Apple Enabled GPU Hardware Decoding of H.264 on New MacBooks, Pros and Airs?
This suggests that the version of Mac OS X on newly released MacBooks, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs based on the new NVIDIA chipsets now offers GPU-accelerated H.264 video decoding for the first time. While Apple has previously included graphics cards (such as the NVIDIA 8600M GT) that have contained hardware support for H.264 decoding, the company has apparently not previously taken advantage of it.
Multiple readers have confirmed similar findings on their new MacBooks and MacBook Pros, though it appears it can be movie-specific, as one video showed little difference between the machines. We assume the new MacBook Air would share the same advantage as it is based on the same graphics chipset as the new MacBook, though we haven't heard from an Air owner yet.
These changes could be based on improvements planned for Snow Leopard. Apple had previously announced that "QuickTime X" would be a feature in Snow Leopard to offer optimized media playback:
Using media technology pioneered in OS X iPhone, Snow Leopard introduces QuickTime X, which optimizes support for modern audio and video formats resulting in extremely efficient media playback.
Readers should be reminded that without official confirmation from Apple, we are only speculating as to the reason behind the CPU usage difference. If true, however, we would hope that Apple would incorporate support for older Macs that have the necessary hardware in a future software update.
New MacBook | 
Old MacBook Pro |
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Given that they are both Mac OS X 10.5.5 and everything is otherwise the same, that small difference may be an indication that the decoder module QuickTime is using is indeed different.
1 step closer to Blu-Ray.
2 steps closer to all digital distribution of hi-def movies through iTunes :)
Did anyone else notice that the old MacBook uses the term "H.264 Decoder" in the "Format:" details, whereas the new MacBook simply says "H.264"?
Given that they are both Mac OS X 10.5.5 and everything is otherwise the same, that small difference may be an indication that the decoder module QuickTime is using is indeed different.
Ya... well, the new machines do have new versions of Mac OS X (still 10.5.5, but a later build). People always get confused about this, but Apple has to issue a "special" version of Mac OS X when they introduce new machines, since there is new hardware in the new machines that didn't exist when 10.5.5 was first introduced.
I also asked the poster. QuickTime was a bit higher build too (249.24) vs (249.13), though copying QuickTime from one machine to the other didn't transfer the benefits.
arn
On a MacBook 2006 Intel it barely plays. Somewhat choppy at times. Not h264 in either case.
It seems we are only barely getting hardware up to the task of playing common modern TV.
That is a bit disappointing.
Rocketman
Also.. can't wait to see what the NEGATIVE posts will be... always 20% negative to any story, minimum.
Ya... well, the new machines do have new versions of Mac OS X (still 10.5.5, but a later build). People always get confused about this, but Apple has to issue a "special" version of Mac OS X when they introduce new machines, since there is new hardware in the new machines that didn't exist when 10.5.5 was first introduced.
I also asked the poster. QuickTime was a bit higher build too (249.24) vs (249.13), though copying QuickTime from one machine to the other didn't transfer the benefits.
arn
So if one were to run the OS from the Late 2008 MBP via Target Disk Mode on an older MBP, will there be a noticeable difference?
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