(2018-07-24, 17:40)brazen1 Wrote: (2018-07-24, 06:06)acemt Wrote: Quote:We understand many players and methods will play UHD HDR titles without actually engaging HDR mode. Given PDVD v.18 and FAB v.5 are both performing UHD HDR for you and switching HDR mode on, evidently you meet the minimum requirements (at least for PDVD or it wouldn't be working). Perhaps this is the key to get FAB v.5 working? Please share which Intel SGX CPU, SGX motherboard, and Intel HD Graphics you are using. Thanks.
Running Sky-lake i5-3600 chip with Nvidia 960. Gigabyte ga-z170x motherboard.
It looks like your CPU and MB do support SGX tech which meets some of PowerDVD requirements for UHD HDR. Given that PowerDVD states
Ultra HD Blu-ray is supported only if a display is powered by Intel Graphics and supports HDCP 2.2. If your computer includes more than one graphics processor, Ultra HD Blu-ray is supported only on the display that is connected and powered by Intel Graphics. https://www.cyberlink.com/support/produc...o?id=19881
I don't understand how your GTX 960 could be working unless you are actually using Intel Graphics and perhaps don't realize it? In the event you are using Intel Graphics (which you must be since it is a PDVD requirement), it doesn't use private API's like nVidia and AMD do. It uses Windows HDR which requires you to switch it on in W10 settings otherwise you won't have any HDR. It's called 'HDR and WCG' after the last W10 update.
I really don't know what the 'Stream HDR' switch in Windows settings does but it's greyed out unless HDR and WCG is enabled. If it is enabled, and you leave it constantly enabled even when not playing UHD HDR video, you say it has no effect on quality. On my system, turning on HDR and WCG switch makes the desktop unusable do to distortion but I'm not using Intel Graphics. I'm using a GTX 960 because I want to use madVR with madVR players and I want to use PDVD and FAB as well. If I upgraded to SGX hardware and Intel Graphics, madVR would no longer be compatible do to the private API HDR vs Windows HDR.
It fascinates me you are able to leave the 'HDR and WCG' switch always on as well as the 'Stream HDR' switch and have no ill effects when using the desktop. This confirms my earlier suspicion that DVDFab Player v.3 uses private API's and v.5 abandoned that and now uses Windows HDR requiring the same special hardware and Intel Graphics as PowerDVD. This explains why neither player works with nVidia or AMD and evidently only works with Intel Graphics for UHD HDR. Personally, I will continue using DVDFab Player v.3 for HDR menus, PowerDVD v.18 for 3D menus, and MPC for quality main movie only of anything. I can't give up madVR. I'm hooked.
Mark,
I have to agree 100% with brazen1.
Part of what you responded is now beginning to make sense why it's working on your end, and clarified a few things -- however, part of what you stated makes no sense at all. So let's dig deeper.
What makes sense is that it appears DVDFab went the same route as PowerDVD, switching from Private API's for handling HDR to requiring 'Special Hardware' and using Windows HDR switching. This is evident by the fact that you are using SGX enabled CPU & Motherboard, and you keep the HDR & WCG switch On in Windows. Now I understand why it's working for you. Certain lack of ethic on DVDFab's part - unlike PowerDVD, which boldly expressed the requirements vividly across the PowerDVD Product page, DVDFab seems to have done the switch rather silently, slipping most details under the cover. I had no idea.
However, this is where it gets fuzzy:
Firstly, PowerDVD requires the display to be connected to SGX enabled Intel GPU (Not external GPU like nVidia) for HDR to work. You do have capable CPU/Motherboard with SGX support to do so, however, what's unclear is, you state you have a GTX 960. That video card is not capable of supporting HDR in PowerDVD. So the question is - do you have the HDMI Cable running from your CPU HDMI Out or from your GTX 960 HDMI Out? If you have it from the CPU HDMI Out, then it's fine - it make sense why it works - but if you have it running from your GTX 960 -> Display, that doesn't make sense! That GPU cannot run HDR in PowerDVD.
Secondly, there isn't a human being on the face of the Earth who can keep 'HDR & WCG' in Windows on the 'On' setting and not see a drastic difference in the Windows Desktop. A major degradation of Display Quality. The only place it helps is UHD HDR media playback. The latest version of Windows did provide a 'Brightness' tab in the HDR & WCG setting for SDR viewing which 'does' help with non-HDR display, but even so, it's nowhere near 24-hour viewing quality. So your statement that you leave HDR & WCG switch to On in Windows all the time and your desktop looks fantastic just does not make sense at all. Something is very amiss here.
Having typed this above - something did just occur to me. Going to back to the First point; if indeed you do have the HDR & WCG switch 'On' in Windows, and indeed you are running your HDMI Cable from GTX 960 HDMI Out to Display, (And not the Skylake CPU), your TV Set will display "HDR" at all times, whether or not the source is actually playing HDR. That would explain when you play a media in PowerDVD, you see 'HDR' being activated. But that is not true HDR. That is not PowerDVD actually rendering HDR and playing media with source HDR, that is your Windows Desktop sending and HDR signal to your Display.
What you really need to do to make sure you're properly playing HDR, and receiving an HDR Signal from the Media Player (Not Windows Desktop), is Turn OFF your "HDR & WCG" switch in Windows. Connect your GTX 960 HDMI Out to your Display HDMI IN (Not the CPU HDMI Out). Then play your UHD HDR MKV in PowerDVD & DVDFab.
I will suspect when you do so - You will no longer receive an HDR Signal playing media in either PowerDVD or DVDFab.
This is the reason we use DVDFab v3. There is no need to switch the HDR & WCG On or Off in Windows. Normal Windows operations are at highest quality; HDR switching is automatic handled by Private APIs. And we don't have special GSX Hardware, nor do we need to invest in it.
Now, you *Can* connect your HDMI from your CPU HDMI Out to Display (Instead of using GTX 960). This will give you the correct HDR Signal from PowerDVD (And most likely from DVDFab also). Since you already have SGX Enabled Hardware. Of course in that case, you're loosing out entirely on your GTX 960 investment, and any & all features of your very capable GPU.
If you get a chance to look into all this & fiddle with it, please let us know what you find. There is something very strange going on here.
PS: OFF-TOPIC -- Scotch lover myself
-- My vice is usually Glenfiddich, Glenlivet or Laphroaig. Or the occasional Lagavulin.