ATI Theater 550: PVR-on-a-chip

Om Malik points us to news that ATI has launched a new chip that is specifically designed for synchronized audio and video decoding, in other words a PVR-on-a-chip.

The 550 Pro provides audio and video decoding on the same silicon - a first for the Theater family - which ensures audio and video remain in full synchronisation. The 12-bit video decoder features 3D Comb Filtering for NTSC and PAL, and five-line 2D Comb Filtering.
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The chip was designed to operated on both PCI and PCI Express add-in cards, but ATI is also pushing the product's scope for integration directly onto a PC's motherboard. In the notebook market, in particular, Acer, Compal, Quanta and Wistron have committed themselves to building the 550 Pro into upcoming laptops.

If NVidia doesn't have a similar product in the pipeline, I'd be surprised. I look forward to more competition in this space. Getting one of these chips into a big laptop will be interesting.

Between Tivo/PVR functionality (now integrated into one chip), P2P file sharing platforms, Hi-Def. TV, BitTorrent, broadband Internet, falling HDD costs, rising CPU power, we're seeing a confluence where entertainment should continue to be interesting and challenging for both the content providers as well as us the customers. Any thoughts on this confluence would be appreciated.

Om Malik on Broadband: PVR on a chip
also
ATI Theater 550 PRO [ati.com]

Comments

[Bryan withay]

PVR on a chip already. It is starting to become a commodity.

Loyal fans of shows will continue to be pioneers in their use. They will grab broadcasts with PVR chips/boxes and off DVDs. Then upload them to their community sites and the Internet, with BitTorrent. They have the drive to do this, because they love "Survivor" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

As loyal fans discover these sites and enjoy watching older episodes, perhaps a few at first. They will eat it up. And download many.

Entrepreneurs will hopefully capitalize on this by offering DivX or DRMed episodes/clips as new shows premiere. Fans want to enjoy their show throughout the day and on demand.

[Hetz]

From the specs it seems like an impressive chip..

It's too bad that ATI doesn't even think about supporting Linux with this chip. After all, a large number people are building these days their PVR and using Linux with it (what else gives you this flexability regarding hardware, video and Audio codecs? surely not Microsoft Media Center [go read anandtech about it])..

I guess NVIDIA will pick up this market share too, due to ATI's stupidity...

Hetz

[rogga]

well got mine today sofar very dissapointing have also a aiw9800 theater 200 that is way better quality (not kidding its like you take on glasses u dont need) with mmc than the 550 with following powercinema
have to try mce or wait for mmc support

[rogga]

well got it to be as good as my aiw with beyondtv but theres more potential out of the hardware just they remove the filter to make it sharp and remove that anoying black in left of picture and of course decent deinterlacing thats not lagging or corrupting the picture

[rogga]

cant get it to perform any better tried xp mce to guess i put it on the shell or lend it out until they release mmc with support or something because i prefer a good sharp image wich takes up the hole screen with some defects around edges than this btw reviews say it has low cpu usage ?? wich prog have they used with my amd xp2800 i have approx 50% load all apps (cyberlink, beyondtv, mediacenter, sage) 20 % with my aiw, so i cant recommend this card until they have better software

[Kalle]

Yep,
Don't buy any tv-tuner with 550 pro until ATI releases MMC that supports it. I bought Sapphire Theatrix and with came with PowerCinema 3 which is a POS. Tried SageTV and BeyondTV but didn't like those. PoweCinema didn't event allow to capture from S-video or composite so I decided to return the product.

[frank schmitz]

Will the xtreme tv pvr 550 work on a dell inspiron 9300. Please tell me if it will work.

[iserimo]

i need driver ATI THEATER 200...please send information or site to download.