get a 10-bit surface.

[Geoff Gartside]

David,

Thanks for the explanations, which I am beginning to understand. Just a couple of final questions if I may...

1. Will the FL 10 bit player facility need anything drammatically different in terms of performance to the PC spec. discussed earlier (it would be good to plan ahead)?

2. Media Player Home Theatre mentions 10 bit RGB playback (?) (New_Renderer_Settings ? Media Player Classic - Home Cinema). It is certainly able to play cineform files nicely. Will it work given a display port card?

Thanks.

[David Newman]

Not more extra is required for 10-bit playback, maybe 20% more CPU for some sources.

It seems MPC-HT only support RGB 10-bit surfaces yet is requesting 8-bit YUV, which defeats 95% the purpose. The CineForm decoder can output 10-bit YUV or RGB, but so few players support that.