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mikewse

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August 21st, 2007 12:00

dell 3007wfp-hc - gfx card for hdcp?

I've read quite a few reports about users not being able to play HDCP protected content on their Dell 3007 monitor using full 2560x1600 resolution, but instead having to go down to single-link DVI using 1280x800 resolution.
 
Is this limitation typically imposed by the graphics cards, and can you please mention some graphics card series that have been verified compatible with 3007's way of doing HDCP for its full resolution?
 
Best regards
Mike Wilson

gpro

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August 21st, 2007 13:00

I posted this bit of info from nVidia on another thread:
The nVidia ForceWare v162.18 release notes states that it is an open issue on all GPUs that 'HDCP cannot be enabled with the Dell 30” flat panel on resolutions higher than 1280x800, which prevents playback of HD DVDs or Bluray discs.'

_666_

146 Posts

August 21st, 2007 19:00

Yea I noted that on the release notes as well. However hardForum says that certain 8600GT models support HDCP over dual-link as well as some X2xxx series. See here.

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 06:00

The great links you guys provided confirm what I've seen so far - confusion :-).
With that quite firm statement in Forceware's documentation, I am starting to wonder if everybody saying that it works have actually tried it with dual-link DVI...
 
I'm in the process of deciding what to buy so I naturally can't do any tests myself, but I found this utility from Cyberlink (PowerDVD) that tests the whole HDCP chain of your system:
 
It would be great if someone with the right hardware could try this out and report back. ChrisM?

DELL-Chris M

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August 23rd, 2007 13:00

Or did you actually run the utility on a HDCP compatible system?
* Before running that, I thought it was.

DELL-Chris M

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August 23rd, 2007 13:00

That software looks like it is just checking the PC, not the monitor.

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 13:00


DELL-ChrisM wrote:
That software looks like it is just checking the PC, not the monitor.
That's not my impression as my understanding is that the utility works by setting up an encrypted HDCP connection from the graphics card to the monitor. If that can be done it means the monitor is also compliant as it takes two to tango.
 
Here's a random post verifying my guess:
 
Or did you actually run the utility on a HDCP compatible system?

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 14:00


DELL-ChrisM wrote:
Or did you actually run the utility on a HDCP compatible system?
* Before running that, I thought it was.
Oh, sorry to hear.
Could you tell us some more about your hardware setup?
 
I would guess that the CyberLink utility would do a pretty good job as it probably contains the same technology as used by PowerDVD to play HD material. Then of course, PowerDVD may not be compatible with everything on the planet but personally I would probably choose hardware compatible with this common player product.

DELL-Chris M

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August 23rd, 2007 15:00

mikewse,

I just ran that software on this:
XPS 720 H2C
Geforce 8800 GTX at 2560x1600 60hz
3007WFP-HC

Under video connection it states, "Digital (without HDCP)". Which does not make any sense since the 8800 has HDCP support. It has got to be an issue with the beta software.

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 16:00

To be sure, can you switch your resolution to 1280x800 and try again? As you saw from the Forceware release notes cited above, Nvidia says HDCP isn't working for dual-link DVI, only single-link, and this has been the experience for many users out there. I'm not sure if you also have to connect with a single-link cable to get it working but I hope you can try out as many options as possible...

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 16:00

And here's another link saying 8800GTX doesn't do dual-link HDCP:

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 16:00

Sorry for flooding the forum, but I had a look through Nvidia's release notes and for what it's worth, the HDCP limitation is mentioned in the latest XP driver (162.18) but not in the latest Vista driver (162.22).

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 16:00

Oh sorry, I was citing information also from Nvidia's support forums. Go here:
and search for
    hdcp dell
and you will end up with a post that says:
The Dell 3007WFP and Hewlett Packard LP3065 30" LCD monitors require a graphics card with a dual-link DVI port to drive the ultra high native resolution of 2560x1600 which these monitors support.  With the current family of NVIDIA Geforce 8 & 7 series HDCP capable GPU's, playback of HDCP content is limited to single-link DVI connection only.  HDCP is disabled over a dual-link DVI connection.  The highest resolution the Dell 30" 3007WFP supports in single-link DVI mode is 1280x800 and therefore this is the highest resolution which HDCP playback is supported in single-link DVI mode on current Geforce 8 &7 series HDCP capable GPU's. 

_666_

146 Posts

August 23rd, 2007 19:00

My understanding is that its a hardware issue with the card itself, not a software issue. So I never understood why Nvidia would site it as an open issue in a driver release to begin with... The people in hardForum chiming in about 8600GT and the 2900XT cards doing HDCP over dual-link are talking from personal experience using the card. The issue is, with the performance required by the 2560x1600 resolution, none of those cards (x2900xt inclusive) are enough to run new games (Unreal3 engine stuff for one). So if you want to game and watch HDCP protected content legitimately, you are gonna have to wait until the new video cards arrive in November-December. In that time, you may want to look into some software like anyDVD HD...

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 20:00


mikewse wrote:
 
I'm only interested in the HDCP stuff, not games, so 3D performance is not a big issue.
But, are you saying that all Nvidia cards have a hardware issue preventing them from doing dual-link HDCP, or are you saying that 8600GT works but 8800GTX doesn't?
 
Sorry, I checked again on the link you provided earlier. And yes I see, the 8800 doesn't do dual-link HDCP but the 8600 does.
I also saw the discussion here about the 8600 and 8800:
 
And ChrisM, I guess you are out of luck :-(.
 
Thanks
Mike

mikewse

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August 23rd, 2007 20:00


_666_ wrote:
My understanding is that its a hardware issue with the card itself, not a software issue. So I never understood why Nvidia would site it as an open issue in a driver release to begin with... The people in hardForum chiming in about 8600GT and the 2900XT cards doing HDCP over dual-link are talking from personal experience using the card.
I'm only interested in the HDCP stuff, not games, so 3D performance is not a big issue.
But, are you saying that all Nvidia cards have a hardware issue preventing them from doing dual-link HDCP, or are you saying that 8600GT works but 8800GTX doesn't?
 
Thanks
Mike

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