4K UHD Blu-ray Playback on PC Desktop is officially dead in 2021?

[dinosauriac]

Originally Posted by nissling

I must be able to watch my UHD-BDs in Windows or else my PC was a waste of money

Said no one ever.

Not the PC perhaps, but the expensive disc player that is part of it. I still can't believe they went in for hardware DRM with UHD blu ray, but now that I think about it Sony is part of the board and they were the geniuses behind SecuROM and Cinavia.

I don't particularly like having to set aside space for a dedicated UHD blu-ray player in my already cramped room, something that takes up one of the precious few HDMI slots my TV has and doesn't play nice with splitters so I have to swap the wires every time I want to watch something. I use my PC for everything else, why not UHD discs?

I guess we're all just screaming into the void on here since almost everyone's settling for streaming anyway and physical releases are getting to the point of being collector's items that continually take the piss.

[Brian81]

Do the W480 motherboards like the Asus workstation pro model handle UHD playback? Was looking at Pro WS W480 Ace..

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Do the W480 motherboards like the Asus workstation pro model handle UHD playback? Was looking at Pro WS W480 Ace..

The Xeon-W CPU design doesn't have SGX, so no.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

The Xeon-W CPU design doesn't have SGX, so no.

Why is Intel saying this? https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...fications.html



This is the CPU I am looking at to go with the board I have mentioned. I want a media server of sorts and I want ECC, so that is why I look at W480 and not Z490. Wouldn't be a cheap PC so I don't want to go all in on something that would be incompatible.

[usually_quiet]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Why is Intel saying this? https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...fications.html



This is the CPU I am looking at to go with the board I have mentioned. I want a media server of sorts and I want ECC, so that is why I look at W480 and not Z490. Wouldn't be a cheap PC so I don't want to go all in on something that would be incompatible.

I built an HTPC with an i5-10400. Comet Lake in general has SGX support.

However, the HDMI port on the motherboard that you want is only HDMI 1.4. You'll need to use a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable plus an active DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0b adapter to get an HDMI 2.0b for connecting a UHD TV or UHD Monitor via HDMI, and you'll need to use the processor graphics. DisplayPort connections on UHD monitors may or may not support HDR so you will need to check for HDR support if you plan to use the DP connection on a monitor for watching UHD Blu-ray.

You'll need to prevent the drivers and OS from updating once you get your system set up and working. Otherwise, you will lose the ability to play UHD Blu-ray.

[Brian81]

Originally Posted by usually_quiet

I built an HTPC with an i5-10400. Comet Lake in general has SGX support.

However, the HDMI port on the motherboard that you want is only HDMI 1.4. You'll need to use a Thunderbolt to DisplayPort cable plus an active DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0b adapter to get an HDMI 2.0b for connecting a UHD TV or UHD Monitor via HDMI, and you'll need to use the processor graphics. DisplayPort connections on UHD monitors may or may not support HDR so you will need to check for HDR support if you plan to use the DP connection on a monitor for watching UHD Blu-ray.

You'll need to prevent the drivers and OS from updating once you get your system set up and working. Otherwise, you will lose the ability to play UHD Blu-ray.

I guess I could check that one off the list. I will have to look at the Supermicro and Gigabyte W480 and check back. Thanks about pointing out the HDMI 1.4 thing. Why do I need to b concerned about firmware updates? I have always updates those as they tend to fine tune things.



Well, I saw an ASRock W480 board and it mentions Ultra HD Blu ray support yet it lists HDMI 1.4...

[usually_quiet]

Originally Posted by Brian81

I guess I could check that one off the list. I will have to look at the Supermicro and Gigabyte W480 and check back. Thanks about pointing out the HDMI 1.4 thing. Why do I need to b concerned about firmware updates? I have always updates those as they tend to fine tune things.

This thread includes details about driver updates that prevent UHD Blu-ray playback via Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=158

My PC that used to work for playing UHD Blu-ray with PowerDVD Ultra lost that ability in 2021 after a Windows 10 update.

Originally Posted by Brian81

Well, I saw an ASRock W480 board and it mentions Ultra HD Blu ray support yet it lists HDMI 1.4...

HDMI 1.4b transfers data at 10.2Gbps, giving it the ability to supply 2160p video at up to 30Hz with 8-bit color, which means it doesn't support HDR10.

HDMI 2.0b can transfer data at up to 18Gbps. This allows HDMI 2.0b to supply 2160p video at up to 60Hz with 10-bit or 12-bit color depth, which means it can support HDR10.

For Intel Kaby Lake processors through Intel Comet Lake processors, the processor graphics natively support HDMI 1.4b. The motherboards with HDMI 2.0b ports provide them via a Level Shifter Protocol Converter that is added to one of the processor graphics DisplayPort paths on the motherboard. The DisplayPort connections provided by the iGPUs for these processors can also supply 2160p video at up to 60Hz with 10-bit or 12-bit color depth, and they also support HDR10.

[LexInHD]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Why is Intel saying this? https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...fications.html



This is the CPU I am looking at to go with the board I have mentioned. I want a media server of sorts and I want ECC, so that is why I look at W480 and not Z490. Wouldn't be a cheap PC so I don't want to go all in on something that would be incompatible.

That is a previous generation of Xeon-W (Comet Lake) that was designed for that board. It has SGX, but has an inferior GPU that doesn't have the newest features needed for proper UHD content playback. The latest Xeon-W CPUs (Rocket Lake) don't have SGX and have a GPU based on Intel Xe, which means it has the latest and greatest video features for UHD content, including HDR and HDMI 2.X support.

[usually_quiet]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

That is a previous generation of Xeon-W (Comet Lake) that was designed for that board. It has SGX, but has an inferior GPU that doesn't have the newest features needed for proper UHD content playback. The latest Xeon-W CPUs (Rocket Lake) don't have SGX and have a GPU based on Intel Xe, which means it has the latest and greatest video features for UHD content, including HDR and HDMI 2.X support.

True. Although, without SGX it isn't possible to play UHD Blu-ray discs with licensed player software such as Cyberlink PowerDVD Ultra. The discs must either be ripped to files or played with unlicensed player software, solutions that some members of this forum object to because they are illegal in the countries where they live.

[LexInHD]

There are some new Intel CPU/GPU combos with both SGX and the latest HDMI and GPU video tech, so those are the best choice for the full range of UHD content. Unfortunately, the only way to discover these specific chips is to go through the Intel chip product specs, CPU-by-CPU, until you find a suitable product that checks all the boxes. Then there's also the issue of the new Xe GPU cards and whether or not those will work with what's available, as none are available for testing until they hit the open market later this year. Even though the integrated desktop/mobile versions work, we simply have no information about the desktop cards at this time.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

There are some new Intel CPU/GPU combos with both SGX and the latest HDMI and GPU video tech, so those are the best choice for the full range of UHD content. Unfortunately, the only way to discover these specific chips is to go through the Intel chip product specs, CPU-by-CPU, until you find a suitable product that checks all the boxes. Then there's also the issue of the new Xe GPU cards and whether or not those will work with what's available, as none are available for testing until they hit the open market later this year. Even though the integrated desktop/mobile versions work, we simply have no information about the desktop cards at this time.

Intel is pushing new drivers that will disable SGX on remaining machines. It may be time to close the computer thread forever

[LexInHD]

Alright pooptards, here's the latest information from Intel. SGX will live on in Intel server and workstation CPUs, as a premium feature for businesses and enterprise users that requires a paid license to use. No word on whether or not it will be present in Intel's next consumer CPU architecture, Meteor Lake, as Intel has not released any useful information about it to the public or anyone outside of the OEM builders like HP, Dell, etc. that buy their chips in bulk and write business/enterprise software to go with it.

[usually_quiet]

I bought all the required hardware and software to play UHD Blu-ray on a PC and only got to enjoy it for about 18 months. I'm disappointed that Microsoft and Intel put an end to UHD Blu-ray playback on a PC. I understand there are valid reasons why they did it, but I don't have to like it.

One day I'm going to find the courage to try flashing my LG UHD Blu-ray drive with modded firmware so it can operate in LibreDrive mode. (Supposedly, there is a way to save the original firmware and re-flash the drive if it doesn't work out.)

If flashing the drive succeeds, I'm going to see if I can play the main movie from one of my purchased UHD Blu-ray discs using MakeMKV's decryption API in combination with VLC. After that, I'm going to see if PowerDVD Ultra can play the disc with menu support.

[BijouMan]

It’s 2023, and still no legal UHD Blu-ray playback on computers aside from SGX!

[usually_quiet]

I flashed my LG UHD Blu-ray drive and installed MakeMkv in order to allow software players to use MakeMKV's decryption library for playback. PowerDVD Ultra works for playback with full menu support, but HDR10 passthrough to my monitor doesn't seem to be working, or at least not reliably. I'll try some other software players that are supposed to have HDR10 passthrough support to see how they do.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

It’s 2023, and still no legal UHD Blu-ray playback on computers aside from SGX!

Seeing as how manufacturers haven't even announced new standalone players since 2018, I suggest you get creative with your playback solutions, or settle for a standalone player. The chances of companies like NVidia or Apple having any interest in supporting new solutions, much less the BDA in signing off on any alternatives, is nil at this point.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by apollo828

Seeing as how manufacturers haven't even announced new standalone players since 2018, I suggest you get creative with your playback solutions, or settle for a standalone player. The chances of companies like NVidia or Apple having any interest in supporting new solutions, much less the BDA in signing off on any alternatives, is nil at this point.

I've got my home player, but it would be cool to have a portable solution. For one thing, more and more releases, especially from Paramount and Warner Bros., are only including the UHD discs.

[JEArgumedo]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I've got my home player, but it would be cool to have a portable solution. For one thing, more and more releases, especially from Paramount and Warner Bros., are only including the UHD discs.

In the studios eyes, the portable solution is the digital copies they include in every release. Outside of ripping a 4K disc, that's the best playback option that's going to be available for a potable device like a laptop. Disc at home, legal digital copy that can follow you every where else. I know it's already been pointed out, but hopefully you can see why no one's incentivized to bring 4K UHD Blu-ray playback to PC/Mac in 2023.

[deatheats]

4k UHD playback on PCs sounds like a good example for the right to repair law. Manufacturers have abandoned the platform leaving the consumer only “illegal” options for playback. For folks interested check out some court rulings for John Deere customers.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by JEArgumedo

In the studios eyes, the portable solution is the digital copies they include in every release. Outside of ripping a 4K disc, that's the best playback option that's going to be available for a potable device like a laptop. Disc at home, legal digital copy that can follow you every where else. I know it's already been pointed out, but hopefully you can see why no one's incentivized to bring 4K UHD Blu-ray playback to PC/Mac in 2023.

Pretty much. Also, most laptops don't have 4K resolution, and last I checked, very few bothered with any sort of HDR. What's the point, especially for such small screens? Throw in the fact that 4K discs are a bit fragile and subject to subpar QC, and the idea of running around with a laptop, an external drive (hardly any laptops bother with built-in drives anymore), and a pile of discs, and I just don't get it. Sure, if some business wants to pursue that market, good luck to them. (Acer tried with their UHD-BD playback laptops. I'm pretty sure they stopped making such laptops long ago. You don't stop making things that make you money!) I'm just saying that, if I'm on the road and need movies, I'd rather bring an SSD with a bunch of regular HD files - or if the connection is strong enough, use a Plex server set up at home - and not a bunch of fragile media that's best left at home.

Originally Posted by deatheats

4k UHD playback on PCs sounds like a good example for the right to repair law. Manufacturers have abandoned the platform leaving the consumer only “illegal” options for playback. For folks interested check out some court rulings for John Deere customers.

It's one thing to advocate for people to be able to write/use software that can do 4K playback. (Such software is out there already, although it's incredibly buggy.) It's another to expect, say, Cyberlink to support such playback, which you kinda need if you want playback to be feasible, as their software isn't nearly as buggy as the free options out there. Getting Cyberlink to do it would presumably require some sort of legal action against the BDA. Good luck getting anybody to finance that one!